Creating Musical Connections Together
You long for moments that move you — time to pause, reflect, and feel connected.
Our candlelit concert gives you that space. Surrounded by harmony and community, you’ll experience music that lifts your spirit and reminds you that you’re part of something bigger. Through extraordinary choral performances, we unite voices and hearts across western North Carolina — enriching lives, inspiring hope, and celebrating the beauty of belonging.
Our Team
Dr. David Gresham - Artistic Director and Conductor
David Gresham has served as Director of Choral Activities at Brevard College for the past seven years. During that time, he has greatly increased participation in the choirs and has overseen a significant influx of voice majors at the College. He is a frequent guest clinician with both church choirs and middle and high school choirs, and he enjoys helping singers work toward a vibrant and healthy vocal tone while exploring the musical demands of choral literature. In Brevard, he also serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Tranyslvania Choral Society, Minister of Music at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, and summer faculty with the Brevard Music Center.
Dr. Gresham has composed, edited, and arranged several pieces for choir. In addition to his conducting and composing, Dr. Gresham is an active singer and studio teacher. He is the current District Governor of the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has had students perform for that organization at the state, regional, and national levels. As a singer, he has been most active as an oratorio soloist and recitalist, performing with churches, civic choruses, and professional organizations such as the Colorado Music Festival and the Brevard Philharmonic.
Dr. Gresham holds the Bachelor of Music degree, two Master of Music degrees (one in conducting and one in vocal performance and pedagogy), and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree.
Patricia Black - Accompanist
Patricia Black holds music performance degrees from Northwestern University and the École Nationale de Musique in France. She has served as pianist for the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Lyric Opera Ballet and the Chicago Civic Orchestra.
Currently, in addition to her post as rehearsal and concert accompanist for the Transylvania Choral Society, she serves as keyboardist for the Asheville, Hendersonville and Brevard Symphony Orchestras, collaborator with other local musical organizations, devoted advocate of music education, and music teacher of all ages in her active home studio.
Get to Know Us
Since its modest beginnings in 1975, the Transylvania Choral Society (TCS) has grown into one of the premier musical arts organizations in Transylvania County. Today 69 singers are in rehearsal for our 2025 winter concert at the Porter Center at Brevard College on December 11th.
Under the direction of Dr. David Gresham of Brevard College, TCS has participated in innovative performances that have reached a nationwide scale. In 2018, TCS, along with the Brevard College Chamber Choir, travelled to New York City to perform the Faure Requiem in Carnegie Hall. In 2019, TCS performed the North American premier of Bob Chilcott’s Christmas Oratorio at the Porter Center.
In the Spring of 2026, TCS will be participating in the commission of a multi-movement piece composed by Elaine Hagenberg, a young choral composer with enormous talent and following. In June 2026 we have been invited to travel to Paris to sing her new composition with a group of international singers for its world premiere.
Each year, in addition to our two concerts, TCS provides a $1500 scholarship to each of two local high school music students to help them follow their dreams of becoming teachers or performers. Many past performances have included students from Brevard College and students of all ages from Transylvania County schools.
Transylvania Choral Society, P.O. Box 106, Brevard, NC 28712
TCS is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. EIN# 56-1347662.
All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.