Heritage Chorale was founded in 1984 with a clear mission: to provide an opportunity for experienced singers in the Oak Park–River Forest area to share choral masterworks with their community. Their repertoire encompasses works by composers across the globe, from many periods and cultures, and in many styles.
Wen Chin Liu-Young, appointed artistic director of Heritage Chorale in June 2022, is also lecturer at Benedictine University in Lisle, director of choirs at Harper College in Palatine, and music coordinator at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Arlington Heights. She received her doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting and pedagogy from the University of Iowa, where she studied with Timothy Stalter and David Puderbaugh.
Jennifer Kerr Budziak is a Chicago-area conductor, mezzo-soprano, composer, and author. A sought-after presenter on vocal technique and choral conducting, she has led workshops at conferences and events nationwide.
She serves on the choral faculty of Loyola University Chicago, where she conducts the University Chorale. She has also taught at North Central College, Concordia University, St. Xavier University, and the Catholic Theological Union. She also currently serves on the choral staff of the Good Memories Choir, a community-based choral organization using music to serve older adults experiencing memory loss.
