Polly Towner to Lead All Choir Programs at Manchester Community Music School
Westminster Choir College-trained educator and accomplished choral musician will direct MCMS Women’s Choir, Youth Choir, and Children’s Choir in Manchester.
MANCHESTER, N.H. [August 18th, 2026] — Manchester Community Music School (MCMS) is proud to announce an exciting new chapter for its choral program, with Executive Director and longtime music educator Polly Towner assuming artistic leadership of all MCMS choirs, including the MCMS Women’s Choir, Youth Choir, and Children’s Choir.
The expanded role brings MCMS’s choral programs under the direction of one experienced artistic leader, creating greater continuity and a shared vision for students and singers at every stage of their musical development. Through her leadership, MCMS aims to continue elevating the quality of its choral programming while creating an inspiring, welcoming, and joyful experience for every singer.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Polly’s caliber leading our school and our choirs,” said Board Chair, Greg Powers. “She brings extraordinary musical expertise, decades of teaching experience, and an ability to help singers grow not only as musicians, but also in confidence and musicianship. Having her guide our singers from childhood through adulthood is an incredible opportunity for the entire NH choral community.”
Towner is a graduate of the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Education with a concentration in Voice. Her studies included work with renowned choral educators and conductors including Joseph Flummerfelt, James Jordan, Frauke Haasemann, Helen Kemp, and Allen Crowell.
As a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, Towner performed with leading orchestras and under some of the most celebrated conductors of her generation, including Leonard Bernstein, Claudio Abbado, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Muti, and Robert Shaw.
Her performance career also includes appearances with the Spoleto Festival in the United States and Italy, as well as eight seasons with the Opera Festival of New Jersey. Throughout her career, she has performed as both a solo and ensemble singer in oratorio, opera, choral, and musical theater settings.
Towner brings equally extensive experience as an educator. She spent 16 years teaching middle and high school choir in public schools, where her ensembles earned superior ratings in numerous competitions. Over the course of her career, she has directed school, church, and community choirs in New Jersey, New Hampshire, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina, and has taught voice and beginning piano to students ranging from children to older adults.
Since joining Manchester Community Music School in 2022, Towner has played a significant role in expanding the school’s vocal and choral offerings. She joined MCMS as a voice teacher and co-director of the Queen City Music and Leadership Program, soon establishing new ensemble opportunities for singers. She later served as Director of Education before becoming Executive Director in 2024.
Throughout her administrative leadership, Towner has remained deeply connected to teaching and music-making. She founded and directs the MCMS Women’s Choir and continues to maintain a private voice studio at the school.
Now, as director of all three MCMS choirs, Towner will help create a cohesive choral pathway for singers of different ages and experience levels. The Children’s Choir will introduce young singers to healthy vocal technique, musicianship, ensemble singing, and the joy of making music together. The Youth Choir will give developing singers opportunities to deepen their technique, musicianship, artistry, and confidence while working toward meaningful performances. The Women’s Choir will continue to offer adult singers a welcoming community in which to grow musically, connect with others, and experience the joy of ensemble singing.
For Towner, choral music has always been about more than performance.
“Singing together teaches us how to listen, how to support one another, and how to contribute our individual voice to something larger than ourselves,” said Towner. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with singers across generations at MCMS and to create a choral program where every singer feels challenged, supported, and proud of what we accomplish together.”
The expanded choral program reflects Manchester Community Music School’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible music education and performance opportunities for students of all ages and abilities.
Whether a child is experiencing choir for the first time, a teenager is developing as a serious young musician, or an adult is rediscovering a lifelong love of singing, MCMS aims to provide an environment where musicianship, confidence, community, and joy grow together.
“We want our students to have an exceptional musical experience,” said MCMS Chair, Greg Powers. “Under Polly’s leadership, we have an opportunity to build something truly special. A choral program known throughout the region for both its artistic quality and the extraordinary sense of belonging it creates for singers.”
Enrollment for Manchester Community Music School’s upcoming choir season is now open.
To learn more about the MCMS Children’s Choir, Youth Choir, Women’s Choir, and other programs, visit https://mcmusicschool.org/programs/choirs/
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About Manchester Community Music School
Manchester Community Music School provides high-quality music education and performance opportunities for students of all ages and abilities throughout Greater Manchester and southern New Hampshire. Through private lessons, ensembles, early childhood programming, music therapy, community partnerships, performances, and financial assistance, MCMS works to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of music.