Barbara Sanderman, Director

Barbara Sanderman founded Caritas Chamber Chorale in 2005, with the assistance of Composer in Residence, Wayne Dietterick and then Repertoire Consultant, Stan Szalewicz to present a concert for the benefit of the Adorno Fathers' African Mission. Since then the Chorale has continued to sing for the poorest of the poor by presenting virtually all its concerts for the benefit of the African Mission. The proceeds from the sales of Caritas Chamber Chorale's 2009 CD recording, Stop Your Doubting, and its 2018 recording Res Miranda, have also benefitted the African Mission.

Retired from a 26-year career in church music, Barbara was Director of Sacred Music at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Bridgewater, NJ from 2004 to 2015. Previously, she was Director of Music at Our Lady of the Mount Church in Warren, NJ for 15 years. In both positions, Barbara conducted adult and children's choirs as well as other small groups and coached cantors. At St. Bernard, she was also the parish organist and pianist.

From 1994 to 2004, Barbara was the pianist of the Grace Trio (flute, cello and piano) which performed repertoire from Bach to 20th century chamber music at the Watchung, NJ Arts Center, local churches and in home recitals.

Barbara has been involved in fund-raising for the Adorno Fathers’ African Mission for many years. In January 2001, Barbara directed the Beloved Daughters of Our Lady of the Mount in a concert of a cappella sacred music. Later that year, the Beloved Daughters released a recording entitled Have Courage, My Soul. Proceeds from both the concert and the recording benefited the African Mission. Barbara has also been involved in non-musical benefits for the African Mission including Alternative Gift Fairs and a Benefit Dinner.

Barbara has been active in the Metuchen Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) and currently serves on the Metuchen Chapter Board as Chapter Director. She acted as Local Chair for the 2008 Eastern Region NPM Convention in East Brunswick, NJ where Caritas Chamber Chorale performed with the Metuchen Diocesan Chamber Choir. From 2012 to 2016, she served at the national level on the NPM Choir Directors' Steering Committee. Barbara is a member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and serves on the board of the New Jersey Choral Consortium.

Prior to her career in church music, Barbara spent nine years in computer software development. Part of that time she volunteered as organist at her local church.

Barbara received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University School of Music (now Jacobs School of Music), Bloomington, Indiana with a degree in piano and mathematics. She has also pursued further studies in church music at Westminster Choir College and in musicology at Rutgers University, as well as studying and performing as choral director with the Siena Session for Music and the Arts in Siena, Italy.

Barbara lives in Mendham Township, NJ with her husband Robert. They are the parents of two married daughters, and the grandparents of two young grandsons.