Founder John Alston to Retire August 2026
Chester Children’s Chorus Announces Leadership Transition
Swarthmore, PA — The Chester Children’s Chorus (CCC) announced today that its founder and Executive & Artistic Director, Dr. John Alston, will retire in August 2026, marking the culmination of 32 years of visionary leadership.
As part of the transition, Dana Semos, the organization’s Managing and Education Director since 2018, will assume the role of Executive Director. Sean Tripline, who has served as Assistant Music Director for more than a decade, will become Artistic Director. A search for a new Assistant Music Director will begin in February 2026.
Alston founded the Chorus – then known as the Chester Boys Chorus – in 1994 while serving as an Associate Professor of Music at Swarthmore College. Seven boys from the now-defunct Christopher Columbus Elementary School joined the program, which has grown to include more than 100 boys and girls in grades 3–12 from every school in Chester. More than 750 children have participated in the program since its founding.
“When I started the Chester Children’s Chorus, I could not have imagined the profound love that would grow around it,” said Alston. “For 32 years, it has been my greatest privilege to learn alongside these extraordinary children and to witness what happens when they are challenged, supported, and truly believed in. I step away with immense gratitude and complete confidence in the future of the CCC and in Dana and Sean.”
Under Alston’s leadership, the CCC has evolved into a program recognized for musical excellence, academic rigor, and a deep love and respect for the children and families it serves. The Chorus, offered at no cost to families, has three components: a year-round Music Education Program, the Math Practice Program, and the Summer Learning Program.
In 2017, Alston launched the Math Practice Program to strengthen math achievement for Chester children. Since its inception, students in the program have made an average of two years’ progress in one year.
The five-week Summer Learning Program includes music and math, as well as science, reading, swimming, art, and photography.
The CCC Advisory Board expressed strong confidence in the transition, noting that the organization’s programs, values, and commitment to Chester’s children remain steady and strong.
“John Alston’s legacy is not only the extraordinary musical and academic achievements of the children, but the strong institution he built,” said Deb Bergstrand and Elizabeth Rubin, co-chairs of the CCC Advisory Board. “Because of that foundation, the Board is confident in a smooth and successful transition to the leadership of Dana Semos and Sean Tripline, whose experience and values are deeply aligned with the mission of the CCC.”
The planned transition ensures continuity across both artistic and educational leadership.
Dana Semos has been integral to CCC's growth since 2018.
An educator for 35 years, Semos has played a central role in strengthening the CCC’s educational programs, staff structure, and community partnerships. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, she will continue to teach math to the children.
“John created a space where children discover not only their voices, but their confidence, curiosity, and sense of belonging,” said Semos. “As we move into this next chapter, our mission remains unchanged. We will continue to provide an intensive, joyful, and sophisticated music and math education centered on the children and rooted in community.”
Tripline brings deep artistic continuity to the role of Artistic Director, having worked closely with Alston for more than a decade, shaping the Chorus’ musical identity.
Sean Tripline has worked closely with Alston for more than a decade.
"John has given the CCC a foundation that is both bold and beautiful—rooted in discipline, artistic and academic excellence, and joy. I’m honored to carry that vision forward. As Artistic Director, I hope to deepen our commitment to our children’s full humanity—musically, intellectually, and socially—and to expand the ways our program uplifts not just individual lives, but the community we serve."
About the Chester Children’s Chorus
A program of Swarthmore College, the Chester Children’s Chorus is a nonprofit organization that provides year-round music and math education to the children of Chester, Pennsylvania. During the school year, children and youth in grades 3-12 develop their vocal talents through rehearsals and concerts and their math skills through small group and individualized instruction.
Since its founding in 1994, more than 750 children have participated in the program, which equips students for academic and personal success in their community and beyond. For more information, visit ChesterChildrensChorus.org.
