Frances C. Roberts is the founding conductor of the Long Island Philharmonic Chorus. She received her undergraduate education at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, studying piano with James Ball, and choral music with Helen Hosmer, Carl Druba and Brock McElheran. Extensive accompanying opportunities, as well as concerto performance led her to pursue a Master of Music from Boston University, where she studied with Bela Nagy, Abraham Kaplan and Allen Lannom, and accompanied for Roman Totenberg and Chloe Owen. Subsequently she studied with Alton Jones in New York, and accompanied at the Metropolitan Opera Studio and for the Gregg Smith Singers. Since then, she has accompanied at the Metropolitan Opera Studio and for renowned conductors Margaret Hillis and Donald Neuen

As an advocate for the arts as a means to understanding among peoples, and the spirit of community which is inherent in the choral organizations she champions, Mrs. Roberts has founded, and continues to conduct three large choral organizations. Besides the Long Island Philharmonic Chorus, Mrs. Roberts is the founding Music Director and conductor of the 120-voice Long Island Masterworks Chorus. This organization presents concerts at the highest level, and commissioned and performed two new major choral works — one a benefit for Breast Cancer Research, and the other a Memorial to Survivors and Victims of the Holocaust.

In 1994, Mrs. Roberts was asked by the citizens of the township of Brookhaven to begin a choral festival. After six successful years there, she has moved on to found The Long Island Choral Festival and Institute — a summer Music Festival which draws singers from all over Long Island as well as from dozens of states. Workshops are offered for graduate credit, and a week of rehearsals and performances are capped off by a gala concert.

The Suffolk County Office of Cultural Affairs has recognized Mrs. Roberts for her commitment to the arts as she completed six years of service on the Citizens Advisory Board.  The State University of Potsdam Crane School of Music honored her as outstanding alumnus in the professional field. Most recently, she was honored as “Woman of the Year in the Arts” by Women On The Job.

Mrs. Roberts makes her home in Northport with her husband and two children. She teaches voice and coaches singers from her studio in Northport, and continues an active performance schedule as accompanist and conductor.