Columbia Chorale

History

Columbia Chorale located in Columbia Missouri is a 60 plus men and women's mixed voice classical community choir that performs 6 or more concerts per season. It has existed in one form or another since 1978. Its mission is to promote choral music of the highest artistic quality and to stimulate a greater community understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of choral music by presenting rich, vital, varied musical programs that appeal to a wide cross-section of Columbia residents. Columbia Chorale partners with community arts organizations such as the Columbia Civic Orchestra, the 9th St. Philharmonic Orchestra, and professional guest soloists. The majority of the concerts are performed at the Missouri United Methodist church Concert Series but the chorale also performs in Jesse Hall as part of the University of Missouri-Columbia Concert Series and at the Missouri Theater Center for the Arts. It has an annual Messiah Sing Along and on several occasions it has performed at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City and the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, located at the Churchill Memorial on the Westminster College Campus in Fulton Missouri.

Since, 2013, it has been under the direction of Artistic Director Emily Edgington-Andrews who received her degrees in Music at Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri (B.A.;M.A.), and at the University of Missouri (M.M.).

Columbia Chorale was founded in June 1978 as the Ad Hoc Singers by Christine Leonard Cox. In September 1979, the organization split into two choral groups: the “Chorale Ensemble” of approximately 30 singers, and the “Ad Hoc Singers,” about 15 in number. In September 1981, the name of the organization official changed to Columbia Chorale Ensembles, Inc. Ad Hoc Swingers, a local jazz ensemble, was added for one season. Acting Director, David Benz, consolidated the singers into one group, the Columbia Choral Ensemble, in January 1984. Dr. David Taylor was named Director of the group later that year and served as Director until August 1987 when Martin Hook became Director. In 1989, Glenna Betts Johnson joined the group as accompanist. In January 1991 Dr. R. Paul Drummond became Director and was succeeded by Fred Kaiser in 2002. The following year 2003, Alex Innecco became the Director. In 2013 Emily Edgington-Andrews became the current Director.

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Community arts organizations

References

    6 linear feet, 54 audio cassettes, 10 audio tapes, 10 CDs, 4 c.d. Records of an independent, mixed ensemble dedicated to performing choral music. Founded as the Ad Hoc Singers in June 1978.

    External links

    Events past and present

    Columbia, Missouri

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