Greenwich Choral Society

History

 

The Greenwich Choral Society was founded on January 7, 1926. 

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The goal of the organization was to promote and encourage the art of choral singing and the love of great music.Today the group performs three or four times annually with professional orchestra and soloists. 

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To see a history of our concerts with detail going back almost 100 years including the first ten concerts, click on the link below.

Concert Programs starting in 1926

 

International Performances

The chorus performed at the Aldeburgh Festival and Greenwich Festival in England to mark the American Bicentennial in 1976. The Choral Society returned to England in 1985, with performances at Aldeburgh, in London, and at various cathedrals. Other summer tours have included trips to the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria and Greece, Austria and Hungary.

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Notable US Performances

The Choral Society has performed in New York City at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Carnegie Hall, St. Thomas Church, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The Choral Society has also appeared as guest artists with the Greenwich Symphony, New Haven Symphony, New Haven Chorale, and Stamford Symphony, as well as at the Ives Festival in Danbury. 

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Community Outreach,

GCS has performed at the Greenwich YWCA, several area senior centers, and as guest performers for the Curiosity Concert Series for children at the Greenwich Public Library.

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Commissioned Works

The chorus previewed Dave Brubeck's La Fiesta de la Posada, commissioned by the Honolulu Symphony, and has itself commissioned works by James Furman, Stephen Paulus, Rob Mathes, William Schuman, and Michael Schelle. In 2000 the chorus premiered a work by Adolphus Hailstork entitled Songs of Innocence. In celebration of Paul F. Mueller's 20th anniversary leading our chorus, Maestro Mueller commissioned a new work by Colin Britt, Light Upon Light, which was first performed in December, 2017.

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Joint Concerts

The chorus also performed Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the New Haven Chorale and New Haven Symphony, with performances at Yale University's Woolsey Hall and The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College. A presentation of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Fairfield Chorale brought more than 200 choristers onto the stage before a sold-out audience at the Norwalk Concert Hall.

 

The Music Director and Conductor of the Greenwich Choral Society is Dr. Christine Howlett.

Former conductors of note include Lowell Beveridge, Jack Ossewaarde, Vernon de Tar, Louie L. White and Richard Vogt, and Paul F. Mueller.