| Community History
The Carolina Master Chorale is the oldest community chorus on the Grand Strand, founded in 1982. It began as The Community Chorus, when a group of interested individuals gathered to practice and present Handel’s Messiah during the Christmas season of that year. The group decided to continue.
On September 8, 1983, singers met and officially organized the independent, non-profit
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Community Chorus. The stated purpose was to develop and promote appreciation of sacred and secular music through the presentation of periodic public concerts, and to educate and train its members to make such presentations. The name was later changed to the Community Choral Society, and now the Carolina Master Chorale, reflecting the group's level of performance art and experience.
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Since its founding, The Carolina Master Chorale has continued to nurture the choral arts in our community. It offers four concerts during its annual season, including the concert for combined choruses at the “Festival-By-the Sea," a weekend-long choral workshop for invited choruses from the United States and Canada, featuring internationally known choral conductors. Also, The Carolina Master Chorale for the past two years has enjoyed its collaboration with the Long Bay Symphony Orchestra. In 2002 in the opening concert of the season, the Chorale joined the LBSO in the performance of the Beethoven Symphony in D Minor, No. 9 (“Choral"). The 2003 season again begins in celebration with the LBSO of An Evening at The Opera.
Education has always been a primary goal of the Chorale. For seven years the Chorale sponsored a Children’s Music Workshop for the area’s children in grades 2 through 6. We are very proud to sponsor the new Carolina Youth Chorale, an audition chorus of local high school students.
Since 1987, The Carolina Master Chorale has participated in the community Easter Sunrise Service held at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion, and in the Christmas Tree Lighting at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. In addition, the CMC has provided programs to schools, retirement homes, and entertainment venues in the area. It has invited the SC State University Choir to participate in regular concerts.
The CMC is an internationally performing ensemble as well. In 1997 the group represented South Carolina in Austria on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of Schubert’s birth. Their 2000 United Kingdom tour included concerts in Scotland, England and Wales. The Chorale enjoyed an Italian tour in June 2003, participating in the International Festival of Choirs in Siena, with additional performances in Spoleto, Florence and Venice, Italy. In 2005 the ensemble sang in the Bach church in Leipzig and in Prague.
To celebrate its 25th Anniversary season, the Carolina Master Chorale will mount a full-scale production of Verdi's La Traviata and embark on its first tour of Spain in the summer of 2008.
Education and Outreach
Annual Carolina Master Chorale educational concerts provide under-served students with the opportunity to hear high-level performances of great choral music.
The Master Chorale also provides community service throughout the year with free outreach concerts in retirement communities and appearances at civic functions, including the community Christmas Tree lighting, Easter Sunrise services, and the South Carolina Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
Participating in the Carolina Master Chorale
The success and growth of the Carolina Master Chorale is due in large part to the efforts of its loyal choral members and to their talent, hard work and devotion. The volunteer chorus consists of over 70 auditioned members. Members, from all parts of the Grand Strand, north to Calabash and west to Conway, are of very diverse backgrounds of music experience. We are locals, raised and newcomers, dedicated to filling the Grand Strand with music. This year volunteer professional associates who have joined us will enhance our membership. The high quality of choral performance over the latest two years is very much related to the devotion of the music director and conductor, Dr. Timothy Koch. Tim is recognized as a champion of contemporary composers and as a leading interpreter of choral/orchestral masterworks. He challenges us to excel.
The governance of the organization is accomplished through a board of volunteer directors and committees. Additionally, The Friends of the Chorale, is a new opportunity for business and community leaders to offer support and advice to our board.
The Carolina Master Chorale not only contributes to the cultural and civic life of the Grand Strand, but acts as cultural ambassadors for our community through performances in other South Carolina cities, in performances in other parts of the United States, and in other countries. The chorale's concerts have been broadcast throughout the state as part of South Carolina Educational Radio’s “Carolina Concerts" program.
If you are interested in participating in this dynamic group, we encourage you to consider membership. Singers call for audition 444-5774. Rehearsals are held Thursday evenings from September through May at Ocean View Baptist Church, 7:00 - 9:30 PM.
Volunteers interested in an advisory capacity as a Friend of the Chorale, call 444 - 5774.
Board of Directors 2007-2008
| Norma Culler |
President |
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| Pete Bine |
Vice President |
Chuck Odum |
Ex-Officio |
| Carolyn Vereen |
Secretary |
Heather Bradley |
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| Ivan Fritsch |
Treasurer |
Brian Fry |
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| Elise Reed |
Asst. Treasurer |
Scarlet Fowler |
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| Andy Fowler |
Development |
Parnell Diggs |
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| Dorothy Firestine |
Librarian |
Tim Koch |
Music Director |
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