Chorus Austin Inc
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Mission Statement
Building community through vocal music.
About This Cause
Chorus Austin is a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to bringing great choral works to Austin and the Central Texas area, with a rich tradition of excellent classical traditions and modern innovations. Founded over 50 years ago as a part of the City of Austin Parks and Recreation department, Chorus Austin features two ensembles: the 180-voice Symphonic Chorus and the carefully matched 40-voice Chamber Ensemble. Each group offers a distinctive concert experience for both audience and singers under Artistic Director Ryan Heller. At Chorus Austin, we strive to build this community by: ♣ Performing choral concerts and musical programs of professional quality; ♣ Providing artistic development opportunities to its members and the community; ♣ Bringing choral music to new audiences through outreach and education programs; and ♣ Initiating creative programming and introducing audiences to otherwise inaccessible music. A distinct part of the Chorus Austin history is encouraging new music. Each season there is a concert focused on new or rarely-performed pieces. The group has commissioned a variety of new works, including the award-winning The Unutterable by internationally respected composer Robert Kyr. In 2014, Chorus Austin initiated its Young Composers Competition, showcasing works by rising young artists, and still continues this competition annually. Symphonic Chorus Founded as the Austin Civic Chorus in 1965, “for all Austin-area residents who like to sing,” the Symphonic Chorus has become an award-winning group specializing in large-scale masterworks with professional orchestras and soloists. This group, which includes up to 180 amateur and professional singers selected by audition, offers a cross-section of some of the best vocal talent and musical passion in Central Texas. The Symphonic Chorus has performed with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Georgetown Festival of Arts. Chorus Austin has been on stage at Carnegie Hall, Bass Concert Hall, Dell Hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, and Riverbend Centre. Chamber Ensemble Chorus Austin's Chamber Ensemble features concerts with intimate sounds and exquisite blend. The carefully selected 40-member chamber chorus performs smaller choral works ranging in style from early Renaissance music to contemporary pieces, accompanied or a cappella. Ensemble members have extensive choral backgrounds, the majority of whom are professional musicians. As part of our commitment to the future of music, select high school choirs regularly appear on stage with the Chamber Ensemblein concert. The Chamber Ensemblehas performed on the stages of the Texas Choral Directors Association convention, and alongside the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Austin. Awards and Recognition Over the decades, as one of the oldest continuously performing music organizations in the area, Chorus Austin has amassed awards, accolades and invitations, both nationally and on a local level. In 2014, the group was honored as winner of the national Chorus America/ASCAP Alice Parker Award for programming recently composed music. Other awards and honors include: - 2017: Awarded the Dale Warland Singers Commission - 2015: Nominated for 5 awards by the Austin Critics’ Table including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, the Southwest Voices concert and two of Chorus Austin’s featured soloists: Bass Gil Zilkha for “Oseh Shalom” as part of Southwest Voices concert and pianist Carla McElhaney for Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. - 2012: Named one of the Top 10 Classical Musical Treasures by Robert Faires of the Austin Chronicle for its performance of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. - 2010: National finalist, The American Prize, for a concert featuring Luigi Cherubini’s Requiem in C Minor, Loris Chobanian’s Kaddish for a Young Artist and the premiere of Chorus Austin Artistic Director Ryan Heller’s choral arrangement of El Moley Rachamin. - 2008: Nominated for Austin Critics’ Table award for the world premiere of John-Michael Cooper’s edition of Mendelssohn’s St. Paul. - 2006: Austin Critics’ Table “Outstanding Symphonic Concert” award, shared with the Austin Symphony, for the performance of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 13, Babi Yar. - 2003: Austin Critics’ Table “Outstanding Choral Concert” award for the concert, “The Mighty Russians.”