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About Us

Mission and Vision

Our Mission

We celebrate the joy of live choral music by performing exceptional classical masterpieces and diverse, modern works for the widest possible audience.

Our Vision

To elevate appreciation for the beauty and power of choral music through inspiration, excellence and passion.

Our Values

We are committed to:

  • Artistry
  • Excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Diversity
  • Inclusiveness
  • Community

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Choral Society’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is inseparable from our commitment to musical excellence.

We value the contribution of each one of our members and recognize that we will only create world-class music when everyone can participate to their fullest potential.

We support the personal and musical growth of our singers, honor all voices, and do our best to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion in our organization.

About the Choral Society

The Choral Society is a semi-professional community chorus approximately 80 singers strong, drawn primarily from Santa Barbara County, but also hailing from the greater Los Angeles area.

The Choral Society is open by audition to experienced singers who perform a schedule of a minimum of three concerts per season, often appearing in consort with a full professional orchestra. The Choral Society promotes artistic development by providing opportunities for its members to perform both in the region and internationally, and our audiences enjoy the benefit of a diverse repertoire, from great classical masterpieces to contemporary choral works and popular pieces.

classical.

We are energized and challenged when our season includes a great choral masterwork by composers such as the incomparable Mozart, Bach or Beethoven. Please see our repertoire list for a further sampling of pieces that have invited us to stretch ourselves individually and as a cohesive body of singers.

contemporary.

Not to be constrained or limited to performing strictly classical works, we also give voice to contemporary composers like John Rutter, Morten Lauridsen and Vaughan Williams, as well as rising stars such as Christopher Tin and Ola Gjeilo. These American and International artists provide music that often address compelling issues and give voice to the human experience through new forms of musical expression.

collaborative.

Thrilling collaborations with State Street Ballet, the Santa Barbara Symphony and Opera Santa Barbara provide musical experiences like no other for both our singers and our audiences. Visiting conductors like Rollo Dilworth, have helped us express the emotional depth of Spiritual music and add improvisational percussive sound to our performances. Through our international tours, we bring a little bit of Santa Barbara to different parts of the world, sometimes joining with other choral organizations and local orchestras. We look forward to future collaborations and actively seek opportunities for enrichment.