The Worcester Chorus

The Worcester Chorus, under the sponsorship of Music Worcester, Inc., has the unique distinction of being one of the most outstanding ongoing choral groups in the United States and was founded in 1858 to sing in the first annual Worcester Music Festival in the newly-built Mechanics Hall. The 120-member chorus includes singers from Worcester County, northern Connecticut, and the Boston area. Its repertoire includes, not only the western world's finest choral masterpieces, but also contemporary literature, arrangements of American folk songs, classics from the musical theater, and commissioned works. Each year the chorus performs with orchestras and soloists in Mechanics Hall as part of The Worcester Music Festival, including an annual performance of Handel's Messiah and a Spring Choral Concert. The Worcester Chorus has also made guest appearances throughout the Northeast and overseas.

The Worcester Chorus is a major community chorus that includes both amateur and professional singers. It endeavors to foster the choral arts and to enhance the cultural life of Worcester and the surrounding area through the highest level of musicianship and artistry, resulting in enriching and emotional experiences for audiences and singers alike. For over 100 years, the annual Messiah holiday concert has become a local tradition and an integral part of the Worcester Music Festival! 

Artistic Director Christopher Shepard has been with the chorus since 2009. 

For more information, visit the Worcester Chorus Website

Dr. Gerald R. Mack Scholarship Applications download form and information here

Auditions

If you are interested in becoming a part of this great choral organization and would like to learn more about our group, please visit http://www.worcesterchorus/contact.php

December 14, 2010 - a message received from an audience member at the 2010 Messiah performance:

My name is Jonathan and I first attended a performance of Messiah in 1996. As an extra credit requirement for my Baroque Music Study class in my junior year of Providence College, I was required to attend a Baroque performance and write a review. I remember being awestruck that evening by the whole performance: the crisp voices and sounds of the many different string instruments, the perfect acoustics of Mechanics Hall, and the sheer length of the piece. I was hooked. Since that year, I have attended every performance. I believe that one year it was postponed and one year it may have even been cancelled due to weather. I have seen many great performances, but never have I experienced one quite like last week.

I've heard that in live performances when the audience presents prolonged applause for an extraordinary performance, it is customary for the cast to perform an encore. In rock concerts this happens all the time, but in my 15 years of watching Messiah, this was a first for me. It was exciting and exhilarating to sing with such a great chorus and orchestra. And to be asked to sing one of the most acclaimed biblical choruses of all time was truly a "once in a lifetime" experience.

For this I would like to thank whomever was responsible for extending me that honor.  Please keep up the tradition of offering great performances in such a great venue.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,  Jonathon Caparso of Boylston, MA