History

For more than 50 years, the Knoxville Choral Society has brought the joy and wonder of choral music to the people of East Tennessee. Dedicated to maintaining a rich tradition of choral excellence for its members and audiences, this organization has through the years brought some of the world’s greatest choral music to thousands of listeners.

Organized in 1951 as the Knoxville Choral Club, the group of 35-40 volunteer singers performed under its founder and first conductor, Edward H. Hamilton. The society established a Choral Conductor’s Scholarship Endowment Fund at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in his honor. This fund now awards through audition a $2,000 per year scholarship for graduate study in choral conducting, in music or music education. Succeeding Hamilton as conductor have been Woodrow Hall, Ambrose Holford, Ed Francis, J.B. Lyle, Kirk Trevor and KCS's current conductor, Eric Thorson. J.B. Lyle, the former Supervisor of Music of Knox County Schools, served as conductor from 1970 until his death in 1987. The J.B. Lyle Music Education Endowment was established at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in his memory. Maestro Kirk Trevor, former director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, directed the KCS from 1988 until 1995.

In 1995, Dr. Eric Thorson, Professor of Music at Carson Newman College, became Conductor and Artistic Director of the Choral Society. Dr. Thorson has enhanced the professional level of performance of the society through excellent repertoire and concerts performed in East Tennessee and Europe. Danny M. Brian, staff accompanist at the University of Tennessee, is KCS's pianist. Professional orchestras of the finest available players from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra are secured to perform for KCS concerts. KCS is governed by a board of directors elected by the members of the society. In 2005, Bill Brewer was hired as Assistant Conductor of the KCS and Director of the Knoxville Chamber Chorale.

The active membership of the Choral Society currently numbers 173, representing a wide cross-section of occupations, including many professional musicians serving in area schools, colleges and churches. Since 1976, entrance into the group has been solely through audition. Soloists are selected from the performing chorus, with occasional guest soloists appearing as well. A small group from the society, the Knoxville Chamber Chorale, is selected by audition to perform at KCS concerts and by invitation in the Knoxville area. 

All singers are contributing members through membership dues. Additional sources of income for this nonprofit organization include ticket sales, special projects and support from local businesses, the professional community and benevolent individuals. More than 100 individuals and business firms maintain a financial support of KCS as Patrons through yearly contributions.

KCS's regular concert season normally includes a major choral and orchestral work and additional concerts of varied styles of choral literature for a variety of events. KCS often performs with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra as well as for convention programs and for special community events. A recent highlight was a June 2002 concert tour in Europe. The tour included a performance in Knoxville's sister city, Cottbus, Germany, where they KCS members were hailed as "singing ambassadors." The current season will include the KCS Honors Concert, featuring winners of the fifth annual Young Classical Musicians Contest, sponsored by WUOT-FM, Rush's Musical Services, Inc., the Tennessee Arts Commission, and Home Federal Bank. In the summer of 2005, members of KCS performed the Verdi Requiem in Carnegie Hall, New York City.

Three commissioned works have been premiered by the KCS:

  • An American Essay by Nancy Van de Vate
  • Episodes – Jesus Christ by David Van Vactor, Composer Laureate of Tennessee
  • The Fields of Heaven by Daniel Gawthrop, in honor of the KCS’ 50th Anniversary

For a fuller listing of works performed by the Knoxville Choral Society, please see our repertoire page.

Season Calendar

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