Knoxville choral society |
Since 1951, the Knoxville Choral Society has been honored to share a wide range of music with our community. Dedicated to maintaining choral excellence, this group of 120+ auditioned musicians performs major choral and orchestral works as well as additional varied styles of choral literature. 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. The active members of the Knoxville Choral Society represents a wide variety 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 contribute with annual membership dues. Additional sources of income for this nonprofit organization include grants, ticket sales, special projects and support from local businesses, the professional community, and benevolent individuals. We rely on the financial support of many individuals and business firms to maintain the Knoxville Choral Society. 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. | OUr mission
The Knoxville Choral Society, an auditioned symphonic chorus, offers excellence through professional choral performances, the commissioning of new works, the promotion of music education, and cultural outreach. |
OUR HISTORYOrganized 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. Dr. Eric Thorson, Professor of Music at Carson-Newman University, served as the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Knoxville Choral Society from 1995 until his retirement in 2018. Dr. John Orr was chosen as the new Artistic Director of the Knoxville Choral Society in 2018. Also in 2018, Andrew Duncan became the Assistant Director. Leslie Hill serves as the Assistant Accompanist. |
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENTKnoxville Choral Society (KCS) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Programs presented by and membership in KCS are available to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or veteran status. | COMMISIONED WORKSFour commissioned works have been premiered by the KCS:
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