The Greenville Chorale was organized in 1961 as the "Rotary Civic Chorale" by the Rotary Club of Greenville. Beginning with forty-five singers, the Chorale's mission was to provide the Upstate with a strong, symphonic community chorus. So well-received was this effort, that seven years later (1968) the "Greenville Civic Chorale Association" was chartered and the Chorale became self-sustaining. In 1987, the official title was changed to the Greenville Chorale.
Since 1961, the Greenville Chorale has grown in size to a current roster of 200 singers from Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens, Laurens, Oconee, Clemson, Greer, Simpsonville, Mauldin, Travelers Rest, and Easley. Annual auditions are held to fill the limited new positions available.
The Chorale draws audiences from across the Upstate and from western North Carolina (Hendersonville, Flat Rock, Brevard, etc.)
The Chorale has been led by a succession of outstanding conductors: founding director, William Jarvis (1961-1965); Dr. Jerry Langenkamp (1965-1966), Dr. Patrick Partridge (1966-1967); Dr. Milburn Price (1967-1981); and since 1981 Dr. Bingham L. Vick, Jr., has served as conductor and Artistic Director. This season marks the 22nd anniversary of Dr. Vick's leadership.
From its beginning, the Chorale has presented great choral-orchestral literature to the delight of enthusiastic audiences. In 1965, The Rotary Civic Chorale was invited to perform for the National Convention of Rotary International in Atlantic City and at Brevard Music Center. In recent years, the Greenville Chorale has been featured in the opening concerts of the Peace Center for Performing Arts in Greenville and the Brooks Center in Clemson. In 1993, the Chorale performed Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra at Spoleta USA in Charleston, SC. In 1994, the Chorale presented the South Carolina premiere performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. In the spring of 1996, the Chorale again joined with the Greenville Symphony in Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 8, the Symphony of a Thousand. In 1997, the Chorale presented the first modern premiere of the landmark 1895 oratorio Moses, by Max Bruch. Dr. Vick's new English translation was used, and the concert was recorded for national CD distribution. In June 1999, the Chorale celebrated the music of Randall Thompson with a highly acclaimed performance at Piccolo Spoleto for standing-room-only audiences.
The 2000-2001 FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY SEASON was highlighted with outstanding concerts that featured "The Best of the Best" chorale selections from a 40-year history; a performance of the entire score of Handel's Messiah; and a collaboration concert with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the Furman Singers, the Furman Chorale, the Furman Symphony Orchestra, Brass and Percussion Ensembles - approximately 500 performers, presenting the powerful Berlioz Requiem in Timmons Arena on the campus of Furman University.
Recognized as one of the Southeast's finest symphonic choruses, the Greenville Chorale continues to thrill and inspire both those who perform and those who listen to these performances of great music. The Chorale's mission continues, uplifting the quality of life and enhancing the culteral experience of the entire region of upstate South Carolina.