Atlanta Master Chorale

OUR HISTORY

Now in its fourth decade, Atlanta Master Chorale has crafted one of America’s finest choral sounds, bringing singers and audiences to the place where music touches spirit. As a result, the choir was honored with Chorus America’s Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence in 2013 and the 2014 Prudential Board Leadership Award from BoardSource. Capitalizing on the momentum of these accolades, the choir was awarded a coveted performance spot at the 2017 American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Minneapolis, performing for nearly 4,000 of the country’s most dedicated choral professionals.

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Begun in 1985 as Gwinnett Festival Singers, the group gained momentum well beyond its initial suburban reach, drawing singers and audiences from throughout metropolitan Atlanta. When Dr. Eric Nelson joined as Artistic Director in 2000, the Board formalized this expanding sphere of influence and Dr. Nelson’s artistic vision under the name Atlanta Sacred Chorale. Dr. Nelson’s exceptional leadership and field-leading conducting skills have propelled the professionally trained, but always volunteer group to national recognition as a refined and dedicated community choir. In 2013, the group took another step toward leadership in choral artistry by settling into the designation, challenge, and vision-driven name of Atlanta Master Chorale.

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Throughout its development, Atlanta Master Chorale has consistently celebrated material drawn from a broad spectrum of choral music. Performing nearly 100 different pieces over five main concerts each season- from historic and newly commissioned a cappella songs, to accompanied major and minor works- Atlanta Master Chorale audiences enjoy beautiful music from nearly every genre and period. The ensemble’s two choral series, published by MorningStar and E.C. Schirmer, capture new repertoire premiered by Atlanta Master Chorale, and are helping to add vibrant new music to the choral field. With a dedicated board, staff, and roster of volunteer choristers, Atlanta Master Chorale is poised to continue down the path toward its mission to “lift the spirit through choral artistry” for many years to come.