...TO INSPIRE
AND ENRICH THE
LIVES OF OUR
COMMUNITY...
OUR HISTORY
Now in our 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". 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. The choir was also 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. Recently, Atlanta Master Chorale received a renewal for the second year of a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies along with valuable marketing coaching as an outreach project through our collaboration with the Leadership DeKalb’s Community Outreach Program.
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During the pause in live performances caused by COVID-19, Atlanta Master Chorale continued delivering on our mission to "touch spirit". We remained connected with our faithful patrons through our Virtual Concert Hall and also drew a broader audience, reaching new listeners both nationally and globally. Our YouTube channel exceeded 1 million total views in July 2020, and we had more than 350,000 views during the year long pause in live concerts. Our YouTube subscribers grew by 45%, and Atlanta Master Chorale’s performances have now been viewed in all 50 states and in more than 100 countries worldwide. Click here for more details on our outreach during the pandemic.
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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. Our choral series, published by MorningStar/ECS Publishing Group, captures new repertoire premiered by the ensemble, helping to add vibrant original music to the choral field.
With a dedicated board, staff, and roster of volunteer choristers, Atlanta Master Chorale is proud to be a part of the Atlanta arts community.
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OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITABLE INCLUSION
Diversity, inclusion, and equity are core values of and an intended goal for our continued excellence. In pursuit of equity and inclusion for our entire organization and all those who come in contact with us in any capacity, we will listen, adjust, and improve all interactions as needed.
With dedication, we will provide a safe space to be heard while acknowledging differences regarding race/ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, religion, political views, and physical abilities.
Atlanta Master Chorale values equitable inclusion for our choristers, employees, board members, audiences and all guests, which is a reflection of our organizational intent to positively mirror our community and beyond. That intent will extend to our recruitment efforts of incoming choristers, board members, and staff; our selection of vendors; our collaborations with other organizations and guest artists, as well as our programming processes in honoring all musical traditions.
OUR MISSION
To inspire and enrich the lives of our community through the performance of inspirational choral music, to sing at the highest level of choral artistry, and to be a standard of excellence among performing arts organizations.
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2017 AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONVENTION FEATURED CHOIR
Atlanta Master Chorale was selected from nearly 300 auditioning choirs to perform at the American Choral Directors Association 2017 National Convention in Minneapolis. Fewer than 30 choirs, and only a handful of community choirs, were asked to perform in front of the nearly 4,000 choral directors from around the country who convene every 2 years to celebrate choral artistry.
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We were thrilled and humbled to accept the invitation to be a part of the conference theme “A Life of Song,” which honored choral music’s enduring ability to have meaning in every stage of life. In addition to some of our favorite music from recent concerts you’ve attended, our program for this national spotlight concert included a new commission by American Composer Shawn Kirchner, written just for Atlanta Master Chorale, and premiered at the convention.
“Singing at National ACDA is the pinnacle of choral achievement for any ensemble, but especially for a community choir. This is a stunning milestone, and a tribute to Atlanta Master Chorale’s remarkable talent and commitment of time and energy over many months (and for some, many years) of Tuesday night rehearsals!”
– Eric Nelson, Artistic Director
2014 PRUDENTIAL AWARD FOR BOARD GOVERNANCE, BOARDSOURCE
Among thousands of BoardSource member organizations across America, Atlanta Master Chorale took home top honors, the Prudential Leadership Award, at the 2014 BoardSource Leadership Forum.
“I am enormously proud of what we have achieved together as an organization,” — artistic director, Eric Nelson. “Our artistic achievement has been fueled and supported by our amazing board members.”
2013 MARGARET HILLIS AWARD FOR CHORAL EXCELLENCE FROM CHORUS AMERICA
The Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence is presented annually to one member choir of Chorus America which demonstrates artistic excellence, a strong organizational structure, and a commitment to outreach, education, and/or culturally diverse activities. Prior recipients include Dale Warland Singers, Chanticleer, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Los Angeles Master Chorale, VocalEssence and most recently in the adult volunteer choir category, Choral Arts. Thank you, Chorus America! We would also like to thank our board members, Artistic Director, officers, singers, and especially our audience and loyal fans who’ve made this tremendous honor possible!
OUR MUSICAL OUTREACH
We are teachers, students, executives, parents, professors, attorneys, scientists, and church musicians. Together, our combined musical influence reaches an estimated 14,000 people inside and outside of Atlanta each week.
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Our leadership training seminars provide a progressive look into the similarities between leading a company and conducting a choir. Contact us for more information about participating in one of our leadership trainings!
COMMUNITY CHORAL FESTIVALS
By hosting multiple choirs each year, our Atlanta Community Choral Festival joins hundreds of Atlanta’s most dedicated artists together to honor our city through music. Contact us about getting involved!