About the Chorale
Comprised of singers from a great variety of occupational backgrounds and levels of training, the choristers nonetheless take their charge of excellence seriously, sharing a passion and avocation for music. The group’s atmosphere encourages continued skill-building in the pursuit of serious musicianship and provides the opportunity to explore a great variety of challenging choral compositions.
Although in residence at First Presbyterian Church, the Tyler Civic Chorale is a secular, unaffiliated arts organization that welcomes singers from any tradition, denomination, or background—a diversity that each season seeks to reflect in its musical selections.
Membership
Membership in the chorale requires attendance at weekly rehearsals throughout the season and a dedication to learning your part outside of rehearsal. Main auditions are held in late August before the first rehearsal of the choral season, but entry into the Tyler Civic Chorale is possible in January for the Spring concerts.
The Chorale in Their Own Words
“I remember wanting to be in the Chorale because a lot of my church choir friends were members, and it sounded like so much fun! I have been a proud member of the Tyler Civic Chorale for 4o years, and I still love it. When I think about the repertoire that has been performed over these years, I’m amazed at the depth and variety of music, and I’m proud to be part of it! ”
“Being in the Chorale has been a real privileged for me. There’s nothing quite like singing together in a group that is committed to making beautiful music. And the repertoire that we have sung over the years has been amazing, uplifting, and inspiring. Singing with this group feels organic-the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, And when it comes together, it is magic.”
“The church choir performed with the Chorale for one Masterwork concert every year, and this literally changed my life. I had never been exposed to classical or sacred music of any kind, so the experience literally opened up a whole new musical world for me. After a few years I became part of the Chorale. It was very challenging at first because I have no musical education (I’m a biologist), but I worked hard and learned a lot. Since then, the Chorale has been a critical part of my life. The joy of singing with a group is something that cannot be explained. It has helped me to get through the stresses of daily life for over 35 years.”