Corpus Christi Chorale History

Established in 1945 by the music department of Del Mar College, the Corpus Christi Chorale boasts a 64 year tradition of providing outstanding choral music to the people of Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend. The ensemble's purpose is:

• " to perform fine works of choral literature;
• " to support the education and development of the finest singers in the South Texas area by furnishing a platform for continued training, study and enrichment; and
• " to provide an opportunity for the South Texas community to experience great choral music.

In 1961, Dr. Ron Shirey became the Artistic Director of the Chorale and under his leadership, the ensemble grew to 80 auditioned adult voices. During his tenure, in addition to its annual concert series, the Chorale performed the Brahms Requiem with the San Antonio Symphony, under Victor Alessandro (1961); Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the Mexican National Symphony, under Maestro Herrera De La Fuente (1970); and a joint San Antonio/Corpus Christi performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (1972).

From 1972 until 1974, Dr. C.M. Shearer directed the Chorale before moving to Nebraska and later, to Kent State. He was succeeded by Dr. Eugene McKinley, who took the baton in 1974, fresh from postdoctoral work under Robert Shaw, and directed the Chorale for thirty years.

During Dr. McKinley's tenure, the Chorale appeared regularly with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, performing operatic and symphonic choruses, as well as the City of Corpus Christi's annual Messiah concert. Additionally, the chorale presented its own productions of such major works as Vivaldi's Gloria, Rossini's Stabat Mater, Fauré's Requiem, Rutter's Gloria, Bach's Magnificat, Mozart's masses and Requiem, with local professional instrumentalists and the Austin Sinfonietta. In 1987, the Chorale appeared at Lincoln Center in New York for a performance of Mozart's Great C minor Mass.

In the 1990s, the Chorale's fundraising efforts engaged nationally-known composers, as well as Texas composers, to premiere their works in Corpus Christi. In 1990, the group sponsored Paul Winter with the Paul Winter Consort to perform the Missa Gaia with the Chorale. The following year, world famous music ethnologist-composer David Fanshawe came to play and conduct his renowned African Sanctus. In 1995, Robert Ray conducted the Chorale in a rousing performance of his Gospel Mass. Well attended, these concerts were made possible by generous donors, corporate sponsorships, and occasional grants. Other particularly memorable performances have included Martin and Adams' Sing for the Cure and Rutter's Mass of the Children.

In 2005, the Corpus Christi Chorale moved to Texas A&M Corpus Christi to initiate a new chapter in the Chorale's history. Musical highlights for the Chorale, now appearing in TAMU-CC's world-class Performing Arts Center, include the 2006 performance of Jenkin's The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Sam Logsdon, and Orff's Carmina Burana, under the direction of Arlene Long.

For the 2008 -2009 season, the Corpus Christi Chorale welcomed a new Artistic Director, Dr. Ross Bernhardt, who comes to TAMU-CC from Lambuth University, where he served as Chair of the Music Department, directed the Concert Choir and the Lambuth Singers, and taught voice, vocal pedagogy, and choral methods. He has served as assistant conductor and bass section leader for the Desert Chorale, a professional chamber choir based in New Mexico, since 1993. He is a bass faculty member of the International Berkshire Choral Festival and an active baritone soloist. Dr. Bernhardt has performed with the Santa Fe Opera, Dave Brubeck, San Juan Symphony, Canterbury Choral Society, and the Santa Fe Symphony. His first Corpus Christi Chorale concert as conductor was Brahms' Requiem in October 2008.