Following a selection process filled with qualified candidates and a very tough decision, we are pleased to announce the new music director of the Huntsville Master Chorale, Dr. Erin Colwitz. Follow the link, or browse to our "About Us" page to learn more about Dr. Colwitz!

The singers of the Huntsville Master Chorale are excited about the upcoming concert. We will be premiering a composition written for the Chorale by local composer, Bryan Page. He was commissioned by the Chorale to compose an extended piece in honor of Hannah Marguerite Wright and Gregory Marshall Wright, Junior for the joy they bring to their parents' hearts. We wish for more children who bring joy to their parents' hearts (and elicit commissioned choral music).

The exciting work is titled Songs of Love and Loss. We singers are glad we learned to count in kindergarten. We need that skill as we try to keep up with Bryan Page's notes and rhythms. He has thrown us a real challenge as he continually changed the meter. He has scored the music to the love poems of E. E. Cummings, a challenge within itself. We have grown to the task and are enjoying its demands. It has an unusual combination of instruments for accompaniment - the horn, the harp and the cello.

The title of Bryan's commissioned work could not be more fitting for this spring concert. This will be the last concert conducted by our director, Tom Dooling. He is leaving us for Texas. Now how can that be? Tom has selected a fresh and varied program to compliment Bryan's commissioned work. Some are familiar, like Robert Burns' My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose and Lauridson's Dirait-on from his Chanson des Roses. You’ll be humming that melody for a week. His favorite selection is Songs Eternity by Stephan Paulus. This contemporary piece contrasts the women's voices with the piano, and Sharon Keffer will shine as she plays a duo role with the vocal sounds.

There will be farewell songs, like the musical setting of Major Sullivan Ballou's last letter home before his Civil War death. Another will be Dan Forrest's Oread Farewell, premiered in 2007. We singers can dedicate that one to our director.

We’re looking forward to the concert. Put the date on your calendar: April 24, 7:30 PM at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Drake Avenue in Huntsville (map to location). You, the public, are welcome. Come celebrate with us.

Director of the Huntsville Master Chorale, Tom Dooling, has accepted a position in San Antonio, Texas. Tom's final concert with the Chorale will be on April 24th at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Drake Avenue at 7:30 PM. The Chorale has grown immensely during his three-year tenure and he will be missed.

The Huntsville Master Chorale invites you to join us for our Christmas 2008 concert:

"Come We Joyous, All Together"

Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 301 Gates Ave. (map to location)

A sparkling evening of song, story and dance with Pat Blackwell’s Whitesburg Middle School Girls Chorus. Featuring renowned storyteller and Chorale soprano Sara McDaris as narrator.

No admission fee; donations gratefully accepted

Thanks to all of the people that came to our Fall 2008 concert. It was a wonderful turnout. It took a little bit longer than usual, but pictures are now available. Go take a look!

We also want to congratulate Larry E. and Charlene Lechner as the winners of the String Quartet CD Drawing. They along with others kindly registered for the drawing by filling out the guest form in the program to go on our donor/mailing list.

Accompanied by guests from the Blossomwood String Ensemble, the Huntsville Master Chorale presents its Fall 2008 concert. We will be performing at First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville at 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 28 (map to location).

The concert program includes Franz Schubert's Mass in C, Domine, Ad Adjuvandum Me Festina by G.B. Martini, and compositions of Johann Michael Haydn.

Donations will be accepted at the door.

The Huntsville Master Chorale would like to formally thank our Season Sponsors for the 2008-2009 season, Lee and Sherrie Rhoads. Their generous sponsorship was dedicated to Sara McDaris and Lucy Rhoads Villines.

Would you like to see your name on our 2008-2009 Sponsors page? See our Donate web page for info on how to contact us to make a donation. Season Sponsors (such as Lee and Sherrie) receive a news item like this one here on the web site front page and special placement on the front page of our concert programs for the season.

Mark your calendars now for the Huntsville Master Chorale 2008-2009 season concerts. We'll tell you more about the concerts as they approach, but we wanted to go ahead and share some of the details about the exciting upcoming season.

• Sunday, September 28, 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville – A program of Schubert, Martini, & Haydn
• Tuesday, December 16, 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian – A narrated Christmas program of music and prose with guest singers from Whitesburg Middle School
• Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Huntsville – The premiere of an HMC commissioned work composed and conducted by Bryan Page

Want to get email notifications of our concerts as they approach? Sign up for our announcement email list and never miss a concert.

Are you interested in joining us this season? Rehearsals for the 2008-2009 season begin August 5, so now is the time. Take a look at our audition page for details on how to set up your audition.

Chorale supporter Amy Qualls-McClure once again shares her photographic talent to bring us pictures from the spring concert.

Take a look at some photos from the February 2008 concert.