About the Cambridge Community Chorus

The Cambridge Community Chorus offers participation in musical events to all those with a love of music and community. The membership reflects the broad diversity of racial backgrounds, ages, religions, and political philosophies that make up the city of Cambridge.

Since its inception in 1990 as a fledgling group of enthusiastic, unpolished singers, the Cambridge Community Chorus has grown in size, diversity, and musical ability. In addition to the annual performance of Handel's Messiah, the Chorus has performed standard choral works for its spring concert including Mendelssohn's Elijah, Vivaldi's Gloria, Bach's St. John Passion, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, the choral movement from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Fauré's Requiem, Purcell's Dido & Aeneas (staged) and Mozart's Requiem. William Thomas and the Cambridge Community Chorus have also introduced lesser-known works by composers of color to the public, including Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Hiawatha's Wedding Feast and José Nunes Garcia's Requiem. In May 2002, the Chorus presented the North American premiere of Misa Tango by Argentinian composer, Luis Bacalov. For the spring of 2006, the Chorus has commissioned an exciting new work from this Oscar-winning composer.

In December 2002, fifty Chorus members accompanied Mr. Thomas to Tokyo, Japan, to perform in the first joint Japanese-American concert of Handel's Messiah. Members of the Chorus have often sung at celebrations of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, and annually at the Cambridge Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony. The Chorus also performs selected choruses from the Messiah at Youville Hospital for patients and their families. The Chorus strives to involve a broad spectrum of the community by not requiring auditions to join and by keeping concert donations low. None of this would have been possible without early support from Tower Records, the Ratshesky Foundation, the Blossom Fund, and the Cambridge Arts Council, as well as the ongoing support from the City of Cambridge, M.I.T., Harvard University, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and many individual and business contributors.

With the goal of encouraging young people to participate in musical endeavors, the Chorus has developed an ongoing relationship with the Music Department of the Cambridge Public Schools. Since 1994, the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Vocal Ensemble has joined the group for the fall and spring concerts. In 1997 the Chorus launched the Cambridge Choral Scholars Program, choosing several singers by audition to receive a cash grant and master classes, as well as to perform with the Chorus at a concert. The talented Choral Scholars for 2005/2006 are Sarah Berger-Patten, Shakyma Horacius, Margaret Kelly, Tasheka Nelson, and Odaine Williams.

Throughout its entire history, the Chorus has been fortunate to be challenged by the visionary, talented and fun-loving leadership of Music Director William E. Thomas. The Chorus would also not exist without the generous contributions of time, creativity and effort by a multitude of volunteers. Working together, performing, and reaching into the community, the Cambridge Community Chorus seeks to enrich the musical life of Cambridge.

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