Claremont Chorale

About Us

The Claremont Chorale is a community chorus based in the university town of Claremont, located about 25 miles east of Los Angeles, California, USA. The singers are selected by audition and committed to excellence in the performance of all types of music for chorus. It is an independent, entirely self-supporting non-profit 501c(3) organization.

Our Mission
To provide opportunities in Claremont and neighboring communities through which singers are able to enhance their musical training by performing a wide variety of choral music for the benefit of the community at large, and to provide a well organized and continuing group through which the heritage of choral music may be sustained.

A Little History
Established in 1968 as the Lincoln Twenty Chorale under Chris Trussel, the Chorale today is comprised of approximately fifty volunteer singers from all walks of life who rehearse together weekly. The Chorale serves the community by performing a series of concerts each season and through educational outreach. Over its nearly four decades of singing the choir has presented a diverse, international repertoire embracing music from the past five centuries as well as music of our time. Our concerts encompass major works with full orchestra, instrumental ensemble and acappella.

The Chorale has enjoyed the direction of Gregory Norton, Minister of Music at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church, since 1993. Previous conductors include Don Brinegar, Dennis Keller, Ted Reed, Scot Bowen and Hanan Yaqub.

Singing With Others
In recent years, the Chorale has participated in the choral festival in Redlands, Messiah concerts in Santa Monica and Glendale, a concert exchange with the Berkeley Alumni Chorus, numerous joint concerts with the Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Most recently, the Chorale successfully participated in the Seventh International Choral Festival in Puebla, Puebla - United States of Mexico.

Chorus for Children
Because of a need for a children's chorus in a selction from the opera "Carmen". a member of the Chorale, Jody Orrison, gathered a group of children to perform in the Spring 2002 concert. The performance was such a success, and recognizing the Chorale's potential to inspire and encourage children and youth within our community, the Chorale supported the establishment of a permanent ensemble, the Claremont Children's Chorale, for ages 8 - 14. Eventually, the program was expanded and in July 2006 the Claremont Chorales for Children and Youth became the Inland Valley Youth Chorale (IVYC), with 3 age-based choruses and musical training for children, and formed its own non-profit organization. The IVYC is now beginning its fourth full season of concerts. The Claremont Chorale and IVYC plan to continue concert cooperation in the future, starting with two concerts in the 2006-07 season.