The Santa Barbara Master Chorale was formed in 1984 to perform major works, primarily in the oratorio tradition. Phillip McLendon, our inspiring and inspired first Music Director, led the Chorale for over two decades through an impressive body of work. Steven Hodson, our current Music Director, has carried forward this Santa Barbara tradition since the 2007-2008 season.
December 2020 Holiday Concert A Virtual Performance of Favorite Carols performed at Hospice of Santa Barbara's Light up a Life Ceremony
July 2021 4th of July Celebration Virtual Performance (in preparation)
2019-2020
November 9-10, 2019 Johannes Brahms: Requiem
December 15, 2019 Strike the Harp and Join the Chorus! Annual fundraiser: Holiday Concert, Singalong, and Reception
NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the spring 2020 concert was cancelled or postponed.
2018-2019
November 10-11, 2018 Dan Forrest: Jubilate Deo Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria in D Major
December 16, 2018 Santa Barbara Sings! A free holiday gift to the community
April 6-7, 2019 Ralph Vaughn Williams: The Sea Symphony
June 9, 2019 On Wings of Song - A Musical Celebration of Birds
2017-2018
November 4-5, 2017 Dan Forrest: Requiem for the Living Gabriel Fauré: Requiem in D Minor
December 11, 2017 Annual Holiday Concert Fundraiser -- Cancelled due to fires
April 14-15, 2018 George Frideric Handel: Samson
June 10, 2018 Gioachino Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle (little solemn mass)
2016-2017
November 12-13, 2016 Giuseppe Verdi: Messa da Requiem
April 8-9, 2017 J.S. BACH, TEACHER OF US ALL Johann Sebastian Bach: Christ Lag in Todesbanden Johann Sebastian Bach: Choral Fantasy Heinz Werner Zimmermann: Psalmkonzert June 11, 2017 AN AMERICAN CHORAL JOURNEY Works from 1840 to the present, including Sacred Harp singing and Morten Lauridsen's Nocturnes
2015-2016
November 21-22, 2015 Felix Mendelssohn:Elijah
April 2-3, 2016 BEETHOVEN EXTRAVAGANZA Choral Fantasy Mass in C Major Piano Concerto No.4 June 12, 2016 AMERICAN JOURNEY: A Celebration in Song with special guests: Mama Pat's Inner Light Gospel Choir
2014-2015
November 22-23, 2014 Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B Minor
December 14, 2014 Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
March 21-22, 2015 Mikis Theodorakis/Pablo Neruda: Canto General
2013-2014
November 16-17, 2013 Hector Berlioz: L'Enfance du Christ Robert Schumann: Romanzen und Balladen, Opus 67 Robert Schumann: Requiem für Mignon, Opus 98b
December 15, 2013 Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
April 5-6, 2014 Leonard Bernstein: Chichester Psalms and The Lark Benjamin Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb June 14, 2014 Memorable Songs from the 1940s and 1950s by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, and George Gershwin
2012-2013
November 17-18, 2012 BACH TO BACH MAGNIFICATS! Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach:Magnificat
December 16, 2012 Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
April 20-21, 2013 Antonin Dvořák: Stabat Mater
2011-2012
November, 2011 A GLORIOUS CELEBRATION! Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria Antonio Vivaldi: Magnificat Dieterich Buxtehude: Gloria Dieterich Buxtehude: Magnificat
December 11, 2011 Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
April 14-15, 2012 Gabriel Fauré: Requiem Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine Johann Sebastian Bach: Christ Lag in Todesbanden Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus
June 2-3, 2012 FAVORITE OPERA CHORUSES Franz Schubert: Mass in G, featuring soprano Celeste Tavera
2010-2011
November 20-21, 2010 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem
December 12, 2010 Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
March 26-27, 2011 Claudio Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610 Giovanni Gabrieli: Jubilate Deo and In Ecclesiis June 4-5, 2011 HOOTENANNY! A Celebration of American Folk Songs
2009-2010
November 14-15, 2009 George Frideric Handel: Israel in Egypt
December 20, 2009 Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
March 13-14, 2010 Mikis Theodorakis/Pablo Neruda: Canto General May 22-23, 2010 Broadway Favorites and Richard Rodgers Songbook
2008-2009
November 15-16, 2008 Johann Sebastian Bach: Christmas Oratorio
December 14, 2008 Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
March 21-22, 2009 Felix Mendelssohn: Elijah May 30-31, 2009 Johannes Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes, and Hungarian Dances for 4-Hand Piano Aaron Copland: Old American Songs
2007-2008
December 16, 2007 Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
April 5-6, 2008 Henry Purcell: Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary and Music for the Birthday of Queen Mary Georg Frideric Handel: Coronation Anthem Nos. 1 & 4
June 7-8, 2008 FAVORITES FROM THE 40's AND THE FAB FOUR with special guests: Art Emr and Friends
2006-2007
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Mass in C Minor Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat in D Major
Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
Vaughan Williams/Walt Whitman: Sea Symphony Igor Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
IN THE MOOD: Ellington, Brubeck, and others
2005-2006
Gabriel Fauré: Requiem Franz Joseph Haydn: Mass in Time of War
Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
Mikis Theodorakis/Pablo Neruda: Canto General
AMERICANA: Randall Thompson, Irving Berlin, and others
2004-2005
TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY SEASON!
Johannes Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem Ralph Vaughan Williams: Toward an Unknown Region
Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana Ralph Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem OPERA SCENES & CHORUSES: Puccini, Verdi, and others
2003-2004
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Hodie Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Coronation Mass in C
Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
Franz Schubert Mass in E Flat Ludwig van Beethoven: Choral Fantasia Gilbert & Sullivan Favorite Choruses Johannes Brahms: Liebslieder Walzes
2002-2003
Hector Berioz: L'Enfance du Christ Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party Joseph Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass Maurice Durufle: Requiem Sergei Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible (with the Santa Barbara Symphony) ENGLISH & ROMANTIC CHORAL MUSIC
2001-2002
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party Franz Joseph Haydn: Te Deum Arthur Honegger: Le Roi David (King David) A FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK SONGS
2000-2001
Claudio Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610
Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata Number 4
Anton Bruckner: Mass in F Minor
MUSIC FOR BRASS, ORGAN & CHORUS: Gabrieli, Schütz, Dello Joio, and Rutter
1999-2000
15th Anniversary Season
Beethoven: Mass in D, “Missa Solemnis"
Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party
Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B Minor
Tribute to Musical Theater
1998-1999
Franz Schubert: Mass in G Johannes Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party Gustav Holst: Hymn of Jesus Maurice Duruflé: Requiem Giacomo Puccini: Messa di Gloria and Great Opera Choruses: Giuseppe Verdi: "Brindisi. Libbiamo, ne' lieti" from La Traviata; "Va Pensiero" (Chrous of the Enslaved Jews) from Nabucco Pietro Mascagni: "Scene and Prayer" from Cavalleria Rusticana Arrigo Boito: "Prologue in the Heavens" from Mephistopheles
1997-1998
Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat Franz Schubert: Mass in E Flat Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party Igor Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem Carl Orff: Carmina Burana (with SB Symphony, Choral Society, Children’s Chorus) POPS CONCERT: Selections from musical theater and great American standards
1996-1997
Johann Sebastian Bach: Wachet Auf! Vaughan Williams: Hodie Annual Holiday Concert, Carol Sing-Along, and Party Gabriel Fauré: Requiem William Walton: Belshazzar’s Feast Nikolas Theodorakis/Pablo Neruda: Canto General
1995-1996
Antonin Vivaldi: Gloria Hector Berlioz: L’Enfance du Christ Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B Minor Francis Poulenc: Gloria Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem
1994-1995
Ludwig van Beethoven: Mass in D, “Missa Solemnis” Johannes Brahms: Liebeslieder Walzer Luigi Cherubini: Requiem in C Minor WEST COAST PREMIER — Nikolas Theodorakis/Pablo Neruda: Canto General
1993-1994
Johannes Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem George Frideric Handel: Israel in Egypt Norman Dello Joio: Hymn to St. Cecelia Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
1992-1993
Franz Schubert: Mass in E Flat Gabriel Fauré: Requiem Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Magic Flute (concert version) Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
1991-1992
Schubert: Mass in E Flat JS Bach Wachet Auf George Frideric Handel: Messiah — 250th Year Commemoration A NIGHT AT THE OPERA: Puccini, Gluck, Rossini
1990-1991
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Hodie Phillip McLendon: Divinum Mysterium Igor Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem Joseph Haydn: Theresienmesse Henry Purcell: O Sing Unto the Lord
1989-1990
Johannes Brahms: A German Requiem Ralph Vaughan Williams: Toward an Unknown Region Joseph Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass Maurice Duruflé: Requiem POPS CONCERT: Gershwin and others
1988-1989
Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat Hector Berlioz: L’Enfance du Christ Norman Dello Joio: Hymn to St. Cecilia Anton Bruckner: Mass in E Minor VENICE TO VIENNA: Albioni, Vivaldi, and Haydn
1987-1988
George Frideric Handel: Messiah Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B Minor Pops Concert
1986-1987
Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata 146 Ralph Vaughan Williams: Hodie Johann Sebastian Bach: Christ Lag in Todesbanden Gabriel Fauré: Requiem Randall Thompson: Frostiana Benjamin Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb
1985-1986
George Frideric Handel: Israel in Egypt Anton Bruckner: Mass in F Minor Pops Concert
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