Santa Barbara Master Chorale
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“Music can name the unnameable and ​communicate the unknowable."
​– Leonard Bernstein 

Our History

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.

2020-2021
September 2020
Anton Bruckner: Locus Iste
Virtual Performance

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


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

Come Sing with Us!
Click here for information about joining the Santa Barbara Master Chorale 

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Copyright © 2018 Santa Barbara Master Chorale. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • History
    • Join Us
    • Contact Us
    • Leadership
  • Current Season
  • Our Conductor
  • TICKETS
  • RECORDINGS
    • Listen Online
    • Buy Recordings
    • Buy Recordings
  • Donate
    • About Your Donation
    • Become A Sponsor
    • Online Shopping Partners
  • Volunteer