About
The Nashville Symphony Chorus is dedicated to enriching the Middle Tennessee community through high-quality performances of works from a vast and ever-growing body of choral literature.
For more than half a century, the Nashville Symphony Chorus regularly has presented significant works from the classical choral repertoire, from Baroque to contemporary. Now numbering more than 150 members, the Chorus performs at least twice each season as part of the Nashville Symphony's Classical Series, in addition to Handel's Messiah each December. Every year the Chorus also takes the spotlight at Voices of Spring, a special concert of choral works.
To view the Nashville Symphony Chorus roster, click here.
The Nashville Symphony Chorus is holding auditions for new singers in all voice types from July 29-31, 2024. To find out more about chorus auditions, click here.
Recordings
For more information, visit the Nashville Symphony's Recordings page.
History
The Nashville Symphony Chorus was formed by Nashville Symphony conductor Willis Page in 1963 to sing Handel’s Messiah. Prior to this, the Symphony had relied on the Nashville Choral Society, the Peabody College Choir and the Vanderbilt Choir when performing works for orchestra and chorus. By 1965, the 90-member Nashville Symphony Chorus was averaging three performances with the Nashville Symphony each season. For several years, the Nashville Symphony Chorus also participated in an annual holiday celebration, which combined the voices of the Nashville Symphony Chorus, the Vanderbilt Choir and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. These holiday concerts, featuring members of the Nashville Symphony, were held at Benton Chapel at Vanderbilt University and at Fisk University.
In January 1974, the Nashville Symphony Board recognized the Nashville Symphony Chorus as the official “vocal arm of the Nashville Symphony.” The chorus has grown artistically and in number thanks to the leadership of the following Chorus Directors: