The Choral Society of Durham was founded in 1949 by Jane Watkins Sullivan and Marian Wallace Smith, two amateur musicians in Durham, North Carolina, USA. First organized as the Durham Oratorio Society, the group incorporated in 1951 as the Durham Civic Choral Society. The name was changed to Choral Society of Durham in 1997.
The Choral Society has a longstanding reputation for excellence in performing great choral works with professional orchestra and regionally known soloists.
Talented musical leadership has been a feature of the Choral Society since its inception. Our current (and longest-serving) artistic director, Rodney Wynkoop, has held this position since 1986.
The Choral Society of Durham would be grateful for your support of their mission to enrich our community by bringing together singers and audiences who share a common interest in high-quality performance of meaningful choral repertoire. If you would like to make a donation, please use the Donate link below. Thank you.
Sería lindo encontrar una versión donde la soprano cante el "Cordis in custodia" del "Amor volat undique" en una sola inspiración de aire, como Judith Blegen en la versión de la Orquesta de Cleveland, aunque es una grabación de estudio.
This is superb and beautifully done. Carmina Burana is my Number One of all time. The suprano was magnificent. We love you Carl Orff, forever and ever.
WOW! Powerfully executed, with just the right touch of comic relief. Loved the little springy bounce you did at the end, Rodney. What an achievement. May the Great Wheel of Fortune stop at all the right places for you all!
A beautiful concert. I would never have known it was sung with masks. Thank you for dedicating it to Ray Williams. I didn't know he had passed; he loved choral music.
What a beautiful program. Yes, the music is excellent and enjoyable from start to finish, but to be this musically impressed with a virtual choir represents an unbelievable musical feat. This is certainly the best virtual choral program I've seen. Most of the time I feel rather like I'm watching unsuccessful attempts at music and wishing my colleagues were more successful or more careful in their editing. But the Choral Society of Durham presents a polished, almost live sound all the way through. After seeing so many successful virtual ensemble numbers in this program, it's also interesting to compare their live recordings. While these are recordings of performances that are actually conceived as live events, and they are not quite as carefully produced as this year's virtual fare, it's still possible to discern a group vocal culture that virtual and live recordings have in common, while at the same time appreciating the contrast. It's truly a high-caliber ensemble with an established sense of phrasing and a lovely, warm, and free vocal sound. Congratulations to all involved!
