The Music in the Mountains Festival Chorale is an auditioned community chorus. It is made up of about 100 singers from the surrounding area. The Chorale performs several times per year, in MIM’s winter, spring and summer festivals, and is dedicated to sharing quality choral music with the community.
The Chorale is currently under the direction of Conductor Ryan Murray, who since 2008 has been superbly guiding the growth and improvement of the choir. Recent performances include an array of great choral works, such as Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region. The Chorale performs with the MIM Festival Orchestra and frequently invites local youth choirs for guest performances in concerts.
The Chorale rehearses once per week from September through mid-June, and holds two all-day choral workshops each year.
Our History
The chorus has its roots in the Golden Chain Chorale of the 1970s, a group of 20-40 members, part of the Sierra Musical Arts Association. In the mid-1980s Music in the Mountains formed with the chorus at its core, renaming the group the Festival Chorale. The Chorale has since grown into one of the top community choirs in the Sierra foothills. Many of the founding members are still part of today’s chorale.
Join the Chorale
Do you like to sing? Auditions are held in the fall and after Christmas.
Rehearsals are held every Wednesday evening from 7-9p m, September through mid-June. Singers must read music and attend rehearsals regularly. Concert and dress rehearsal dates are announced early in the season and members are expected to be available. Singers are also asked to purchase the group’s official “concert black” attire.
Once each semester, in the fall and spring, the Chorale hosts an all-day workshop and retreat on a Saturday. We have a great time and do extensive work on our music for the season.
If you are interested in joining, send an email to Conductor Ryan Murray at ryan.murray@mimchorus.org. He can also be found on his website, www.ryanjmurray.com.
For all questions and information you may also contact the current Chorale President, Jennifer Dahlgren, at jennifer.dahlgren@mimchorus.org.
Chorale Members Website
Chorale members please click here to log in to Directra
Directra is a private communication cloud that connects the chorale members online. This Chorale members-only site allows the group to connect via emails, text messages, telephone blasts or conference calls. Also available is an online calendar and the chorus newsletter, Chatter.
