Greenville Choral Society History
The Greenville Choral Society, which marked its 50th anniversary in 2019, has grown into perhaps the largest community-based performing arts organization in the eastern third of North Carolina, encompassing four choral ensembles that perform a wide variety of secular and sacred music in Pitt County and beyond.
The society grew out of an idea in 1969 to bring the music programs at East Carolina University and local churches together with talented local musicians. Choir directors at area churches met with ECU music faculty members in August 1969 to join “town and gown into a more personal and enduring relationship,” according to an earlier history of the choral society. More than 100 people formed the Greenville Community Chorus a month later.
The chorus, under the direction of Dr. Paul Aliapoulios, a member of the ECU music faculty, started rehearsals with approximately 120 voices at the university and presented its first concert, portions of Handel’s “Messiah,” in Wright Auditorium in December 1969. Aliapoulios remained with the group for two years before leaving Greenville for another academic position. He was succeeded by Robert Rausch, minister of music at Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church, who directed the chorus for the next two years. Stephen Koch, a choral director in the Greenville City Schools, succeeded Rausch in 1974, and Dr. Edward Glenn, who also was on the ECU faculty, started a 3 ½-year tenure as director in 1976. Under his direction, the chorus presented two concerts each year, one in the Christmas season and one in the spring.
In 1980, the Greenville Community Chorus reorganized itself as the Greenville Choral Society, with Dr. Rhonda Fleming as artistic director and conductor. An ECU faculty member who also was director of the ECU Women’s Glee Club and music director at Immanuel Baptist Church, she emphasized developing a repertoire of major choral works for the group’s performances. In addition to performing such compositions as Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in The Lamb” and Bach’s “Magnificat,” the group joined with ECU choirs and orchestra on several occasions, presenting such works as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Brahms’ German Requiem and Poulenc’s “Gloria.” The society also sang with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra in a 1989 performance of Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand,” and collaborated with popular singing star Judy Collins in a November 2001 holiday concert as part of ECU’s S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series. Also in 1989, an orchestra called the New Carolina Sinfonia, made up of instrumental musicians from the community and the university, was added to accompany larger-scale choral works.
Working with and developing young choral musicians became a prominent goal of the choral society. Fleming founded the Children’s Chorus in 1988, for example, and a new Youth Chorale started in 1994. The Children’s Chorus consists of younger singers, generally in fourth through eighth grade, while the Youth Chorale is for talented high school-age singers. More recently, Bella Voce, a select group of young singers from both larger children’s and youth ensembles, has been formed. Fleming directed the choral society for 17 years, retiring in 1997. In 2004, a scholarship was established in her honor, to be awarded to a graduating high school senior who participated in the society’s youth activities and intended to study music at the college level.
Working with and developing young choral musicians became a prominent goal of the choral society. Fleming founded the Children’s Chorus in 1988, for example, and a new Youth Chorale started in 1994. The Children’s Chorus consists of younger singers, generally in fourth through eighth grade, while the Youth Chorale is for talented high school-age singers. More recently, Bella Voce, a select group of young singers from both larger children’s and youth ensembles, has been formed. Fleming directed the choral society for 17 years, retiring in 1997. In 2004, a scholarship was established in her honor, to be awarded to a graduating high school senior who participated in the society’s youth activities and intended to study music at the college level.
The various ensembles within the Greenville Choral Society have performed by invitation in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Williamsburg, as well as in several North Carolina communities, including Washington, Williamston, and Farmville. Choral Society singers come from all walks of life and come from a geographical area broader than just Greenville and Pitt County. The Concert Choir encompasses a wide range of ages, from college students to retirees, and occupations, from teachers to college professors, from office workers to business owners, from lawyers to physicians, and includes some professional musicians, too. The various children’s and youth ensembles add about 100 more singers to the organization.
Choral society members are selected by audition and pay dues, as well as purchase their own music. The society sponsors several fund raising activities, mainly the sale of Christmas trees and greenery and the staging of a fund-raising “gala” in the spring. The gala usually consists of lighter and more contemporary music, including Broadway selections and music from television and movies. In addition to dues, fundraisers and grants, the Choral Society has raised money through community and corporate contributions, and, as a member of the Pitt-Greenville Arts Council, the society has participated in the Council’s United Arts Fund Drive. Since 2007, the Choral Society has retained a grants administrator to seek out new sources of financing.
Performance History
Photo History
Choral society members are selected by audition and pay dues, as well as purchase their own music. The society sponsors several fund raising activities, mainly the sale of Christmas trees and greenery and the staging of a fund-raising “gala” in the spring. The gala usually consists of lighter and more contemporary music, including Broadway selections and music from television and movies. In addition to dues, fundraisers and grants, the Choral Society has raised money through community and corporate contributions, and, as a member of the Pitt-Greenville Arts Council, the society has participated in the Council’s United Arts Fund Drive. Since 2007, the Choral Society has retained a grants administrator to seek out new sources of financing.
Performance History
Photo History
GREENVILLE CHORAL SOCIETY DIRECTORS
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Concert Choir
1969-1972 Paul Aliapoulios 1972-1974 Robert Rausch 1974-1975 Stephen Koch Spring 1976 Sheila Marlowe Fall 1976-1979 Edward Glenn 1980-1997 Rhonda Fleming 1997-2000 Paul Dease 2001-2008 Daniel Bara 2008-2014 Jeffrey Ward 2014-2016 Dwight Dockery 2016-2018 James Franklin 2018-Present Andrew Roby |
Youth Chorale
1994-1997 Jeff Parker 1997-1998 Jeff Baines 1998-2001 Christy West Fall 2001 Lori McLelland Spring 2002-2004 Michael Murphy 2004-2005 Kenneth Tice 2005-2007 Daniel Bara 2007-2008 Jeff Ward 2008-2009 Eddie Adams/Blair Chadwick 2009-2010 Carolyn Myers 2010-2011 Peggy Vaughan 2011-2013 Chris Smith 2013-2022 Luke Hancock |
Children's Chorus/Bella Voce
1988-1997 Dr. Rhonda Fleming 1997-1999 Claire Chesson Murphy 1999-Present Paul Flowers Chamber Chorale 2003-2005 Daniel Bara 2005-2011 Lisa Stockard |
