Choral Society presents centennial concert

The Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society, celebrating its centennial season, will perform a Masterworks Concert March 21. Submitted photo.

By Mollie Ruf

for Salisbury Post

Rejoice in the sounds from Around the World and Through the Ages with the Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society's centennial season Masterworks Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at Coburn Memorial United Methodist Church.

The Choral Society has remained a prominent member of Salisbury's musical history and is proud to celebrate its Centennial Season with four concerts: A Holiday Portrait, Around the World & Through the Ages, In Retrospect: A Centennial Revue, and A Sound Invention: The Birth of Jazz and Blues.

The earliest recorded performance, "The Holy City," was held on June 13, 1910, under the direction of Professor Nelson Taylor. The concert headlined in the Salisbury Post and was described as a "rare musical fete."

On June 23, 1910, Mrs. A. H. Boyden was presented with a sterling silver bowl for her work in reorganizing the Choral Society, suggesting that the organization existed in various forms even prior to 1910.

The Choral Society performed under various names throughout the years including: The Oratorio Society, Salisbury Choral Society, Salisbury Choral Club, The Community Chorus, and The Salisbury-Spencer Choral Society.

In 1959, the name was changed to The Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society and efforts were begun to incorporate it so that gifts to the organization would be tax-deductible. During this time, the governing board drew up the Choral Society's first by-laws for the constitution.

Continuing its outreach efforts that began in 1971, The Choral Society awards annual music scholarships to talented high school students in Rowan County. Within the next year, the Choral Society plans to take steps to join an international world music lending organization to share their established permanent music library.

In 1974, the Choral Society established a small chamber ensemble known today as Una Voce. The ensemble performs year round and has been featured in the community on numerous occasions for civic groups and other local organizations.

The Choral Society has performed at many different prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and has toured in seven European countries. Along with the support of the Rowan Arts Council, the survival of the Choral Society these past 100 years is thanks to the generous support of individuals and community businesses throughout Salisbury and Rowan County. With these donations and the dedication of its members, The Choral Society continues its mission to "to promote and foster the development of good voices, while rendering outstanding choral music for the listening pleasure of the music-loving people of our community."

Don't miss out on this once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate part of our community's musical past and future with the Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society! Please contact the Choral Society at SRCSDirector@gmail.com for more information on our upcoming concerts or how to get involved.

The Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society is a not-for-profit organization open to all singers 16 years old and above. The Choral Society is currently under the direction of Damien Evans and no audition is necessary for interested singers.

The Choral Society presents four concerts a year and is supported in part by the Rowan Arts Council. Funding is received from the state of North Carolina, the National Endowment for the Arts, and generous patrons and donors.Mollie Ruf is a member of the Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society.