Information for Chatham Chorale Members

If you are a Chatham Chorale member,
you can access the members' website.

Chatham Chorale Inc.
P.O. Box 1111
West Dennis, MA 02670

1-888-556-2707

HISTORY OF THE CHORALE

Marjorie (Jerry) Bennett Morley and Dr. E. Robert Harned founded the Chatham Chorale in 1970. The original singers were from Congregational churches in Harwich and Chatham, with Olive Cahoon as accompanist. Jerry Morley directed the Chorale for 17 years. Under her strong leadership, personal involvement and skill membership grew, with singers coming from as far as Wellfleet and Buzzards Bay, and the Chorale became the excellent chorus it continues to be.

1977 saw the creation of the Chatham Chorale Chamber Singers, a smaller chorus composed of 22 selected voices from the larger Chorale. Today that group includes about 30 singers and continues to perform repertory suitable for locations smaller than those required for the full chorus.

Jerry Morley, co-founder and first Director, graduated from Boston University's College of Music and continued with graduate studies at Hofstra University.

Margaret Bossi joined the Chorale in 1985 and became Director when Jerry retired at the end of 1987. Maggie graduated from Smith College and did graduate studies in music at Brandeis University. The Board of Directors granted Maggie Music Director Emerita status upon her retirement at the end of the 2009-2010 concert season, honoring her for her 25 years of service to the Chorale.

Joseph Marchio became the third Music Director of the Chorale in 2010. Joe is currently the director of music and organist at the First Congregational Church in Chatham and is an adjunct faculty member at the Cape Cod Community College where he teaches music history and directs the college chorus. He is also the conductor of the Cantata 4 Ensemble, a Boston-based vocal and instrumental group consisting of both professionals and students who specialize in the performance of Baroque music. Joe is a graduate of the College of Wooster, where he earned both a Bachelor's degree in organ performance and a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies. He earned a Master of Divinity degree at the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music, and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting at the Boston Conservatory.

In 1986 Donald Enos, a native Cape Codder with a master's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, became the Chorale's accompanist. He is the organist at the South Dennis Congregational Church and director of the Meeting House Chamber Music Festival, which he founded in 1974. He is also the resident pianist of the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra.

The Chorale performs with a variety of instrumental ensembles of every size. Many Chorale concerts are accompanied by an orchestra of players from on and off Cape Cod. The Chorale has served as a symphonic chorus with the New Bedford Symphony and especially with the Cape Cod Symphony, most frequently in the annual Holiday Pops concerts.

MEMBERSHIP

Singers become members of the Chatham Chorale when they sign up for their first concert, pass the audition, and pay the annual membership fee, which may be paid in one or two installments.

The membership fee may include a rehearsal CD and will include use of rented and Chorale-owned music. Singers may purchase their own music when it is available.

The Chorale has a policy of reducing or waiving fees for anyone unable to pay. Those singers should bring their requests to the Membership Committee Chair or the President.

AUDITIONS

New members audition with the Director at designated times during the first few weeks of each semester. They audition with a pre-recorded quartet, as the only voice on their part (as in Music Minus One). Recordings and music are supplied well in advance of the auditions.

The entire chorus is auditioned approximately every three years. Any member who misses a full season of concerts, or too many rehearsals, may be asked to re-audition.

The number of singers needed for each section may vary according to concert location and requirements of the musical work.