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Recent News and Upcoming Events
Love to sing? Auditions of new members are taking place now. Rehearsals for our 2010-11 season begin on Monday, August 30.
$10,000 Challenge Grant: In honor of our 35th Anniversary season, an anonymous donor will match new or increased donations to the Guild's Annual Fund. Please take advantage of this opportunity and donate today.
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Experience the Excitement of Our 35th Anniversary Season!
Join us to celebrate and promote the performance of fine choral music in Greater Williamsburg.
In 1975 a group of singers organized to perform at An Occasion for the Arts. This inaugural concert, directed by Dr. Frank Lendrim, William & Mary choir director, and accompanied by a small ensemble, was performed at Williamsburg Baptist Church.
The enthusiastic group planned additional concerts, beginning with Handel's Messiah in late 1975. Led by Mary Gonzales and Director Thomas Marshall, the group acted on their vision to create Williamsburg's only all-volunteer mixed community chorus, with the mission to promote the study, performance and enjoyment of fine choral music.
Guild membership has risen to nearly one hundred singers, who share years of musical experience and a passion for choral singing. The Guild performs primarily in the classical vein, but with many concerts featuring lighter fare.
Our 35th Anniversary Season is filled with special experiences you won’t want to miss:
- The popular pre-concert lectures will continue for the November, March and May concerts.
- Young singers from area schools will perform with the Guild in November and May, so they will experience the thrill of fine choral singing.
- November and March concerts will feature exciting chamber orchestra accompaniment.
- The season will culminate in May with the world premiere performance of a new work by rising young composer Dan Forrest, commissioned by the Guild for its Anniversary.
Outstanding Conductors
Have Sustained The Choral Guild’s Growth
Following the first concert in 1975, Mary Gonzales recruited Thomas Marshall as Director and the group named itself the Williamsburg Community Chorus. Mr. Marshall remained as Director until May 1981. In spring 1980, the members adopted a constitution and by-laws, appointed a Board of Directors, elected officers and changed the name to the Williamsburg Choral Guild.
During the 1981-84 and 1991-92 seasons, the Guild was led by a series of guest conductors.
In fall 1984, Sarah Ford (Bland), a member of the Guild, was selected as interim Director. A year later she was named Director and served during a time of Guild growth until family obligations necessitated her resignation after the March 1993 concert.
After serving as guest conductor for four concerts over the years, Dr. Genevieve McGiffert was appointed Director in fall 1993. She continued to serve until 1999. During her directorship she infused concerts with her flare for musical drama, including staging a performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado.
Dr. John Guthmiller took the Director baton in 2000 and continued to build the musical capability of the Guild until 2002.
Jay BeVille, now in his ninth season as Artistic Director/Conductor, has brought new energy to the organization, building on his additional experience as a music educator and coach, as well as a vocal performer. During his tenure, the Guild has presented 22 full-length masterworks and numerous other selections representing a wide array of choral literature.
Consistent Community Outreach
From its inception, the Choral Guild has been at the center of community life.
In its earliest years, the annual concerts of Handel"s Messiah brought the community together. This tradition led to the annual Christmas Concert, which the Guild prepares as a gift to the community. Its great popularity has required scheduling two concerts in order to seat the large turnout. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a canned food to benefit local charities. For the first time, this year’s 2:30 seating on December 12 will feature a new 'family friendly' format.
Holidays make December a musical month. Guild singers can be seen caroling in Merchants Square, at Great Wolf Lodge and Barnes & Noble.
The Guild has musically marked our community"s historic celebrations: The Bicentennial in 1976, America"s Independence Celebration in Yorktown in 1981, the Williamsburg Tricentennial in 1999 and Jamestown 400 in 2007.
In recent years, the Guild has performed with the Williamsburg Symphonia, the Choirs of William & Mary and the First Baptist Church Choir. This anniversary season, the Guild will especially reach out to young singers: by stimulating the formation of the Williamsburg Youth Chorale, a young children"s choir which will perform in the May concert, and by inviting the Warhill Chamber Choir, a high school women"s ensemble, to join the Guild in the November concert.
Two programs were introduced in the 2009-2010 season to reach out to the community. Pre-concert discussions were introduced to help enhance the audience"s appreciation of key works being performed. In June 2009, the Guild introduced the highly successful 'Summer Sings' which invites all singers throughout the community to come out on three successive June evenings to sing through great choral masterworks, with accomplished soloists, piano accompanists and guest conductors.
