The Charlotte Chorale is located in Charlotte County, Florida, with membership of over fifty all volunteer adult singers with a passion for performing choral music.
The Chorale performs a variety of choral music from the Grand Masters to Broadway, to Pop Music and more. Three concerts are performed each season.
The Charlotte Chorale was founded in 1989 as an offshoot of the Charlotte County Adult and Community Chorus. The Charlotte Chorale came into being as a result of a need in the community for dedicated and gifted vocal musicians, capable of presenting quality choral literature for entertainment and cultural enlightenment. The late R. Bruce MacGregor, who died on July 18, 2015, formed the Chorale with 29 talented individuals which consisted of 28 very capable singers and Betty Ogle as their accomplished accompanist. The first rehearsals were held in January 1989. Since then, the Charlotte Chorale has expanded its repertoire to include many classic and symphonic choral pieces as well as a broad selection of contemporary music including show tunes, spirituals and devotional works. The Chorale has also committed itself to augmenting musical education experiences available to music students within the Charlotte County schools.
With the continuing cooperation of the music faculty of the school system, talented students are assisted through scholarships from the Chorale as well as offered exciting performance opportunities in concert with the well-trained voices of the Chorale. Many of the concerts feature students from Charlotte County Schools.
The Chorale under the direction of Dr. William Dederer continues the mission with dedication and passion for presenting quality vocal performances for our community. The membership of approximately 60 vocalists proudly shares their commitment to excellence in bringing music of all genres to the public.
Dr. Dederer’s resume includes a 50+ year career in music. He served as a Professor of Music for 13 years at the State University of New York in Fredonia before becoming
Dean, and later Vice President for Academic Affairs, at The Boston Conservatory for 16 years, followed by serving as the Dean of the Conservatory of Music at Capital University in Columbus, OH.
He was awarded his Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Performance and Master of Music in Music Education degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree (Magna Cum Laude) from the State University of New York in Fredonia.
Dr. Dederer has directed choirs for more than 20 years in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Arizona, and has performed as a choral musician under the direction of Robert Shaw, Lukas Foss, Julius Hereford, Harriet Simons, Alan Lannom, and William Seymour. In addition, Dr. Dederer has appeared in solo and ensemble performances on trumpet with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Chicago Ballet, Buffalo Philharmonic, Erie (PA) Philharmonic, Nashua (NH) Symphony, Granite State Ballet, D'Oyly Carte Company, Genesee (NY) Symphony, Toledo Concert Band, Mid-Hudson Concert Band, Verde Valley Sinfonietta, and numerous other organizations. He has adjudicated numerous solo and ensemble festivals in New York, Texas, and throughout New England.
He was named "National Outstanding Administrator of 2004" by the Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and is listed in Who's Who volumes: International Music, America, Entertainment, American Education, and Most Admired Men & Women of the Year 1995.
Frank Sanders is a pianist, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer from Southwest Florida. He began his studies at age 12 (self-taught) and is majoring in music education at Florida Gulf Coast University, with an instrumental focus on piano and saxophone performance. Sanders currently performs with numerous groups, including the Naples-bound jazz band Dopo Ore, the North Port Symphony Orchestra, and the Charlotte Chorale.
It has been said that music is the universal language of mankind. It brings people together from diverse cultures and backgrounds in celebration not of their differences, but in recognition and celebration of their oneness. It is the mission of The Charlotte Chorale to do this while enhancing, educating and enriching lives of all by presenting professional-level choral music of all genres.
The celebration of music is as diversified as humanity. There is no one size, one face, one look. The Charlotte Chorale strives to embrace the joy of creating music with people of all ages, all ethnic backgrounds, all religions, all races. It is important that everyone feel welcome and a part of our musical journey by embracing inclusivity and diversity of people and song.
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