atlanta master chorale

Since its inception in the spring of 1985, Atlanta Master Chorale has grown from an enthusiastic volunteer choir to a nationally-recognized ensemble of auditioned singers that is known equally for its technical excellence and its unparalleled choral artistry. It has been an amazing transformation, born of vision, effort, and, most importantly, a shared commitment to performing timeless choral music. Several important milestones mark turning points in Atlanta Master Chorales history. From the late 1980s to the early part of the new century, Atlanta Master Chorales reputation grew significantly as a result of its 15 consecutive performances in the Choral Artists Series of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2000, to reflect both its evolving mission and broader audience, the group changed its name from Gwinnett Festival Singers to Atlanta Sacred Chorale. In January of the same year, ASC also gained a new director, Dr. Eric Nelson, whose exceptional leadership and skill has steadily propelled Atlanta Master Chorales choral artistry to its current recognition as a professionally-trained choir. Throughout its development, Atlanta Master Chorale has maintained a consistent focus on celebrating and performing music drawn from the entire spectrum of sacred choral music. Initially dedicated solely to the performance of a cappella choral literature, Atlanta Master Chorale has since expanded its repertoire to include accompanied major and minor works as well as the traditional a cappella repertoire. Each year, audiences in Atlanta and around the southeast are treated to a growing number of concerts by Atlanta Master Chorale, each of which exemplifies an important aspect of Atlanta Master Chorales mission of lifting the spirit through choral artistry.