The Paris Choral Society (or PCS) is an auditioned amateur choir based at the American Cathedral in Paris, France.

Paris Choral Society
Choir
Founded1994 (1994)
Chief conductorZachary Ullery
Websiteparischoralsociety.org

The PCS is incorporated as a voluntary association under French law as an Association loi de 1901, and is made up of 100 singers of different nationalities[1] dedicated to the performance of choral masterpieces. Three concerts are performed every season accompanied by professional orchestras and soloists.

History edit

Founded in 1994 by a group of non-professional singers under the direction of Edward J. Tipton, the PCS quickly became known for its high standard of performance[2] and its annual Sing-along of Handel’s Messiah[3] which has been held every December since the inception of the choir. The current Music Director is Zachary Ullery.

In recent years, the Paris Choral Society has performed Orff's Carmina Burana (June 2017), Mozart's Great Mass in C Minor (2016), Handel's Dixit Dominus and Coronation Anthems (November 2015), Beethoven's Missa Solemnis in the Church of Saint-Eustache[4] (March 2015), Fauré's Requiem and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms (November 2014), Rachmaninoff's Vespers[5] (March 2017), Bach's B Minor Mass (April 2014), Brahms A German Requiem, Haydn's The Creation (2013), Mozart's Requiem (2011, 2018), Bach's St. John Passion (2012), Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna (2011), Mendelssohn's Elijah (2010), and Rossini's Petite Messe Solonelle (2011).

References edit

  1. ^ (in French) Michel Grinand, "Un Melting Pot choral pour une réussite communautaire" AvantChoeur Magazine, 18 March 2015.
  2. ^ Craig R. Whitney, "Arts Abroad; An American in Paris (as an Organist-Choirmaster)", The New York Times, 1997. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  3. ^ (in French) Laurence Cossé, "Venite cantemus, par Laurence Cossé" La Croix, 21 December 2016
  4. ^ (in French) Michel Grinand, "Une Missa Solemnis virtuose et majestueuse", AvantChoeur, 27 March 2015.
  5. ^ (in French) "Les Vigiles nocturnes (Les Vêpres)", Russia Beyond the Headlines France, 20 March 2017.