The Orchard Park Chorale was founded in 1975 by Arthur Whitcher as the founder and first president, with its first music director Carl Burgwardt, under the sponsorship of the Adult Education Program of the Orchard Park Schools. Subsequent music directors have included Barbara Wagner Carl Druba, Marcia Giambrone, Barbara Harbach, Karl Kawes, John Fleischman Jr., Patrick Walders, and Tim Kennedy.
The Orchard Park Chorale has performed many major works including Mendelssohn's "Elijah" and "St. Paul", Schubert's "Mass in G" and "Mass in F", Handel's "Messiah", Mozart's "Requiem", Faure's "Requiem", Rutter's "Requiem", "Gloria", and "Magnificat", Vivaldi's "Magnificat" and "Gloria", Gounod's "Mass to St. Cecelia", and Bach's "Magnificat". The Chorale also presented the Western New York Premier of Dave Brubeck's "Tongues of Fire" with the composer.
The Orchard Park Chorale has performed with the Orchard Park Symphony, Southtowns Youth Orchestra, ARS Nova Musicians, members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and The Cathedral Brass. The Chorale has combined choral forces with Buffalo Choral Arts Society, The Freudig Singers of Western New York, Opera Sacra, Western New York Children's Chorus, singers and musicians from the Orchard Park High School, and the Lutheran Chorale.
The Orchard Park Chorale has performed in many Western New York locations including Kleinhan's Music Hall, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State College, Orchard Park Schools, and many local churches, especially the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church.
The Orchard Park Chorale is a non-auditioned choir of singers from all over Western New York. New members are always welcome to join us!
