About The Falmouth Chorale

History of the Falmouth Chorale 

The Falmouth Chorale began in 1964 when thirteen musicians from several Falmouth churches planned a joint performance of Handel’s Messiah under the leadership of John Gerry-Karajanes, organist Father William C. Campbell and others. Thus was born the Falmouth Interfaith Choir, dedicated “to further the ecumenical movement through music”. The Choir became an integral part of Falmouth’s Christmas/Hanukkah and Easter/Passover seasons. When the choir was eventually incorporated in 1980, an additional purpose was added to the mission statement: “To further the public appreciation of music in Falmouth.” At the same time the Choir broadened its repertoire to include secular works and to add an occasional instrumental ensemble.

From 1964-1991 a dozen choral directors continued the tradition of excellent concerts with rave reviews in community newspapers. In 1991 Frederick Johnson came to the area as the Falmouth High School Music teacher and also became Director of the Falmouth Interfaith Choir. Under his leadership, the Choir developed in strength and ability over the next seventeen years.

To mark its emergence as a community chorale, the group changed its name to the Falmouth Chorale in 2004. The Chorale added a fall concert to its season, as well as orchestral accompaniment for most performances. Additionally, the Chorale began the “Fred Johnson Scholarship” in 2008, awarded annually to a local high school student who is pursuing further music education.

From 2007-2019, the Falmouth Chorale was led by Artistic Director John Yankee, who brought to the community a level of experience and energy and propelled the Chorale forward. Under John’s strong and dedicated leadership, the Chorale achieved greater heights of excellence through implementation of vocal musicianship assessments, music theory classes, and diverse, challenging repertoire. 

Now, in its 58th year of performing choral music for audiences on the Upper Cape, the Chorale is delighted at how this organization has grown with the help of its directors and more than 1,000 singers over the years. Some singers have sung for 30, 50, even 100 concerts! 

The Current Chorale

Today the Falmouth Chorale, led by Artistic Director Andrew Jonathan Welch is comprised of about 80 active singers, 15 of whom are members of the Falmouth Chorale Chamber Singers, performing at community and private events. The Chorale is a group of passionate singers who love singing choral music and who want to improve their individual abilities and experience the joy of ensemble singing. Chorale participants are your friends and neighbors, which makes the uplifting concert experiences all the more personal for audiences on the Upper Cape.

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Board of Directors for 2022-2023​
Pat Harcourt - President
Ruth Haas-Castro - Vice President

Paul Speer - Treasurer
Adrian Mann - Clerk

Kevin Chu - Director
Izja Lederhendler - Director

The Chorale’s General Manager is Sarah Sadler. She can be reached at the Chorale Office via email at  info@falmouthchorale.org or by phone at 774-392-2383.

Mission

The mission of the Falmouth Chorale is to engage with audiences by sharing our passion for musical excellence and the joy of singing. 

Vision Statement: 

The vision of the Falmouth Chorale is to provide audiences a window into the world of diverse choral music, as well as to engender an emotional, cultural, and wellness link to musical experiences in their lives. 

Core Value Statements:

1. We value artistic integrity. Strong artistic leadership sets the standard for inspiring, innovative, programming and repertoire. Personal commitment on the part of every singer is necessary to grow vocally, musically, and be relied upon as an integral part of a professional-quality ensemble. 

2. We value a live music experience. By singing with confidence, joy, trust, belief, and conviction, we seek to entertain and inspire our audiences. Building creative relationships with other cultural organizations creates fresh opportunities for collaboration in our community and beyond. Through education, inclusiveness, and diversity, we aim to expand community support and audience growth. 

3. We value diversity. Recognizing the central importance of inclusion, we are committed to working towards diversity in participants, musical and cultural repertoire, and audiences. 

4. We value organizational stability through fiduciary responsibility. Effective infrastructure including board, artistic, administrative, and volunteer leadership lays the foundation for sound financial planning and accountability. Proactive income and expense strategies will provide stability in development and fundraising efforts, beginning with board member and singer contribution.