Columbia Choral Society

History

The Columbia Choral Society's mission is to stimulate and broaden community engagement in music through the performance of classical choral music.

The Columbia Choral Society is a mixed (SATB), auditioned choir performing the great choral masterpieces. Established in 1930, we have the distinction of being the longest-performing community choir in South Carolina and are currently celebrating our 95th year. We have performed and partnered with a long list of accomplished organizations, including the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra; the Charleston, Long Bay, and University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestras; the Carolina Master Chorale; the Charleston Symphony Chorus; the Bulgarian National Chorus; the West Yorkshire (England) Chorus; the Sandlapper Singers; the Palmetto Mastersingers; the University of South Carolina Concert Choir and University Chorus; the Allen University Concert Choir; and the Masterworks Choir of Florence (South Carolina).

We are led by a Board of chorus and community members, as well as our Artistic Director, Dr. Elizabeth M. Mears. Community outreach has included participation in the Messiah Sing-a-long at Washington Street United Methodist Church, joint performances with local high schools, caroling for Historic Columbia's Holiday Tour of Homes, and Soda City.

Guthrie Darr Young Artist Scholarship Program

In 1949, Guthrie Darr arrived from California, where he was a member of the Robert Shaw Chorale, to join the music faculty of Columbia College and became director of the Columbia Choral Society. During Dr. Darr’s 40 years as director, the chorus became a full-season organization within the Columbia Music Festival Association, presenting three or more concerts per year.

We celebrate young vocal artists with our Guthrie Darr Young Artist Scholarship Program each year. The Guthrie Darr Young Artist Scholarship is funded, in part, by contributions through the Midlands Gives Program. Through this scholarship, we are able to help high school students develop and continue their independent study of vocal music. The scholarship is available to students who reside in Richland or Lexington Counties and are currently enrolled in high school in grades 10-12 or in an equivalent home-schooled program.