Dutch Fork Choral Society

A community choir serving the Irmo / Chapin area with the mission to share, preserve, and advance the art of choral singing while developing the talents of our members by performing a varied and challenging repertoire. Our membership includes young people whose high school and college experiences have motivated them to seek community choral opportunities. We also have many lifelong singers who love the health and emotional benefits of singing.

Established in 2001, the Dutch Fork Choral Society is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) all-volunteer community choral ensemble with a passion for sharing the gift of music. Through participation, members can preserve and advance the art of choral singing, in addition to developing their talents. Currently the Society performs two formal programs each year and a mid-winter fundraiser. The Society does not charge admission to its formal concerts. We also have a strategic goal of finding more opportunities to partner with other area choral and instrumental groups. Donations and sponsorships are gratefully accepted at those concerts.

Testimonials

We provide a chorus for interested individuals from high school through retirees to maintain, improve, and share their musical talents. Singing has the potential to provide some health and emotional benefits, especially as people age. It keeps them in engaged in mentally stimulating-stimulating activities, especially as they learn new music or memorize certain passages.

Why We Sing:

"Rick and I were attending our first Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston. We rushed to the first concert of the afternoon at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist for a concert by the Atlanta Sacred Chorale. We rushed into the sanctuary hot and out of breath. The sanctuary was cool, light and quiet. We sat waiting for the choir to begin. We began to hear the strains of music, but we could not tell where it was coming from. The music was like being surrounded by a choir of angels. We realized they were singing from the balcony above us. This must be what heaven is like."      - Elaine Abercrombie

"I sing in the choir because I love to sing, and the sound of cool music is a lovely respite in a busy life. I sing for multiple choirs and love every rehearsal, concert, and mass. Music is a media that is joyful and pleasing to the performer, as well as the listener. It uplifts a weary soul." -Leo Cardosi

"I sing in a choir because I enjoy being part of a group that works together to make a joyful noise. When I am singing in the choir, I'm not thinking about anything but the music." -Carol Funk

"I love it! I enjoy music! It's fun, and I meet some wonderful people." -Pat Butler

"The music brings me pleasure. Trying to learn it gets me out of my head." -Becky McCune

"I sing in a choir for the joy adds to my life." -Rick Abercrombie

"It helps fulfill the need in my soul to use the talents that God has given me. And it gives me great joy." -Kay Brown

"Music has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. Initially, it was all instrumental. Then vocal was added in college. Participation in music has taken me to amazing venues and permitted these participate in some wondering events. I love the emotional power of music and its many forms. And I'm especially intrigued by its power to awaken aging minds that have stopped communicating in traditional ways. Music surrounds me throughout the day and will always be an integral part of who I am." -Ed Henkler

"Music lifts my spirit and I love singing with a group. When I was younger, I sang in high school Glee Club and church choir. As an older adult, I'm happy to again be singing with a group. To me, group singing can express much more than a single person singing can achieve."                  -Rosemary Frick

"I sing in the choir for the joy as community of making music as more beautiful and any one of us can do alone." -Lil Mood

"I sing in a choir because I love the beauty of seeing four-part harmony and of being able to perform and share our music with others through our concerts. I just love to sing." -Sherry Luzar

"Making music with other singers makes everything feel right." -Dianne Mirmow

"Choir is therapy to me. Singing is uplifting. But there's fleeting moments where all our hard work comes together and produces something beyond what any of us could do alone is magical." -Andrea Stefaniak

"Music has been part of my life since listening to my mother sing to me. I began singing as a young child, and throughout my life, there is always a song in my head and my heart. My soul has learned how to sing." -Jan Buck