Since its inception, the Choral Society of Durham has developed a reputation for excellence in performing significant choral works with professional orchestras and regionally and nationally known soloists. In a typical year, we present a holiday concert in December, a winter concert in February or March, and a spring concert in May. The group is comprised of approximately 140 singers, 25-35 of whom also sing in our Chamber Choir, which rehearses separately.
In January 2020, we made a major strategic commitment to expand our reach by diversifying our music repertoire, collaborators, venues and recruitment efforts. Artistic Director Rodney Wynkoop is deeply passionate about and committed to building and diversifying both our community and choral music repertoire. This is reflected in our recent repertoire and collaborations with other local groups. In recent seasons, our collaborators included NC Central University Choir, Raleigh Boychoir, the Durham Medical Orchestra, Durham Children’s Choir and DPS High School Choirs.
In January 2020, we made a major strategic commitment to expand our reach by diversifying our music repertoire, collaborators, venues and recruitment efforts. Artistic Director Rodney Wynkoop is deeply passionate about and committed to building and diversifying both our community and choral music repertoire. This is reflected in our recent repertoire and collaborations with other local groups. In recent seasons, our collaborators included NC Central University Choir, Raleigh Boychoir, the Durham Medical Orchestra, Durham Children’s Choir and DPS High School Choirs.
CSD History
The Choral Society was founded in 1949 by Jane Watkins Sullivan and Marian Wallace Smith, two amateur musicians in Durham who were tired of commuting to Raleigh to sing in the Raleigh Oratorio Society. First organized as the Durham Oratorio Society, the group incorporated in 1951 as the Durham Civic Choral Society. The name was changed to Choral Society of Durham in 1997.
The Choral Society has a longstanding reputation for excellence in performing great choral works with professional orchestra and regionally known soloists.
Talented musical leadership has been a cornerstone of the Choral Society since its inception. The following conductors have had the longest tenures with the group:
See the complete list of every Choral Society concert since 1949.
- Allan H. Bone (Duke University), 1949–56, 1967–70, 1971–72
- Paul R. Bryan (Duke University), 1957–67
- Robert Porco (UNC-Chapel Hill), 1972–80
- Larry Cook (UNC-Chapel Hill), 1982–86
- Rodney Wynkoop (Duke University), 1986-present
See the complete list of every Choral Society concert since 1949.
