Mission Statement

The mission of the Red River Chorale is to provide area musicians the opportunity to sing the world's finest music with the area's most talented singers, and to bring the best in choral music to as many listeners as possible.

History

The Red River Chorale, directed by Dr. Burt Allen, is a non-sectarian choral group of about fifty talented singers from the Central Louisiana area. The organization was founded in 2005 by a group of musicians who realized that there was a void in the local arts community: talented adult singers had no opportunity to perform. With the support of the Arts Council of Central Louisiana, a Steering Committee was formed, auditions were held, and the first concert of the new group was held in October, 2005 -- Music for the Soul -- under the direction of the first Artistic Director, Fred Graham. This first concert was a sold-out event, setting the stage for many more such popular concerts.

In its first two years, the Chorale has completed two extraordinarily successful concert seasons, having presented five sold-out subscription concerts (Music for the Soul, Amour!, Americana, Encounters with the Holy Family, and Shakespeare in Song), two appearances with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra (Mozart's Requiem and The Three B's: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms), and one invitational concert in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

The 2007-2008 season began with a concert titled Psalms, held at the Jewish Temple. Two other concerts -- Illumination and Of Love -- will follow, and the season will conclude with a performance with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra.

The 2008-2009 season was marked by two new initiatives. The Chorale partnered with Meistersingers from Hattiesburg, Mississippi in joint concerts, one in Alexandria, the other in Hattiesburg. The Chorale also performed a Christmas concert in Magale Recital Hall on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The season included All Things Bright & Beautiful (Music that Celebrates Nature), The Many Moods of Christmas, Sharing Our Music (with Meistersingers), The Spirit of America (American Hymns and Spirituals). Additionally, the Chorale participated in two programs by the Rapides Symphony Orchestra: the Christmas Concert and Daphnis et Chloe.

The Red River Chorale is open to any singer in the area who desires to sing challenging, quality music. Admission to the group is by audition. Auditions are held in August of each year, and occasionally during the season, by appointment. The concert season begins in the fall and includes three subscription concerts, appearances with the Symphony, and other appearances by invitation.