New Contact Information: Send questions and comments to Gail Launay, Executive Director by email, calling 302 226-5231 or by mail: P. O. Box 444, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Send web site items to Dan Tabler.

Master Class

Opera stars, Meghan McCall (Bel Cantanti Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Lafayette) and Jessica Renfro (Bel Cantanti and Opera Vivente) will adorn our stage on August 13, 2009.  These two young virtuoso singers have made solo appearances with the BSO and the MSO as well as our own Southern Delaware Choral Society (SDCS) most recently appearing as soloists in Haydn’s “Mass in Time of War.”

Meghan and Jessica will host a group of singers selected by audition from the SDCS in a Master Class.  The audience will have an opportunity to observe how singers train and make improvements.  Songs will range from contemporary to classical.  Come and hear Meghan and Jessica show us how it’s done! The program will last approximately one hour, starting at 8pm.

If you would like to be part of the Master Class, please contact Clem Edgar immediately. The size of the class is limited so please don't delay.

SDCS Ensemble

The Ensemble performed at WSCL's 2009 Celebration of Music on May 30th at Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury, Maryland. The photo below was taken prior to that performance. The Ensemble also sang to a near capacity crowd at Old Christ Church near Laurel on June 14th. The final performance of the season was on June 25th at Americana Bayside, Fenwick Island, DE.

About SDCS

First organized in 1985 under the Sussex County Arts Council, the Southern Delaware Choral Society continues in its original mission "to provide a vehicle through which local singers can come together to sharpen their musical skills and share a love of good music; to provide an opportunity for high school and college singers to perform challenging music beyond what they are offered in their academic settings; to bring well-performed choral music to southern Delaware on a regular basis; and to expand the number and variety of classical music offerings in this part of the state."

The Southern Delaware Choral Society is a volunteer organization under a paid director that performs a largely classical repertoire with fall and spring concerts. Paid soloists and instrumentalists are regularly featured. Performances take place throughout southern Delaware.

Photos of the 2009 Spring Concert   (Additional photos are located on the Concert Season page)

The SDCS recently commissioned the creation of a new logo that we will begin using in a variety of ways including member apparel.

SDCS Spring 2009

The Spring Concert held on May 16th at the new Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth was well-received by a large and appreciative audience. The program included three major works by Franz Joseph Haydn in honor of the 200th anniversary of his death. Any one of these works, "The Nelson Mass", "Te Deum" and "Mass In A Time Of War", would have been challenging but including all three works was most ambitious for an all volunteer chorus. The four professional soloists were very impressed with how well prepared the chorus was, a great compliment to Conductor John Ranney. The concert ended with "You Will Be With Us", by Lewes composer Roo Brown who conducted her own work. Guest organist Paul Fleckenstein of Wilmington did his usual outstanding job as did local percussionist Ken Schleifer.

The concert was also dedicated to our brave service men and women. Interspersed throughout the concert were portions of letters, wonderfully read by Barry Morgan, from soldiers who previously served or are presently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan including members of the Delaware National Guard. Colleen Johnson of the Delaware National Guard arranged for the letters that were edited by Beth Hochholzer. Prior to the concert a presentation entitled "Delaware's Fallen Heroes" was shown that featured the 17 Delawareans who made the ultimate sacrifice. There's a link to the presentation created by Dan Tabler on the Concert Season page. Slides translating Latin to English helped the audience better understand the lyrics of the Haydn works thanks to the efforts of Richard Freeman, Helen Waite and Dan Tabler.

Please see concert reviews on the Bravo page.

SDCS Ensemble Performances

The Ensemble is a small group of select singers who perform in smaller venues. In December 2008 the group performed at Fish On Restaurant, Lewes; Bayside Pavilion, Fenwick Island; Old Christ Church, Laurel; and Sussex Correctional Institution, Georgetown. For the SCI Concert, the Chapel was SRO and the "captive audience" was most appreciative. This special performance is a seasonal highlight for the Ensemble.

The Ensemble performed in the 2009 Celebration of Music held on May 30th at Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury. This prestigious event showcases Delmarva's very best musical talent. The Ensemble also performed on June 14th at Old Christ Church, Laurel and on June 25th at Americana Bayside, Fenwick Island.

Visit DelawareScene.com to view more than 500 Delaware Arts Events including SDCS

Welcome Gail!

Gail Launay became the Southern Delaware Choral Society Executive Director on July 1, 2008, just the second Executive Director in the organization's history. Please visit the Officers and Staff page to meet Gail Launay.

Updated 7/1/09 - Send web site items to Dan Tabler