Master Chorale of South Florida
History
The Master Chorale, South Florida’s premier classical choral ensemble, is comprised of the finest classical singers in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. Now in its sixth season, the group was formed to ensure that world-class performances of major works written for chorus and orchestra remain part of South Florida’s cultural fabric. To date, they have thrilled audiences with such beloved masterpieces as Brahms’ German Requiem, Vaughn-Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C minor and Schubert’s Mass in E-flat Major. In their 2006-2007 season, the talented ensemble was privileged to perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Cleveland Orchestra in their Miami debut, and a concert version of Verdi’s Il Trovatore with a world-renowned cast in a Concert Association of Florida production, also at the Arsht Center. The Chorale sang in concert again at The Arsht Center during their 2007-2008 season with a sold-out performance of Carl Orff's world famous Carmina Burana.
In 2008-2009, concerts include blockbuster performances of Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, along with a holiday concert with the Empire Brass. The 2009-2010 year started off with another Beethoven’s Ninth, this time with the New World Symphony and Michael Tilson-Thomas. These concerts were quickly followed by the heralded return of Maestro James Judd to the South Florida concert stage, conducting the Chorale in Handel’s Messiah. Three performances of Mozart’s Requiem are scheduled for April 2010.
The Master Chorale of South Florida was conceived by former members of the Florida Philharmonic Chorus following the demise of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2003. Within months, a core group of singers created business, marketing and fundraising plans, incorporated as a non-profit organization and hired Jo-Michael Scheibe as Artistic Director and Conductor. Jeffri Bantz served as Associate Director and Accompanist until his untimely death in 2006.
Dr. Scheibe continued to audition new singers and refine the sound to create an ensemble capable of performing the most challenging repertoire at the highest level. Their artistry and musicianship are increasingly recognized by enthusiastic, growing audiences and stellar reviews.
In June 2008 Dr. Scheibe moved to Southern California to chair the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music choral studies program. In August 2008 Dr. Joshua Habermann was appointed Artistic Director of the Master Chorale of South Florida. Dr. Habermann had served as Assistant Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus and Director of Choral Activities at San Francisco State University. He also serves as director of Choral Studies at the University of Miami and Music Director of the Desert Chorale in Santa Fe, NM.
