The Women’s Chorus of Dallas is recognized as one of the nation’s finest women’s choruses. Founded in 1989 with an initial membership of 35, the Chorus has grown to over 100 members, performing three mainstage concerts and several outreach performances each year. The vision and mission of the Chorus are: to be recognized as a choral ensemble providing musical excellence; to promote the strength, diversity, and empowerment of women by performing high-quality music to entertain, inspire, and serve the community; and to contribute positively to the community through entertainment and the support of women’s causes.
The Women’s Chorus of Dallas’ history is crucial to the gay and lesbian community in Dallas. Early members speak of how the Chorus emerged as one of few safe spaces to be fully themselves. For some, the family they made with each other was their only family. Today, the Chorus welcomes a diverse group of self-identified women – regardless of age, race, or sexual identity – lending their voices to support a range of causes, including the Dallas AIDS Walk. In addition to several outreach performances a year, each of their mainstage concerts can reach an audience of 600-750.
The ensemble’s musical prowess has blossomed under the direction of Melinda Imthurn, in her 13th season as Artistic Director. They have performed before Queen Elizabeth; at the inaugurations for Governor Ann Richards and Dallas Mayors Ron Kirk, Laura Miller, and Tom Leppert; and backup for Demi Lovato in addition to recording 11 albums.
The Women’s Chorus of Dallas serves the community through their relationships with other organizations around Dallas that serve causes such as addiction recovery, mentorship for families in crisis, senior care, resources for teenage and single mothers, homelessness, and family violence. By providing 200 tickets for each mainstage concert to these community partners, with onsite performances at closed facilities or for those with less-mobile clientele, the Women’s Chorus of Dallas aims to make life-enriching music available to those who need it, believing that, “when times are tough, music can help make life worth living.”
Concert Performance Selections:
My Singing Bird, arr. Robert Cohen; The Lark in the Clear Air, arr. Robert Sieving; The Little Bird, arr. Kirby Shaw; Mata del Anima Sola (Tree of the Lonely Soul), arr. Alberto Grau; La Rosa y el Sauce, Carlos Guastavino; Happily Ever After, arr. Mac Huff; No Mirrors in My Nana’s House, Ysaye M. Barnwell; Music in My Mother’s House, arr. J. David Moore; In My Grandmother’s Garden, Robert Seeley; As the Rain Hides the Stars, Elaine Hagenberg; Under the Willow, arr. Susan LaBarr; God Will Give Orders/Sweet Child, from Snow Angel, Sarah Quartel; Voices on the Wind, Sarah Quartel; I Write About the Butterfly, Will Varner; Snow Angel: I. All His Angels II. Creatures of Light III/IV. God Will Give Orders/Sweet Child, Sarah Quartel; Come Pretty Love, arr. Joan Szymko; On Children, Ysaye M. Barnwell; Material Madrigirl, arr. Anne Albritton; Mouth Music, arr. Dolores Keane & John Faulkner; Lux Aeterna, Michelle Roueche; O Antiqui Sancti, Hildegard von Bingen/arr. Michael Engelhardt; Only Light, Only Love, Joan Szymko; I Want to Die While You Love Me, Rosephanye Powell; Travelin’ Home, arr. Andrea Ramsey; Voice on the Wind, Sarah Quartel, Laudate Dominum, Carolyn A. Pirtle; Now I Become Myself, Gwyneth Walker; The Lake Isle of Innisfree, Eleanor Daley; Still, I Rise, Rosephanye Powell, One Voice, Ruth Moody; El Vito, arr. Joni Jensen; How Do I Love Thee, William Boland; Love Is a Rain of Diamonds, Gwyneth Walker; Las Amarillas, Stephen Hatfield; El Rio, arr. Diana V. Saez; Nada Te Turbe, arr. Joan Szymko; Fruhling, Richard Strauss; Nature, the Gentlest Mother, Aaron Copland; Suddenly from Les Miserables, arr. Ed Lojeski, We Are, Ysaye M. Barnwell; And Her Mother Came Too, arr. Will Varner; Music in My Mother’s House, arr. J. David Moore; Mom-isms, Gioachino Rossini, words by Anita Renfroe; Iraqi Peace Song, arr. Lori Tenenhouse; The Wind Beneath My Wings, arr. Anne Albritton; Beauty in the Summer Air, Will Varner
Holiday Performance Selections:
Irving Berlin’s Christmas, arr. Brymer/Brown; Christmas Pop Sing-Along, arr. James Ployhar; Russian Christmas Music, choral parts arranged for TWCD by John McIntyre, Peace, Peace/Shalom/Silent Night, Rick and Sylvia Powell, arr. Randol Bass & Will Varner; Three Noels, arr. Clare Grundman; Let There Be Peace on Earth, arr. Douglas E. Wagner; ‘Tis the Season, arr. Will Varner; White Winter Hymnal, arr. Alan Billingsley; Elf Medley, arr. Roger Emerson; Christmas in the Convent, Eric Lane Barnes; Joyful, Joyful, arr. Roger Emerson; Go Tell It on the Mountain, arr. Kirby Shaw; The Holly and the Ivy, arr. Kirby Shaw; Snow Angel: I. All His Angels II. Creatures of Light III/IV. God Will Give Orders/Sweet Child, Sarah Quartel; Santa Claus Is Comin’, arr. Anne Albritton; Jumble Bells, arr. Will Varner; Schlof Main Kind, Allen E. Naplan; Nada Te Turbe, Joan Szymko; Peace, Peace, arr. Fred Bock; Let There Be Peace on Earth, arr. Jay Althouse; Shoulda Been a North Pole Elf, Andy Beck; An Elf’s Life, Anne Albritton
