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Founded in 1993, Vesper Chorale took its name from the early evening prayer service of the traditional church liturgy, and originally performed exclusively sacred music. In the years since, its mission has expanded to include multiple ensembles, both vocal and instrumental, and its repertoire has evolved to reflect a new, broader sensibility. In keeping with these changes, the organization celebrated the launch of its new name, Musical Arts Indiana, in 2010.
Born in the late 1990’s, Vesper Chamber Orchestra was formed to join Vesper Chorale in the performance of oratorio, creating the critically acclaimed Basically Baroque concert series. Through these concerts, Vesper Chorale partners with church, high school, and college music departments, providing participants with a professional-level performance experience. This series has presented such works as Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s C Minor Mass and Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. Performances have taken Vesper Chorale to campuses and churches across northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan, including IPFW in Fort Wayne, Manchester College, Southwestern Michigan College, Lake Michigan College, and others.
In November of 2008, Vesper Chorale launched a new initiative, its Diverse Journeys Concert Series, aspiring to collaborate with ethnic communities in celebrating the music and history of their respective cultures. Vesper Chorale gave command performances of McCullough’s Holocaust Cantata - Songs from the Camps at Temple Beth-El in 2008 and again in 2009. The choir also presented a memorable performance of this work to the Indiana Choral Directors Association summer conference. Public Broadcasting Station WNIT recorded the 2009 performance, which aired during Holocaust Remembrance Week in April of 2010. This production was nominated for an Indiana Broadcasters Association Spectrum Award. Vesper Chorale followed this with a program of all Jewish Music at the St. Joseph Valley Jewish Federation Annual Meeting in June of 2010. The choir has connected with the Latino community through the work of Argentinean composer Ariel Ramirez, being featured in the Spanish language newspaper El Puente. The first in a series of programs with Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church took place in May of 2011, and explored the musical traditions of the African-American heritage.
Vesper Chorale has been recognized with awards from the Kurt and Tessye Simon Fund for Holocaust Remembrance, Memorial Hospital Foundation, Elnora Stickley Foundation, Indiana Arts Council, Indiana Council for the Humanities, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, and the Josephson Music Trust. In 2008, in commemoration of its 15th Anniversary, Vesper Chorale, Inc. received a citation from the Mayor of South Bend for its contribution to the community through the arts.
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