“A sigh rippled through the pews…
a sigh of pleasure at the blending of beautiful harmonies coming from the
voices on stage…. [the] choir gave much attention and
affection to the songs…adding dimension to the subjects through
well-developed and controlled expression and dynamics.
- The Capital Times, February 2005
“The Festival Choir of Madison closed its season…with a typical display of expertise: finely honed precision, excellent blends within and balances among sections.
- Isthmus, May 2004
Currently in its 36th concert season, the 40-voice Festival Choir of Madison is one of the state’s finest avocational choirs, drawing singers and audience members from a wide geographic area. Several singers travel more than 60 miles each way, once or twice each week to participate in rehearsals and performances.
In addition to its regular subscription season, the Choir has performed live broadcasts from the Elvejhem (now Chazen) Museum for Wisconsin Public Radio, appeared as part of Overture Center’s Grand Opening Festival, and toured across the state and abroad. In 1999, the Choir traveled by invitation to Austria as the first choral ensemble ever asked to participate in the prestigious Ost-West Musikfest.
Committed to innovative programming and broadening the choral repertoire, the Choir has also commissioned, premiered, and recorded new choral works by Steven Paulus, Jean Belmont, Elam Ray Sprenkle, Daron Hagen, Elizabeth Alexander, Ann Heider, and Brent Michael Davids. Their recording of Belmont’s “Sand County” was broadcast nationwide on National Public Radio’s “First Art” program, reaching more than 650,000 listeners. To date, the Choir has released three CDs: Prairie Songs, Wisconsin Sings – music for Wisconsin’s Sesquicentennial, and Celebrate the Season – holiday carols and songs.
The Choir has performed several times with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra for Concerts on the Square®, Masterworks, and Sing-Out Messiah performances, receiving critical acclaim:
“The Festival Choir of Madison, in a shimmering performance alongside the orchestra, imparted a light of its own …the first performance to bring a tear to this critic’s eye in a very long time.”
– The Capital Times, March 2006
Founded in 1973 as the Diocesan Choir by Vernon Sell, the Festival Choir was led by David Lewis Crosby from 1975 to 1993, by Eric Townell from 1993 to 2006, and by Drew Collins from 2007 through 2008.