The North Carolina Master Chorale is the Resident Chorus of the North Carolina Symphony. Their most recent concerts with the Symphony featured Handel’s Messiah conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto in December, 2023. They will join the Symphony again this season for concerts in February featuring Beethoven Symphony No 9 and for performances in May of the Mozart Requiem.

Founded in 1942 as the Raleigh Oratorio Society, the North Carolina Master Chorale has been performing for over 80 years. The Master Chorale includes a 175-voice Symphonic Choir, a professional Chamber Choir of 16-60 voices, and the North Carolina Master Chorale Youth Choir, which is a professionally directed honors choir for high school students. Singers in all of these choirs are selected through auditions. 

Named in 2014 as the resident choir of the North Carolina Symphony, the North Carolina Master Chorale provides choral support for the Symphony for major choral works in addition to their own performances. The Master Chorale’s season consists of five to six concerts for the adult choirs, and one Youth Choir performance. The Chorale also provides the choir for Carolina Ballet performances, regularly collaborates with other arts organizations, and provides choral music to North Carolina choirs through a newly created Music Lending Library. The organization has been awarded a Raleigh Medal of Arts, and has twice filmed their holiday concert for broadcast on PBS North Carolina.

Music Director Dr. Alfred Sturgis has led the Master Chorale for more than 30 years. He is also Music Director of the Carolina Ballet and the Tar River Orchestra. In September 2023, Sturgis was awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine.

SOPRANOS
Emily Arbour
Denise Berry
Becky Brock
Milo Clements
Chloe Donesky
Katherine Eves
Susan Meador
Abby Nardo
Justine O’Connor-Petts
Stacey Owen
Maggie Pate
Sara Richard
Rebekah Shamberger
Taylor Troyer
Toiya Williams

ALTOS
Jenny Anderson
Cathy Brawner
Martha Cecka
Randi Chalfant
Catie DeLiso
Gina Difino
Megan Gray
Kathy Hopkins
Katie Horneffer
Paula Hostetter
Carol Ingbretsen
Evelyn McCauley
MaryRobert McGrath
Kayla Pierce
Olivia Schwager
Carmen Stewart

TENORS
Steven Brooks
Dan Gaugert
Anil Gehi
Ken Griffo
Philip Guadagno
Jeff Hensley
Taylor Hoyt
Mike Kilbridge
Josh McCarthy
Jack Neely
Robert Sparks
David Wiehle

BASSES
Chris Anderson
Colin Anderson
Francis Cianfrocca
Mike Gilliam
Phil Hanna
Hal Haygood
Mike Lawrence
Bradley Layton
Scott MacCracken
Kurt Marsden
Josh Mizesko
Sammy Pearce
Alex Ronke
Matt Sawchak
Jamie Taylor