June 29, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE On Sunday, June 27 the Board of Directors of The Orlando Chorale, Inc. voted to cease operations and dissolve the corporation for this community-based performing arts organization. The Orlando Chorale was founded on May 7, 2002, by Gregory Ruffer, Music Director, and John E. Perkins, Executive Director. The Chorale presented eight seasons of performances in the Central Florida region and comprised more than 250 singers during this time.
The closure of The Chorale followed the resignations of its founders, offered at the same Board meeting. Gregory Ruffer is relocating to Tampa at the end of this summer where his partner and founding Chorale Board Chair, Peter Stark, will become the Director of the Dance Division of the Patel Conservatory. Ruffer continues as the Associate Professor of Vocal Music at the College of Central Florida in Ocala. John Perkins noted that personal matters requiring his attention have made it impossible to continue in his role with The Chorale. Both will continue in their positions until all activities related to the closure are complete. Ruffer commented: “I cannot begin to say how much joy every singer who has ever been a part of TOC has given to my life. We have created beautiful music that has lived in my heart and have shared our lives in ways that has made each singer very dear to me. Leaving this incredible organization is a very difficult transition for me to make.” “The Orlando Chorale has certainly made the Central Florida area a more artistically vibrant place these last eight years. Even though we are sad to bring this to a close, we are pleased to do so knowing that our organization was artistically strong and fiscally sound. I feel very honored to have contributed so much to our local arts community,” stated John Perkins.
Performances of The Chorale followed closely to its founding mission: “The Orlando Chorale is an auditioned, community chorus dedicated to the quality presentation of outstanding new and classic choral repertoire. The Chorale endeavors to enrich the Central Florida community through music performances, educational outreach, and interdisciplinary collaborations with local, state and national arts organizations.”
Some highlights of the ensemble’s eight seasons include:
- Commissions by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Jennifer Higdon (somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond in 2007) and Fulbright Award winner Christopher Marshall (High Flight in 2009).
- Five concert programs with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra; two programs with Orlando Ballet; additional collaborations with Mad Cow Theatre, Northern Kentucky Children’s Ensemble, Orlando Children’s Chorus, University High School choir and others.
- Performances at the Florida Vocal Association and Florida division of the American Choral Directors Association conferences.
- Premiered more than a dozen new works by young and unpublished composers through the ground-breaking Emerging Composers Initiative.
- Nurtured six young conductors through the Artistic Internship program.
- Mentored seven emerging choral music leaders as they served as assistant music directors of The Chorale.
- Enriched the lives of more than a dozen high school students through the Young Artists Choral Scholarship program.
- Donated thousands of dollars to local non-profits through the charitable giving program at performances.
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