Michael Dell, Director
Don Thompson, Director Emeritus

The Don Thompson Chorale, Inc., a non-profit volunteer community chorus in Jacksonville, Florida, was formed in 1995 after a Reunion Concert in December, 1994. That event brought Mr. Thompson's former singers together "one last time" or so they thought. After a warm reception by an appreciative and enthusiastic audience, members of the reunion choir were hooked. They promised their director they would organize a choral group and name it after him if he would only agree to lead them on an ongoing basis. Thompson selected a governing Board of Directors which met and developed a vision for the group. One of their collective dreams was "to be flooded with so many applications for membership and invitations to perform that we are unable to accept them all." With eleven years of rehearsals, performances and recordings under its belt, the group is realizing this dream.

The DTC began rehearsing in May 1995, presenting its first concerts in November 1995. The Board of the Chorale adopted this Prime Directive: "To create beautiful choral music and share it with as many people as possible." To that end, recordings were made of the three major concerts in that first season, from which the Chorale's first CD, "A Gallery of Song" was produced. Since that time the group has recorded concerts and special sessions from which a series of CDs have been produced.

Upon Thompson's retirement in the summer of 2003, Michael Dell, who had served as the group's gifted accompanist since 1999, was asked to become director of the Chorale. Michael's wealth of musical experience and knowledge, gained through various organist and choirmaster positions, is a definite plus for the Chorale. With Michael at the helm, both he and the group have grown and prospered, and continue to excel in performances from their ever-increasing repertoire.

One of the Chorale Board's most important decisions was that the group would present the majority of concerts throughout the community without charging admission. Instead, they would raise the finances needed to fund the Chorale's continuing operation by accepting voluntary donations from both singers and patrons, accepting paid private singing engagements, selling program advertising and selling the group's recordings.

To date the DTC has produced five CDs which are available at its concerts and at the Chorale office. They include:

• "A Gallery of Song"
• "Christmas Collage"
• "Who We Are: A Smorgasbord of Musical Treats"
• "Portraits of Worship"
• and "Requiem," a double CD set which includes both Rutter's Requiem and Brahms' "A German Requiem."

CDs are available for purchase at all DTC concerts and from the Chorale office. For more information contact the Chorale office at 904-358-0196 or email: choraleoholics@mindspring.com.

The DTC is dedicated to helping its members grow musically by learning and performing a variety of choral music, both sacred and secular. The group aims to provide musical experiences that entertain, uplift, and enrich the audiences for whom it performs, in addition to nurturing the strong camaraderie that has developed among the singers over the years. The members' shared interest in the creation of beautiful music serves to enhance the group's performances.

The Chorale rehearses weekly at Riverside Presbyterian Church and welcomes the opportunity to accept new members. Prospective members are encouraged to visit with the Chorale in rehearsal before auditioning.

For more information about The Don Thompson Chorale, contact the Chorale office: 904-358-0196 or email: choraleoholics@mindspring.com.