The Larimer Choral Society

Background Statement

Five Decades of Singing Together

In 1977, a group of singers came together in Fort Collins with a shared love of choral music and a desire to create something meaningful in their community. That beginning became the Larimer Chorale and 50 years later, the spirit behind that first gathering of singers remains at the heart of who we are.

From the beginning, the Chorale has brought together talented volunteer singers to perform great choral music and share it with audiences throughout Northern Colorado. What started as a community choir has grown into one of the region's most established and accomplished choral organizations, while remaining rooted in the belief that music is something we create and experience together.

Over the decades, the Larimer Chorale has performed some of the great works of the choral repertoire, often alongside professional orchestras and soloists. We have also embraced music beyond the traditional canon, commissioned new works, and collaborated with musicians and arts organizations throughout Colorado and beyond.

Building a Community Through Music

The Chorale has long been an active part of Northern Colorado's cultural community. Our singers have performed at community events, collaborated with dance companies, orchestras, children's and school choirs, university ensembles, and other arts organizations, and shared the stage with professional musicians from across the region.

We have been fortunate to work with many outstanding partners, including the Fort Collins Symphony, Canyon Concert Ballet, IMPACT Dance Company, Kutandara, Centennial Children's Chorus, Colorado State University ensembles, area schools, chamber orchestras, and the Cheyenne Symphony. In 2015, Chorale singers joined the Cheyenne Symphony for a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Supporting and celebrating the musicians who make Northern Colorado's arts community vibrant has always been an important part of our work. The Chorale regularly hires professional soloists and instrumentalists and has commissioned new music from composers including Dr. James C. McCray. For our 40th anniversary in 2017, we commissioned Climb from acclaimed composer Jake Runestad and proudly premiered the work in Fort Collins.

Growing Our Ensembles

As the organization grew, so did the ways we could bring people together through music.

The Touring Chamber Choir made its debut in 1988, expanding the Chorale's reach beyond Northern Colorado and representing Fort Collins and the Front Range through performances across the United States and abroad. The ensemble has gone on to undertake international tours, building musical connections and sharing Colorado's vibrant choral tradition with audiences around the world.

Our smaller ensembles have provided another way for singers to connect with the community. The Dickens Carolers, established as a beloved holiday tradition, bring Victorian-era music and costumes to holiday parties, fundraisers, community events, and the Larimer Chorale's Candlelight Christmas concerts.

In 2012, the Larimer Chorale launched the Silvertones Senior Choir as an outreach program, creating a welcoming opportunity for active and older adults to experience the joy, health, and camaraderie of singing together. In 2023, Silvertones became a member ensemble of the Larimer Choral Society, joining the Chorale as part of the organization's growing family of musical communities.

Looking Ahead

Today, the Larimer Choral Society continues the work begun by those first singers in 1977. Through the Larimer Chorale, Silvertones Senior Choir, Dickens Carolers, and our many community partnerships, we create opportunities for people to sing, listen, learn, connect, and experience the power of music together.

As we celebrate five decades of music-making, we are proud of where we've been—and excited about where we're going. The names, faces, music, and stages may change, but our purpose remains remarkably consistent:

Bring people together. Sing great music. Build community. And share the joy of singing with Northern Colorado.