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The Bard Festival Chorale is a classical music ensemble that has been captivating audiences with their stunning performances for over 30 years. Founded in 1989 by conductor and music director Leon Botstein, the Chorale has become one of the most respected and renowned choral groups in the United States. The Bard Festival Chorale was born out of the desire to create a world-class choral ensemble that would perform at the Bard Music Festival, an annual event held at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Botstein, who is also the president of Bard College, wanted to showcase the beauty and power of choral music to festival-goers, and he knew that he needed to assemble a group of talented and dedicated singers to make that happen. Botstein began by recruiting singers from the local community, as well as from Bard College itself. He also reached out to professional singers from New York City and other nearby cities, and before long, he had assembled a group of over 100 singers who were eager to perform under his direction. The Chorale's first performance was in August of 1989, and it was an immediate success. The group performed a program of choral works by Bach, Handel, and Mozart, and the audience was blown away by the beauty and precision of the singing. From that moment on, the Bard Festival Chorale became a fixture at the Bard Music Festival, performing every year and earning a reputation as one of the finest choral ensembles in the country. Over the years, the Bard Festival Chorale has performed a wide variety of choral works, ranging from the Renaissance era to the present day. The group has tackled everything from large-scale choral works like Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Mahler's Eighth Symphony to more intimate pieces like Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes and Schumann's Dichterliebe. The Chorale has also premiered several new works by contemporary composers, including John Harbison, Joan Tower, and George Tsontakis. One of the highlights of the Bard Festival Chorale's history was their performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor in 1997. This monumental work is considered one of the greatest choral works of all time, and the Chorale's performance was widely praised for its beauty and emotional power. The performance was recorded and released on CD, and it remains one of the Chorale's most beloved recordings. Another major highlight for the Bard Festival Chorale was their performance of Verdi's Requiem in 2013. This powerful work is a tour-de-force for both the singers and the orchestra, and the Chorale's performance was hailed as one of the finest ever heard. The performance was also recorded and released on CD, and it has become a favorite of classical music fans around the world. In addition to their performances at the Bard Music Festival, the Bard Festival Chorale has also performed at other venues around the country and around the world. The group has toured extensively in Europe, performing in such prestigious venues as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Royal Albert Hall in London. They have also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The Bard Festival Chorale has received numerous awards and accolades over the years, including several Grammy nominations for their recordings. In 2014, the group was awarded the prestigious Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence by Chorus America, a national organization that promotes choral music in the United States.

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