About the Bay Area Chorus

Mission Statement
The mission of the Bay Area Chorus is to enrich the Houston and Galveston Bay area through the powerfully expressive eloquence of choral music.

Goals

To provide educational outreach for audiences, chorus members and the local student community through the study and performance of varied styles of choral music, including both contemporary and classical.
To provide the opportunity for singers in the community to participate in the preparation and performance of choral music of high quality.
To demonstrate the continuity between student and adult performance opportunities by inviting area youth to participate in concerts.

History

One of Houston’s oldest non-profit groups, the Bay Area Chorus has brought heartfelt performances to Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast since 1965. More than sixty singers comprise our all-volunteer chorus, each bringing unique interests, ethnic backgrounds and cultural experiences to the group. Some are engineers. Some are teachers. A few are in the medical profession. Occasionally, even an astronaut has graced this musical melting pot.

The Bay Area Chorus, also known as BAC, was originally formed under the direction of Estred Schwantes to sing the Easter portion of Handel’s Messiah. The chorus followed with a performance of the Christmas portion of the Messiah under the direction of Paul Ofield, who remained director until 1967. Paul Harrison took over as director in 1967 and served for one year. The BAC performed Mozart’s Requiem in the Apollo 1 Astronauts Memorial Concert at the NASA Johnson Space Center under his leadership.

The BAC incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1968. Dr. Wayne Bedford took over as director in 1968 and the chorus performed such notable pieces as Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Brahm’s Liebeslieder Waltzes. In 1969, Ray Witt assumed the director position and led the chorus in a performance of the Brahms' Requiem.

Under Milton Pullen’s leadership from 1970 to 1975, the chorus performed Beethoven’s Mass in C and Bach’s Magnificat among others. Ray Moore directed the choir from 1975 to 1988, leading the chorus in performances of Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Motet III and Cantata 191 by J.S. Bach, Dvorak’s Mass in D, Mozart’s Symphony #40, the Brahms' Requiem, Laud to the Nativity by Respighi, Randall Thompson’s Testament of Freedom, Opera to Annie from Broadway and Orff’s Carmina Burana.

In 1980, BAC established a scholarship fund to support local high school seniors interested in majoring in vocal or choral music at an accredited college or university. A number of scholarship recipients are now choral directors teaching in Texas schools; many others maintain vocal studios and teach private voice to high school students. One recipient was a Met Auditions winner who performed a leading role in La Boheme on Broadway as well as in other Opera performances across the U.S. Another scholarship winner performs regularly with the New York City Opera as well as regional opera companies, and many more are active soloists with church, community and professional ensembles.

Rob Seible served as chorus director from 1988 to 1995 . Performances of note during his tenure include Pergolesi’s Mass in F Major, Dvorak’s Songs of Nature, Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai, Landes’ Images, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Thompson’s Frostiana and a concert setting of Porgy and Bess. Keith Dixon took over as director in 1995. Mr. Dixon has led the chorus in the performance of many major works, including Mozart’s Regina Coeli, Schubert’s Mass in G, Pinkham’s Festival Magnificat, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, the Faure Requiem, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass in D Minor.

BAC has performed at such notable venues in the U.S. and Europe as Carnegie Hall - New York; Meyerson Symphony Center- Dallas; Teague Auditorium – NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston; St. Patrick's Cathedral - Dublin, Ireland,;1894 Grand Opera House – Galveston, Texas; Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris; Stratford Opera House - Columbia, Texas; Viener Rathaus – Vienna, Austria; Texas Choral Directors Association - San Antonio; and Santa Iglesia Cathedral - Merida, Mexico. BAC has also presented many free Christmas concerts to standing room only audiences at the NASA Johnson Space Center Teague Auditorium.