Carolina Master Chorale

Introducing our new Music Director

The Carolina Master Chorale is honored to announce that the position of Mu

sic Director has been offered to Dr. Charles Jones Evans and that he has graciously accepted. Dr. Evans' tenure will begin on July 1st of this year.

Dr. Evans is already hard at work preparing an exciting lineup for our 43rd season, which will commence in October 2025. We look forward to sharing more details with you as they are finalized.

In the meantime, we are thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Evans!

Dr. Charles Jones Evans is no stranger to Grand Strand audiences, having served for nearly three decades as Music Director of the Long Bay Symphony. During his tenure there, he transformed the organization from a community orchestra into a solid professional ensemble.

A native of Dallas, Maestro Evans began singing in choirs at an early age under the tutelage of his father, at that time organist/choirmaster at St. Matthews Episcopal Cathedral. He continued vocal studies and choral activities throughout his advanced orchestral and conducting training (B.M., Cleveland Institute of Music; M.M., Southern Methodist University; DMA, Eastman School of Music), working as section leader in church choirs and civic choral groups in Dallas, Jackson MS, Memphis, Little Rock and Myrtle Beach.

Concurrently with his orchestral career Maestro Evans has held director positions with groups such as The Arkansas Choral Society and the Coastal Carolina University Concert Choir. He has also served as interim choir director for Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock AR and Trinity Church in Myrtle Beach. He is currently Director of Music at The Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Myrtle Beach.

Maestro Evans is excited to be taking on the music director position with The Carolina Master Chorale, following the retirement of his friend and colleague, Dr. Timothy Koch. He looks forward to continuing CMC’s development, serving the residents of—and visitors to—this ever-growing community.

Much more information regarding Dr. Evan's upcoming first season with the CMC will follow shortly.

CAROLINA MASTER CHORALE MISSION

The mission of the Carolina Master Chorale is to promote the choral arts, present exceptional performances of choral music, enhance arts education, and enrich the cultural lives of our members, audiences, and the coastal Carolina community.

The Carolina Master Chorale, recognized as the premier symphonic chorus in the region, covering Northeast South Carolina and Southeast North Carolina, holds the distinction of being the longest-running community vocal organization in the Myrtle Beach area.

The CMC is proud to be celebrating its 43rd anniversary season in 2025/2026. The repertoire of the Carolina Master Chorale encompasses a wide variety of innovative and critically acclaimed programming, including performances of traditional and lesser-known choral and choral/orchestral masterworks, full operatic productions, adventurous contemporary music, numerous commissions, and premieres, as well as lighter fare ranging from Broadway to vocal jazz and gospel music.

A black and white image of a musical note

A green background with black notes on it.

EDUCATIONAL MISSION AND PERFORMANCES

The CMC is deeply committed to the musical education of tomorrow’s performers and audiences. Each year, the Carolina Master Chorale performs for thousands of South Carolina schoolchildren, providing the only opportunity most of these children will have to experience a live performance of professional-level choral artistry. CMC members consider these among some of the most enjoyable and rewarding concerts of every season.

The Carolina Master Chorale performs for the students of area elementary and middle schools in the Fine Arts Day concerts. The CMC also performed before a thousand seventh graders at the Induction ceremony of the South Carolina Hall of Fame, and for several hundred students at the summer High School Music Camp at Coastal Carolina University. Our historical commitment to music education has included performances in schools throughout Horry County, sponsorship of the Carolina Youth Chorale, presentation of an annual children’s music workshop, and shared concerts with high school and collegiate choral ensembles.

As of July 1st, 2024, the CMC is proud to announce the addition of the Carolina Youth Chorale. These extremely talented young people will be featured at our concerts throughout the season as well as performing on their own throughout the community.

Finally, the CMC partners with the Long Bay Symphony in sponsoring the Horry County Choral Music Teacher of the Year. We welcome the opportunity to recognize these outstanding educators in our public school system!

A green background with black musical notes.

CMC Reviews/Media Reviews

Verdi: La Traviata

“This was a full-length version production, sung in its original Italian. The program called the production semi-staged, but there was nothing amateurish about it.

Koch’s sensitive conducting of the orchestra let listener feel the impact of such passages as the high, poignant strings which open the opera, returning late in the work after many shifts of mood.

The remarkable Carolina Master Chorale sent forth jolts of energy in such numbers as the famous ‘Drinking Song’ in Act 1, making listeners completely unaware this is a volunteer group with diverse backgrounds, and not a full time professional music ensemble.

Everyone and everything worked well in this production. Nothing dragged and there was a sense of hardly realizing it was over when it ended.

Timothy Koch, the Carolina Master Chorale, and the cast of fine professionals let us experience a work which is an artistic entree into a world which existed as vividly today as it did in the 19th century.”

– Myrtle Beach Herald

Verdi: Stabat Mater

“In tones that ranged from quiet and contemplative to mournfully passionate, the 80-member Chorale offered up a stirring rendition of Giuseppe Verdi’s Stabat Mater. A flawless performance, it demonstrated the group’s vocal skills and precision.”

– The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Ginastera: Lamentations of Jeremiah

In one of the special moments of the afternoon, this region’s other treasure, the Carolina Master Chorale, took the stage. Timothy Koch prepared the audience for the music to come with a brief description of the background of Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera and his powerful Lamentations of Jeremiah. Secure intonation let listeners concentrate on the vocal tone colors, the complex and difficult harmonies, and shifting dynamics.”

– The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Brubeck: La Fiesta de la Posada

“It’s not often that one associates a powerful, well-trained choir with jazz, but the program presented by the CMC certainly erased any doubts about whether this works. The CMC handled all of this effortlessly, and the soloists – Emily Hindrichs, David Bankston, Joe Chappel, and Drew Trautman – were exceptional. Certain parts must be pointed out – the jazz waltz feeling No. 8, “Run Run Run”, the Three Wise Men in No. 9, ‘Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh’ with the unconventional chords, the riveting No. 10, ‘My Soul Magnifies the Lord’ with its interweaving of declamatory instrumental gestures and beautiful solo, and finally No. 14, ‘God’s Love Made Visible,’ with its unusual beat and massive, breathtaking conclusion, using all vocal and instrumental forces – because they demonstrate clearly the skill and power of the CMC itself.”

– Myrtle Beach Herald

Bernstein: Chichester Psalms

“The appropriately named Carolina Master Chorale is a treasure… Koch’s beautifully prepared Carolina Master Chorale blended with the Long Bay Symphony as if they do this all the time…”

– Myrtle Beach Herald

Guest Artist Reviews

“The highest praise from me.”

– Carlisle Floyd, World-Renowned American Opera Composer

“How can I thank the Carolina Master Chorale enough for its superlative performances of my Seven Deadly Sins and An American Hallel performed this past weekend? To put it in a nutshell, CMC’s skill and execution was right up there with America’s top choral ensembles. Undoubtedly, this is due not only to the genuinely dedicated and nice community of CMC singers but also to their gifted and inspired musical leaders Maestro Tim Koch and composer-in-residence/accompanist Andrew Fowler. When leaders with vision show their charges the mountaintop and accept no less, great heights are attained. For all this, I am grateful for a thrilling weekend of music-making. I will always be a devoted friend of the Carolina Master Chorale.”

– Michael Isaacson, Ph.D., Composer

“I thank you for reaching out to me to be a part of a great experience. Cheers and rousing applause.”

– Mitch Laurence, Narrator, Actor, ESPN Commentator

Audience Reviews

“My friends and I are still talking about how blown away we were today by that concert we saw. The chorale sounded amazing. Very Impressive!!!!”

– Michael Orland, Music Director, American Idol

“What a wonderful, innovative program by you and the CMC yesterday! The choir sounded great, and the new works were very enjoyable and engaging. It is so encouraging not only to see the CMC continuing to build momentum, but to see the success of interesting, fresh programming concepts presented in this community. Your efforts in this regard help to open up the market for new ideas with the Symphony and all other arts groups. Please share with the chorus (and with Andy Fowler) my enthusiastic congratulations for a huge undertaking well done!”

– Charles Jone Evans, Music Director, Long Bay Symphony

“Thank you again for the wonderful performance. You guys are really special.”

– Ewa Mataya Laurance, World Champion Billiard Player

“I have to tell you that the best and highest class music making I’ve experienced since I have been here has come from the Carolina Master Chorale- it is really a first-class organization. I wish you all continued success!”

– John Santuccio, Executive Director, Horry County Arts & Cultural Enhancement