A Message From Our Music Director

Warm greetings to all singers as well as lovers and supporters of the choral arts! I am excited to be taking on the Music Director position with the Carolina Master Chorale, after having collaborated over many years with The CMC on numerous performances with the Long Bay Symphony and having sung in the CMC myself under the visionary direction of my friend and colleague, Dr. Timothy Koch. The CMC has long been a cultural mainstay for this area, offering a wealth of musical performances for singers and audience members alike.

As the CMC begins this new chapter, I’ve been reflecting on how choral music inspires us, what motivates a community to maintain a quality choral group, and what needs to be done in order to sustain it, both artistically and financially. The Grand Strand region, which for some time has been attracting significant numbers of new residents from larger metropolitan areas, has a built-in cultural awareness. Much of that awareness, however, goes untapped. People who move here (as well as visitors) often don’t seek out the rich cultural resources available, generally assuming that this area doesn’t have the same level of cultural activity as where they are from. Those of us already part of the regional arts scene, though, are eager to show them otherwise!

Many individuals have had experience singing in choirs at some point in their lives, whether in school, church or community groups. Such experiences foster an enduring appreciation for choral music, and for the skills—musical, physical, organizational and social—developed in preparing for performance. Typically, participation in choral activities, as a singer or even an audience member/supporter, is a lifelong passion. So, the challenge in this continually growing, ever-changing extended community is to keep “connecting the dots,” to reach out to residents and organizations (neighborhoods, churches, civic clubs, etc.) in the area to make choral music lovers aware of the Carolina Master Chorale. And, parents also need be aware that an additional vocal group for young singers ages 8 to 17, the Carolina Youth Chorale, has recently joined the CMC family. The CYC performs on their own as well as with the adult Chorale. Many residents, particularly those new to the area, would be very interested in getting involved in either the CMC or the CYC (or both), but they simply don’t yet know about these groups to participate in or support them.

As we start a new year of activity, I want to focus clearly on getting the word out about what the CMC has to offer, both to singers and to audience members and supporters, and to cast a wide net of interest to broaden participation in the CMC. To that end, The CMC’s 2025-2026 season—The Music of Our Lives—features universally recognized music that speaks to aspects of our day-to-day world. Our October concert highlights Songs of the People, folk and popular favorites that reflect the character and spirit of America and other cultures around the world. In December, our Celebrations of the Season includes classic Christmas-inspired works, a celebration of Hanukkah, and familiar holiday selections, complete with an audience carol sing along! Our February program presents Love Songs through the Centuries, from Renaissance madrigals to contemporary jazz and Broadway standards. And our April concert, Mass Appeal, takes a fascinating look at the Catholic Mass, one of the most significant genres in the history of Western music, featuring contrasting musical settings for each section of the Mass by a variety of composers from Palestrina to Stravinsky, ending with part of Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass.

I am truly enthusiastic about our CMC 2025-2026 season programs! I know that they will be not only an engaging and rewarding challenge for our CMC/CYC singers, both long-standing and new members, but also enticing and thoroughly enjoyable for our audiences.

I look forward to having ALL of you be a part of them!

- Dr. Charles Jones Evans, Music Director