History of the Chorale

Arthur J. Holton, II (1983)

The Stockton Chorale started as a double quartet in 1951 under the direction of founder Arthur Holton II. When the Stockton Chorale became an auditioned community chorus in 1955, the Chorale sang only Handel's Messiah for two years. The concert season was expanded gradually and now the Stockton Chorale season includes three to four major concerts yearly.

(1982)
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The group was led by Holton for many years and was administered through a relationship with Stockton's Delta College in which singers enrolled in a "class" to sing in the Chorale. Frank Prather served as interim Conductor from 1965-67, and Ralph Prime from 1967-72. Following the passage of California's Proposition 13 in 1978, the Chorale separated from Delta College and incorporated as an independent non-profit organization.

Upon Holton's retirment in 1991, Mark Clark, professor at UOP, directed until 1995. Dr. Joe Miller served from 1995-1999 while Director of Vocal Music, CSU Stanislaus. From September 1999 until December 2009, Dr. Edward Cetto, Director of Vocal Music at UOP, led the group. Currently Magen Solomon serves as Artistic Director and Conductor.

Growing over the years, The Stockton Chorale has become a 120-voice group, with members from several Central Valley and Sierra Foothills communities.

(1986)
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The Chorale has performed with the Bear Valley Orchestra, 50 times with the Stockton Symphony, eight with Sacramento Symphony, six with San Francisco Symphony, four with Glendale Symphony and Carmen Dragon, and three times with the Manhattan Symphony of New York in Carnegie and Avery Fisher Halls.

Since 1981, Chorale members have participated in eight international tours: Great Britain, France and Austria, a musical tour of Australia and New Zealand, the Salzburg, Austria Music Festival, a tour of Greece and Italy. The Chorale's concert tour to England and Wales in the summer of 1998 featured an appearance at the Shrewsbury International Music Festival. In 2001 the Chorale toured Eastern Europe (Prague, Vienna, Budapest); the summer of 2005 saw them visit Northern Italy and Rome, including an opportunity to sing in the Sistine Chapel. The 2007 tour took the Chorale to Scotland and Ireland.

Past Presidents of the Chorale