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The
Masterworks Chorale: Some Historical Milestones
1940
Lexington Choral Society founded with 50 members and George
Faulkner, director. First of annual concerts held in Cary Hall,
Lexington, MA.
1944
Performance of Handel’s Messiah at Cary Hall with orchestra
composed of 20 members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. “One
of the few choral groups … to carry on during difficult
war years,” Lexington Minuteman reports.
1945
Music Scholarship Fund for a Lexington High School student established.
First sponsorship drive launched for individual contributions.
1946
Wilmer Bartholomew appointed first permanent Director.
1947
Lukas Foss guest conducts the Boston premiere of his composition
The Prairie with soloists Adele Addison and Eunice Alberts.
1948
George W. Grant appointed Director.
1950
Tenth Anniversary season celebrated with two concerts, one a
Pops concert in Cary Hall with orchestra players from the Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
1952
Allen Lannom appointed Director.
1954
First radio broadcast of a concert — Bach’s Christmas
Oratorio — on WCRB by tape. Membership grows to 100.
1957
First choral workshop in connection with performance of Beethoven’s
Missa Solemnis. Concert performed with professional soloists
and orchestra. Membership at 150.
1958
Music Perormance Trust Fund partially funds a 50-piece orchestra
for performance of the Verdi Requiem. The Fund will be used
for orchestra costs through 1981.
1960
Society invited to perform at the Boston Arts Festival and with
the Rhode Island Philharmonic.
1962
First Messiah Sing in Cary Hall. Members sing in Sarah Caldwell’s
Opera Company of Boston performance of Die Meistersinger.
1963
Lorna Cooke deVaron guest conductor during Allen Lannom’s
sabbatical.
1964
First performance in Symphony Hall, Boston: Beethoven’s
Missa Solemnis — performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic.
1965
To commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary, the Society commissions
a choral work by Robert Ward: Sweet Freedom’s Song.
1967
Operation Exodus outreach program performs first concert in
Roxbury.
1969
Name changed to Masterworks Chorale to better reflect the geographical
diversity of the membership and emphasize the challenging nature
and range of the repertoire.
First Summer Sings, six programs in July and August.
1971
First performance in Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, Cambridge,
MA.
1973
New England premiere of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle.
Performance of Orff’s Carmina Burana with Boston Ballet.
1974
New England premiere of Mahler’s Das Klagende Lied with
Newton Symphony Orchestra.
1979
Award for performing excellence from the Association for Performing
Arts. Performance at Boston’s First Night.
1982
Introduced first subscription season at Sanders Theatre.
1983
Performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Greater Boston
Youth Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall and in Lawrence for
Leonard Bernstein’s 65th birthday celebration.
1986
Formed the Great Woods Festival Chorus.
1989
Toured to Mexico.
1994
Toured to Spain.
1996
Worked with student musicians from three high schools —
Lexington and Belmont High Schools and the Concord Academy —
on a performance of Mozart’s Requiem.
1997
Chorale performed the National Anthem at Fenway Park on Allen
Lannom’s 80th birthday.
1998
Allen Lannom presented with Lifetime Achievement Award from
Choral Arts New England and Lifelong Service Award from the
Massachusetts Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
2001
Chorale celebrates Allen Lannom's 50th anniversary as Artistic
Director
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