Seasons of Song: An SDCS Chronology*
Compiled by Beth Hochholder, founding member and Exec. Dir. Emeritus
Conductor Richard Eckerd
1986:
1987:
1988:
1989:
1990:
1991:
1992:
1993:
1994:
1995:
1996:
1997:
1998:
1999:
2000:
Messiah Sing-along (first ad hoc concert, under Stephen Gunzenhauser with
the DSO), Milford High.
Year spent organizing into a permanent organization.
Behold a Star: (Mendelssohn’s “Behold a Star,” Haydn’s “The Heavens Are
Telling…” and Saint-Saens’ “Christmas Oratorio,”), Delaware Tech.
Fourth Annual Christmas Concert (Gounod’s “Mass to St. Cecelia,” Respghi’s
“Laud to the Nativity,” Handel’s “Messiah” choruses), Cape Henlopen High.
Mozart’s Requiem, Delaware Tech, Georgetown, Rehoboth Beach Convention
Center.
Christmas Concert (including choruses from Handel’s “Messiah” to Rutter’s
Christmas carols), Delaware Tech.
Brahms’ German Requiem, Avenue Methodist, Milford.
Messiah (sing-along), Epworth, Rehoboth.
Lloyd-Webber’s Requiem, St. Ann’s, Bethany Beach.
Christmas Concert incl. Mozart’s “Coronation Mass”, Reformation, Mil –
ford.
Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” St. John’s, Seaford.
Messiah Sing- along, Epworth, Rehoboth.
Mozart’s Requiem, Cape Henlopen High, Lewes.
Christmas Concert (seasonal program, incl. sing-along pieces). Location?
World Premier of Delaware (a Secular Oratorio), by Delaware native Lee
Mitchell and featuring Mitchell at the piano, Sussex Central High,
Georgetown.
With a Song in Your Heart (music ranging from Bach and Brahms to Lerner &
Loewe), Possum Hall, Georgetown.
Mass Music for the Ages (Buxtehude to Bernstein), Epworth,
Rehoboth.
Lessons and Carols, Reformation, Milford.
I Hear America Singing (Randall Thompson), Delaware Tech.
12th Annual Christmas Concert (Puccini, Vivaldi, Durufle, and Rutter), WoodBridge High, Bridgeville, Reformation, Milford.
DELAWARE: a Secular Oratorio, conducted by composer Lee Mitchell,
University of Delaware, Newark.
Handel’s Messiah, St. John’s, Seaford.
Vive La France, an afternoon with French composers, Reformation, Milford.
Vaughan-Williams’ Hodie and selections from Messiah, St. Peter’s, Lewes.
Celebration: Music of Randall Thompson (with DE Choral Society), Dover,
Seaford High.
An English Christmas, Reformation Lutheran, Milford, Grace Methodist,
Millsboro.
Conductor David Miller
2001:
Durufle’s Requiem, Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth.
Christmas with Puccini, Respighi and Menotti, St. John’s Church, Seaford.
2002: Music from Old Vienna (Shubert’s “Mass in G,” Brahms’ “Liebeslieder
Walzer”) Possum Hall, Georgetown.
Handel’s Messiah, Rehoboth Beach Convention Center
2003: Music in the Time of War: a Tribute to Veterans. Rehoboth Beach Convention
Center, Delaware Tech, Georgetown.
A John Rutter Christmas. Bethel in Seaford, Rehoboth Beach Convention Center
2004: An Evening at the Opera (with Ballet Theatre of Dover Delaware Tech,
Georgetown (2 performances).
Handel’s Messiah (two concerts, one a sing-along), Rehoboth Beach Convention
Center.
2005: Choral Masterworks (Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic & Modern),
Reformation, Milford, Mount Olivet, Seaford.
Mendelssohn’s Christus & Bach’s Wachet Auf, Mariner’s Bethel, Ocean View,
Mount Olivet, Seaford.
2006: Mozart’s Requiem , Cape Henlopen High, Delaware Tech.
Conductor John Ranney
2007:
2008:
2009:
2010:
2011:
2012:
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, St. Edmond’s, Rehoboth, Reformation,
Milford.
The Civil War and Beyond, (Chesapeake Brass Band & classical guitarist
Jeffery Van) Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. Woodbridge High,
Bridgeville.
Messiah with Mid-Atlantic Symphony under Julien Binochet, Eagles Nest,
Lewes.
Mikado, Delaware Tech (2 performances).
A Newborn Child: Cantatas & Carols for Christmas, St. Edmonds,
Rehoboth, United Methodist, Seaford.
Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, Epworth, Rehoboth, Mariner’s Bethel,
Ocean View.
My Soul Now Magnifies the Lord (Bach, Mendelssohn and Handel), Cape
High, Woodbridge High.
Opening Night on Broadway, Epworth, Rehoboth, Mariner’s Bethel,
Ocean View.
An English Christmas, Cape Henlopen High, Delaware Tech.
Gabrielli to Gospel (with DE Choral Society) Epworth, Rehoboth,
Wyoming Church, Dover.
Handel’s Messiah, Cape High, Delaware Tech (a sing-along).
Puttin’ on the Ritz, Epworth, Rehoboth, Seaford High, Delaware Tech.
Interim Conductor Ann Freeman
2012:
2013:
2013:
2014:
A Holiday Voyage (Christmas Music from Around the World), Cape High,
Woodbridge High.
Operas Greatest Hits, Epworth Church, Rehoboth, Mariner’s Bethel, Ocean
View.
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe.
NOTE: For purposes of clarity, this chronology is organized by the calendar year,
although the SDCS season follows the academic year. We begin rehearsals in September
and conclude in late April.
Many thanks to these contributors:
Kelly Abbott
Richard Eckerd
Richard Freeman
Charlie Gilman
Gail Launay
David Miller
Barry Morgan
Michael Petrenko
Marsha Schull
Dennis Stordahl
Phyllis Thomas
Mary Ann Torkelson