The William Baker Choral Foundation

The William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta traces its history to the creation of the Choral Foundation in 1990. During that year, Music Director William Baker was invited to form a project chorus to present the works of three Atlanta-based composers in a special concert sponsored by the Georgia State University School of Music and Composers’ Resources, Inc. During the early 1990s, the Festival Singers presented a number of special concerts as a project chorus. Several performances have been in Spivey Hall and have included Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms; Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem; Rutter: The Falcon and a concert featuring the music of Atlanta composer Mark Gresham.

In 1998, the William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta was selected to perform for the Georgia Convention of the American Choral Directors’ Association meeting in Spivey Hall. Between 1998 and 2003, the Festival Singers presented a number of concerts featuring diverse works including Durufle: Requiem; Mozart: Solemn Vespers; Haydn: Te Deum; Schubert: Mass in G; Vivaldi: Gloria and Kodaly: Laudes Organi.

Beginning with the 2003-2004 season, the William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta became a 45-voice year-round ensemble specializing in short form a cappella classics and spirituals. In June 2005, the Festival Singers was selected as one of only four choruses from a nationwide pool of applicants to perform in the "Spotlight on Choral Music" series at the prestigious Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. Also during the 2004-05 season, the Festival Singers presented a gala concert welcoming delegates from 16 countries to Atlanta under the sponsorship of Cobb Energy, RETX and the United States Department of Energy.

The 2005-06 season begins with "Poetry in Sight and Sound," a concert featuring not only the musical artistry, but the visual artistry of members of the Festival Singers. An art show and sale will be presented in conjunction with this season opening concert. In November, the Festival Singers and the Youth Festival Singers of Atlanta will combine for a Thanksgiving Benefit Concert in support of the Hosea Williams' "Feed the Hungry" outreach programs. The chorus will soon release two new compact disc recordings of choral treasures, A Voice of Singing and Jubilate Deo

The William Baker Choral Foundation, Inc. is a national organization that sponsors performing ensembles in Atlanta and Kansas City in addition to conferences and consulting services nationwide. Ensembles include the William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta and the Summer Singers of Atlanta created in 1990, the William Baker Festival Singers of Kansas City created in 1998, the Summer Singers of Kansas City created in 1999, and the Youth Festival Singers in both cities created in 2004. For a complete listing of the activities of the Choral Foundation, visit our website at www.FestivalSingers.org, or call our Atlanta Office at 404.249.8889.


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	The William Baker Choral Foundation The William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta traces its history to the creation of the Choral Foundation in 1990. During that year, Music Director William Baker was invited to form a project chorus to present the works of three Atlanta-based composers in a special concert sponsored by the Georgia State University School of Music and Composers’ Resources, Inc. During the early 1990s, the Festival Singers presented a number of special concerts as a project chorus. Several performances have been in Spivey Hall and have included Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms; Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem; Rutter: The Falcon and a concert featuring the music of Atlanta composer Mark Gresham. In 1998, the William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta was selected to perform for the Georgia Convention of the American Choral Directors’ Association meeting in Spivey Hall. Between 1998 and 2003, the Festival Singers presented a number of concerts featuring diverse works including Durufle: Requiem; Mozart: Solemn Vespers; Haydn: Te Deum; Schubert: Mass in G; Vivaldi: Gloria and Kodaly: Laudes Organi. Beginning with the 2003-2004 season, the William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta became a 45-voice year-round ensemble specializing in short form a cappella classics and spirituals. In June 2005, the Festival Singers was selected as one of only four choruses from a nationwide pool of applicants to perform in the "Spotlight on Choral Music" series at the prestigious Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. Also during the 2004-05 season, the Festival Singers presented a gala concert welcoming delegates from 16 countries to Atlanta under the sponsorship of Cobb Energy, RETX and the United States Department of Energy. The 2005-06 season begins with "Poetry in Sight and Sound," a concert featuring not only the musical artistry, but the visual artistry of members of the Festival Singers. An art show and sale will be presented in conjunction with this season opening concert. In November, the Festival Singers and the Youth Festival Singers of Atlanta will combine for a Thanksgiving Benefit Concert in support of the Hosea Williams' "Feed the Hungry" outreach programs. The chorus will soon release two new compact disc recordings of choral treasures, A Voice of Singing and Jubilate Deo The William Baker Choral Foundation, Inc. is a national organization that sponsors performing ensembles in Atlanta and Kansas City in addition to conferences and consulting services nationwide. Ensembles include the William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta and the Summer Singers of Atlanta created in 1990, the William Baker Festival Singers of Kansas City created in 1998, the Summer Singers of Kansas City created in 1999, and the Youth Festival Singers in both cities created in 2004. For a complete listing of the activities of the Choral Foundation, visit our website at www.FestivalSingers.org, or call our Atlanta Office at 404.249.8889.
Christmas Atlanta 2007 is proudly sponsored by: for the benefit of Dream House. For more information, please contact Marketing@FestivalSingers.org Website design by alWright Digital Media. Hosting provided courtesy of echoeleven.