The Chicago Symphony Chorus is an integral part of the city’s cultural fabric, engaging audiences with exceptional performances and interpretations of choral masterworks for nearly seventy years. Since its inception, it has been recognized as an ideal match for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in its precision, pure intonation, beauty of tone and vocal splendor.
The Chorus was founded during the 1957/58 Season by conductor Margaret Hillis to equal the quality of the Orchestra. Today, the Chicago Symphony Chorus serves as the nation’s largest professional chorus and is recognized for its vast repertoire, including several world premieres. Chorus members regularly perform alongside the CSO at Chicago Symphony Center, the Ravinia Festival and on domestic and international tours. Since its first commercial recordings in 1959, the Chorus has amassed a discography that includes hallmarks of the choral repertoire and several operas, earning 10 Grammy awards for Best Choral Performance.
