History

Who We Are

Founded in 1977, the Larimer Chorale is one of the largest and most accomplished classical choral groups in Colorado. We are an auditioned, adult choir, composed of approximately 125 members who are accountants, teachers, students, professors, health care workers, moms, dads, researchers, small business owners, government workers and others. We are your friends and neighbors and we sing for the pure joy it brings our audiences. Each year, our singers contribute approximately 20,000 hours in rehearsal and performance time and in tending to the many tasks required to manage the business of the Chorale. Our repertoire emphasizes the choral masterworks, performed with orchestras we hire. We also perform lighter music, such as pieces by Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and other 19th- and 20th-century composers.

The Chorale has been a major player on the Fort Collins cultural scene for over forty years, consistently producing professional-level concerts with accomplished volunteer singers who sing simply for the love it. We appear at local events, sing the National Anthem at community happenings, and, every few years, offer a free, family-friendly concert. We collaborate with many other performing arts groups: Fort Collins Symphony, Canyon Concert Ballet, IMPACT Dance Company, Kutandara, Centennial Children's Chorus, high school choirs and chamber orchestras, Colorado State University ensembles, and more. The Cheyenne Symphony has invited chorale members to join a combined choir for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, in April 2015. We support regional musicians by hiring them as soloists and orchestra members. We have commissioned a work from a local composer and conductor (Dr. James C. McCray). In celebration of our 40th Anniversary, we commissioned a work from choral rock star, Jake Runestad. We debuted the work he wrote for us, entitled Climb, in February 2017.

Ensembles

The Larimer Chorale represents Fort Collins and brings positive attention to Colorado’s Front Range. The Touring Chamber Choir, which debuted in 1988, is preparing its 10th European tour.

Small ensembles help us reach more community members. The Dickens Carolers, clad in spectacular Victorian costumes, sing at parties, fundraisers, the Chorale's annual Candlelight Christmas concerts, and special events throughout the winter holiday season.