Key Chorale History

It delighted the audience at its opening concert on March 3, 1985 with a performance of Handel’s rarely heard Israel in Egypt. The chorale is comprised of 125 voices with a professional base of section leaders and core singers.  As the Official Chorus of the Florida West Coast Symphony, the chorale has collaborated with arts groups such as the Sarasota Opera and Sarasota Ballet to bring celebrated musical works to the community.

For its first 21 years, Daniel Moe was the Artistic Director and Conductor of the chorale.  Referred to as the “Dean of Choral Conductors” by the New Yorker magazine, Dr. Moe previously conducted the internationally renowned Oberlin College Choir.  He announced his intention to retire in October, 2005 which allowed the chorale to conduct a nationwide search for a new artistic director.  Dr. Moe’s last concert was April 30, 2007 with a glorious performance of Verdi’s acclaimed Requiem. His tenure with Key Chorale established a standard of choral excellence that will be continued by the newly selected Artistic Director, Joseph Caulkins.

Collaborating with the Florida West Coast Symphony under the baton of Leif Bjaland, the chorale has performed such magnificent works as The Creation, Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Poulenc’s Gloria. It also has appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Slatkin presenting Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. To celebrate its 20th anniversary season, Key Chorale commissioned a suite of pieces by Gwyneth Walker entitled, Three Days by the Sea. These compositions were exquisitely presented in the presence of the composer to conclude the 2005 season. Also during its anniversary season, Key Chorale was the subject of public television station WEDU’s Gulf Coast Journal hosted by noted television personality, Jack Perkins.

Through its history, Key Chorale has released several recordings available on CD. Its first recordings include An Evening with Mozart in 1997 and A Festival of Psalms in 1998. In June, 2001 the chorale toured Prague, Vienna, and Budapest where it collaborated with the Capella Istropolitana Chamber Orchestra enchanting its audiences with Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and selected American music. Its recording, An Evening at Rosenberg Castle, captured the magic of the chorale’s time in Europe. In 2002, it released a recording of its critically acclaimed performance of Durufle’s Requiem and Louis Vierne’s Solemn Mass.  Later recordings include a retrospective of compositions by Daniel Moe, newly recorded and archival, titled The Living Legacy of Daniel Moe. This double set CD includes performances from other ensembles that he has conducted as well.  The chorale completed another double CD set commemorating its 20th anniversary that included Three Days by the Sea by Gwyneth Walker and also Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor.