Have you got a desire for choir? A penchant for pitch or a hankering for harmony? The Bay Area brims with scores of chorales of every variety, from Cantare con Vivo to WomenSing, Schola Cantorum and more. Whether you’re a singer yourself or just looking for a musical night out, here’s a sampling of ensembles to explore.
Bay Area Showcase Chorus
This Milpitas-based chapter of Sweet Adelines International has been an a cappella mainstay since 1956, performing everything from barbershop bops to contemporary songs, all arranged in close four-part harmony. The local chapter currently has 50 members, but they’re always looking for more, regardless of age, vocal range or musical background. Join them on the risers or find details on upcoming shows at singharmony.org/
Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra
This non-audition community ensemble, founded in 1966 under the auspices of the Berkeley Adult Education Program, offers free concerts and performance opportunities for emerging singers and musicians. The BCCO is quite popular though, so you’ll have to join the waiting list before you can take the stage. Meanwhile, mark your calendar for June 7-9, when the ensemble performs Ernest Bloch’s “Avodath Hakodesh”; bcco.org/
Contra Costa Chorale
Formed in 1966 as the Richmond Symphony Chorus, this non-audition group sees choral singing as a community builder, hosting fundraisers to support local music programs, providing equal footing in programming and performing music specific to minority representation. Their spring concert, “Make Our Garden Grow,” on May 11-12 in Kensington will showcase works written by Black, women, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ composers. ccchorale.org/
Diablo Women’s Chorale
This Pleasant Hill-based ensemble is one of the East Bay’s longest-running secular chorales, founded in 1942 to aid the war effort and raise morale. Their modern aim is to spread joy and light through an uplifting contemporary repertoire of pop, jazz, and folk idioms. Auditions are held twice a year, and the group welcomes women, female-identified, non-binary and gender-fluid singers with varying musical backgrounds. If you’re too shy to take the stage, just sit back and enjoy the show. Their next performance is ‘“A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening” on May 18-19; diablowomenschorale.org/.
Mission Peak Chamber Singers
Originally established as the Ohlone Chamber Singers in the 1980s, Fremont’s Mission Peak became an independent nonprofit in 2014, after California community colleges withdrew support for choral arts. They’ve been on a mission to reach and inspire new audiences ever since, an effort that included the launch of an East Bay People’s Choir in 2018. While Mission Peak Chamber singers go through an audition process, the East Bay People’s Choir is open to all, and everything is performed by ear, no music reading necessary. If Peak has you piqued, head for their next concert, “Illuminare,” on May 18; chambersingers.org/concerts.
Pacific Edge Voices
Founded in 1980, the Berkeley-based Pacific Edge chorus performs a diverse repertoire of choral and a cappella music. PEV highlights include a Carnegie Hall debut, four international tours and a 2006 Grammy Award nomination. It sounds fancy, yes, but you don’t have to be a professional singer to get in on the action. Whether you’re classically trained or just like singing in the shower and belting out Lizzo and “Hamilton,” PEV invites all to audition. Their next concert, “PEV Presents: A Cappella, Jazz & Pop” will be June 8; pacificedgevoices.org/.
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The Peninsulaires
This a cappella men’s barbershop chorus was originally chartered in 1948 by the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. The group began in San Carlos, but has since migrated to Redwood City, Palo Alto and now, Sunnyvale, hence the group’s name. The group is always looking for new, enthusiastic music lovers to join them for four-part harmonies. Sit in on an open rehearsal or check the calendar for upcoming concerts at thepeninsulaires.com/.
Ragazzi Boys Chorus
Founded in 1987, this Silicon Valley ensemble is the Bay Area’s largest boys chorus with more than 200 members. The Grammy award-winning chorus is stellar on its own in concert, as well as in performances with the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony and Opera San Jose. Ragazzi has performed in historic venues such as Carnegie Hall and will make its Sydney Opera House debut in July. Closer to home, you can hear Ragazzi’s Young Men’s Ensemble performing at “Siblings in Song” on May 5. ragazzi.org/
