Members

Hear Us!

Picture Gallery

Prospective Members

Sponsors

Calendar of Events

Tickets

Scholarships

Press Releases

Contact Us

Conductor

Founder/conductor Don Dowling formed the Coastal Chorale in the spring of 2001. Following a March organizational meeting, April and May were spent auditioning approximately 75 people from throughout Baldwin County. Thirty-two were accepted, and the first rehearsal was held June 4, 2001.

This new, exciting organization, accompanied by Kayla Dowling, held its premiere performance the first weekend of August 2001, playing to three enthusiastic, sold-out crowds. The Chorale electrified the 700 audience members with familiar favorites, which has become the trademark of this talented group of musicians.

The group originally intended to perform just that one summer show, but due to the tremendous response from Baldwin County communities and the media, the membership enthusiastically and unanimously voted to become a bona fide musical organization. More auditions were held, and 38 members began rehearsing for the premiere Christmas Show that drew 1,000 excited patrons over Thanksgiving weekend. Next, the Chorale took their previous Summer Show “on the road” with the Snowbird Serenade in Gulf Shores, drawing more than 1,300 local residents and snowbirds that first year. Two short years later, the numbers reflect the tremendous growth in the organization, with 59 singers, 2,300 enthusiastic attendees at Snowbird Serenade 2004 and nearly 6,000 audience members annually.

Members come today from all over Baldwin County and beyond. The membership includes talented vocal musicians from Orange Beach and Gulf Shores to Bay Minette and from the Eastern Shore eastward to Lillian. Almost all communities in Baldwin County are represented by at least one Chorale member. The group has also had auditionees from Pensacola, Mobile and as far away as Atmore. The Coastal Chorale is truly an organization for the area.

The Coastal Chorale concept was formed with two main goals in mind. The first is to provide Baldwin County’s talented vocalists with a musical challenge as they join with other singers of like ability. Giving life to this goal, the Chorale consists of skilled musicians who desire the excitement of group achievement. The second goal—to excite audiences through the great sounds of familiar songs from the past and present—is apparent in the eclectic musical format that features everything from Bach to Broadway and spirituals to pop.

Three ideals correlate with these goals: to perform the finest in choral literature of all styles, to perform at the highest possible level of excellence, and to produce a thrilling show of top-notch entertainment value for residents of Baldwin County and beyond.

The format for the coming years has been outlined. The first show of the performance year is the Christmas how, presented over Thanksgiving weekend. Next is a Snowbird Serenade—an encore presentation of the previous summer show—to be presented in Gulf Shores near the end of February. The fun-filled finish to the season is the annual Summer Show presented the first weekend in August.

A board was established to implement a solid foundation, deal with the development and financial matters of the organization, and to ensure the group’s longevity. And donations to The Choral Society, the financial arm of the group, will guarantee that “top quality” remains a focus of the Coastal Chorale.

A tradition of excellence has been established.

For more information regarding auditions, sponsorship opportunities, future shows, etc., please call the Marketing Coordinator at 251-942-6695.