Mission Statement
The human voice inspires and lifts the human spirit. The Orange County Choral Society strives to bring incredible artistry to our audiences, to be a catalyst for arts education, and to champion new works. Through the power of choral music we aim to make our community and our world a richer place.
Our History
The Orange County Choral Society, formerly the Orange County Catholic Chorale, traces it's beginnings to 2002 when it was an extension of a local Catholic church choir. Under the leadership of it's founder and first artistic director, Brian Dehn, the Chorale included choir members from more than nine different Orange County parishes and other faith communities. The Chorale's first masterworks concert was Mozart's Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 performed in 2003. In 2004 the Chorale separated from any specific parish church and took on it's community form, welcoming all interested singers and blossoming in new directions. That summer, membersof the Chorale performed the Berlioz Requiem with the William Hall Choral Festival at the Sydney Opera House, australia. The Chorale also apperaed as the first guest choir at St. Mary's Cathedral in sydney since the completion of it's 100-year renovation.
The Chorale incorporated in 2005 and in early 2006, the Orange County Catholic Chorale applied for and received it's 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. As part of the 250th anniversary celebration of Mozart's birth, the Chorale performed the Southern California premiere of the Mass in C Minor recently reconstructed by Robert Levin. In 2006 the Chorale performed the Durufle Requiem and, in 2007, the Haydn Lord Nelson Mass. Also in 2007, the Chorale performed the West Coast premiere of the Mack Wilberg Requiem. In 2009 the Chorale performed Beethoven's Mass in C Major and premiered an original orchestra composition by a leading Orange County organist. In 2010 the Chorale changed it's name to the Orange County Choral Society to offer more diverse musical genre programs and not to infer and specific "affiliation."
Now more than 70 members strong, the Orange County Choral Society looks forward to the furutre for continued challenging and exciting performances for the Southern California communities.
Artistic Director - Christopher Gravis
Christopher Gravis is the Artistic Director of the Orange County Choral Society. A Southern California native, Mr. Gravis is in high demand as a conductor throughout the region, specializing in major choral-orchestral works. He has prepared choruses for Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, John Williams with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and John Mauceri with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Mr. Gravis has also garnered numerous awards and honors, including an invitation to the Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society, recipient of the Eliot Alexander Conducting Award given by Pacific Chorale, and a conducting fellowship at the College Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, given by Chorus America.
Christopher Gravis is an ardent champion of young composers, and takes special pride in the many premier performances he has led featuring new works. Under his leadership, the OC Choral Society continues to pursue an artistic mission of the highest caliber, and this year instituted the first Magnum Opus composition competition, made possible by a generous grant from the Robert J. & Doreen D. Marshall fund. He also sits on the board of the Scores of Good organization, which seeks to use the proceeds from new compositions as a way to give back to local communities. Christopher has conducted various professional, student, church, and community choruses and orchestras throughout Europe, Australia, and North America.
Mr. Gravis earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Studies from the University of Redlands, a Master of Music degree in Conducting from California State University, Fullerton, and studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music Arts degree from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he has the pleasure of serving as an instructor for the Apollo Men’s Choir. Mr. Gravis’ teachers include Jeffrey Rickard, Jorge Mester, Jo-Michael Scheibe, and John Alexander.