Chicago Master Singers' vision is to grow a culture of inclusive, intergenerational ensemble singing through extraordinary musical experiences that lift the human spirit. Our mission is to inspire singers and audiences through personal connections and musical excellence.
Established in 1979, Chicago Master Singers (CMS) is an auditioned chorus of around 100 volunteer singers from Chicago and suburban communities. The ensemble's repertoire includes great choral works and new works by living composers. CMS performs unaccompanied and also collaborates with professional instrumentalists and soloists. The chorus has international acclaim, having toured extensively throughout Europe for the past 30 years, most recently to France in 2024.
Under the artistic leadership of Music Director John C. Hughes, CMS has developed several outreach initiatives, including collaborative NextGen clinics and concerts supporting the next generation of composers and young singers, a new Choral Scholars program for high school students, community engagement with seniors and youths, an annual Summer Sing, and CMS University seminars. This is an exciting time of growth for the organization, and CMS looks forward to continuing these initiatives and introducing new programs in the seasons to come.
Chicago Master Singers is firmly committed to fostering a welcoming environment that enables a diverse community to be involved in and contribute to CMS activities. It is CMS’s goal to celebrate, recognize, and support an inclusive musical community of individuals from across the spectrum of age, physical ability, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, national or ethnic origin, religion and religious belief, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, employment status, and other aspects of diversity. CMS commits to making reasonable accommodations for members and patrons with mobility, vision, and/or hearing concerns to participate in CMS activities.
Established in 1979, Chicago Master Singers (CMS) is an auditioned chorus of around 100 volunteer singers from Chicago and suburban communities. The ensemble's repertoire includes great choral works and new works by living composers. CMS performs unaccompanied and also collaborates with professional instrumentalists and soloists. The chorus has international acclaim, having toured extensively throughout Europe for the past 30 years, most recently to France in 2024.
Under the artistic leadership of Music Director John C. Hughes, CMS has developed several outreach initiatives, including collaborative NextGen clinics and concerts supporting the next generation of composers and young singers, a new Choral Scholars program for high school students, community engagement with seniors and youths, an annual Summer Sing, and CMS University seminars. This is an exciting time of growth for the organization, and CMS looks forward to continuing these initiatives and introducing new programs in the seasons to come.
Chicago Master Singers is firmly committed to fostering a welcoming environment that enables a diverse community to be involved in and contribute to CMS activities. It is CMS’s goal to celebrate, recognize, and support an inclusive musical community of individuals from across the spectrum of age, physical ability, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, national or ethnic origin, religion and religious belief, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, employment status, and other aspects of diversity. CMS commits to making reasonable accommodations for members and patrons with mobility, vision, and/or hearing concerns to participate in CMS activities.
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What the critics say“Chicago Master Singers, by almost any measure, has to be considered among the city’s top choral ensembles.”
-Kyle MacMillan, chicagoclassicalreview.com “...what came through powerfully was the deep emotion and intense spirituality of the music. Heatherington’s focused, scrupulous direction of his forces - vocal quartet, orchestra and large chorus - conveyed... the intense drama of the music, deftly varying the slow tempos to provide expressive variety.” -Lawrence Johnson, chicagoclassicalreview.com “...the transparency of Chicago Master Singers is extraordinary, to be sure. Heatherington kept a tight rein on dynamics, balances and diction all evening and, despite the resonance of the space, lines and texts remained clear.” -Dennis Polkow, chicagoclassicalreview.com “The Chicago Master Singers – 129 strong – delivered daunting corporate power... and dedication in their challenging role.... the vocalism and tonal refinement was impressive." -Lawrence Johnson, chicagoclassicalreview.com |
Chicago Master Singers
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