Music is heard with the ears-- understood with the mind-- and felt with the heart.

History of the South Hadley Chorale The South Hadley Chorale was founded as The South Hadley Community Chorus in 1984 by Barbara H. Conant. Its immediate objective was to celebrate Bach's 200th anniversary by performing his Mass in B minor. The success of the program encouraged both Dr. Conant and the singers to form a permanent choral group that would perform one concert each year. In 1990, Richard Rescia became the artistic director/conductor and served in this capacity for five years. During his tenure the name was changed to the South Hadley Chorale to reflect the group's performance level and expertise. Scott Lamlein served as conductor for one year followed by Michael R. Dulac who served as artistic director and conductor from 1997 to 2005. When Mr. Dulac relocated to Michigan, the board of directors named Deanna L. Joseph as conductor. The Chorale in rehearsal above with Richard Rescia and below with Michael Dulac. The Chorale has steadily gained in numbers and in overall quality. Presently we number over eighty voices including fourteen new members and thirty who have sung with the group for ten years or more. Although over fifty-percent reside in South Hadley, fourteen communities are represented in the Chorale. We have been most fortunate to have been able to perform at Mount Holyoke College each year, with programs ranging from Bach and Mozart to Rutter and Bernstein. In addition, the Chorale presents a holiday program in December at Loomis Communities retirement village in South Hadley. In 2007, we hosted a sing-through of the Mozart Requiem and, in 2008, of the Brahms Requiem. Photograph of Michael Dulac courtesy of Draper White	Home History of the Chorale Conductor Program Rehearsal Schedule Funding Contact Us Children's Chorus
After three seasons as director, Deanna Joseph, formerly on the faculty of Smith College and the University of Massachusetts, plans to pursue her doctorate at Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester. Under her direction, we performed Schubert's Mass in A-flat major, Mendelssohn's Elijah and Beethoven's Mass in C major.
South Hadley Chorale receives funding assistance from the Massachusetts Cultural Council