Saddleback Concert Chorale

"The Master Chorale of Saddleback Valley is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to providing a valuable cultural service to Orange County in the presentation of choral masterworks and to the encouragement of the musical performing arts in general. We strive to offer our performers and audience the opportunity to participate in professional level choral masterpieces and to provide a networking group for music professionals and semi-professionals to enhance and broaden their careers."

In 1963, Ms. Doris Shields, the choir director for the Neighborhood Congregational Church of Laguna Beach, was asked to form a choral group to sing background music for the Pageant of the Masters Summer Show, the Festival of Arts Chorale, which lasted two seasons. Their association with the Pageant remained for several more years doing ‘Concerts on the Green’, which featured classical choral pieces. In 1968, Ms. Marilyn “Mitzi” Interlandi became director of the now Festival Chorale. From 1970 to 1973, Mr. Jack Krefting served as the musical director of the now Laguna Festival Chorale and the group incorporated under this name. In 1975, Mr. Don Walker, a music instructor at Saddleback Community College, took over as musical director and the group began a long association with the College under the new corporate name of Saddleback Concert Chorale. The addition of choral students grew the group to over 100 members performing classics, folk songs and opera. Swedish National Radio extoled them as an example of ‘excellence in choral music’ in Southern California. Mr. Alvin Brightbill became director in 1982, and In 1990, the large group began doing business as the Saddleback Master Chorale, which also included the Concert Singers who performed works designed for smaller groups. Piano accompanists, Ms. Penny Foster, and alternate Ms. Gretchen Peregrine, provided superior support for the group. Mr. Brightbill retired in 2005. In 2006, the Chorale ended its association with Saddleback College and moved to St. Catherine’s Church, returning to Laguna Beach. Mr. Charles Stephenson, a singer/soloist with the group since 1971, now led the group. In 2010, the Chorale moved to St. Margaret’s Church, San Juan Capistrano. In 2013, the group became The Master Chorale of Saddleback Valley to hopefully avoid association with either Saddleback College or Saddleback Church. In 2013, its Golden Jubilee year, the Chorale celebrated its 50th Anniversary as a continuously performing group.

Accomplishments : FY2020: December 8th, 2019: “Christmas with the Master Chorale”- 2 fundraising concerts of seasonal music with instrumentalists at Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach, with Wassail cider and goodies, plus 3 public service performances in LA and Orange County. March 22nd concert (plus May & June concerts) was cancelled due to COVID restrictions. FY2021: Concerts were cancelled due to guidance from CDC and the State of California. FY2022 (Dates & locations TBD): December 2021 - Christmas with the Master Chorale, with music selections appropriate for the season. March 2022 - American Folksongs and Spirituals. May 2022 - Patriotic selections appropriate for Memorial Day. June 2022 - Celebration of American Composers. Our Current Projected Goals: 1) Recruit 40-50 singers to learn and prepare professional level choral masterpieces. 2) Provide a valuable cultural service to citizens of South Orange County in the presentation of choral masterworks. 3) Provide a networking group for music professionals, semi-professionals and students to enhance and broaden their musical careers. 4) Expand our operating budget to $100,000 5) A salary for our Director & our Accountant to conform with local BLS standards. 6) Expand our membership to 60-80 singers and volunteers. 7) increase our average audience size to 300+ per performance.  

Expand our operating budget sufficiently through donations and fundraising to:
1) Provide our musical director with a ‘usual and customary’ annual salary ($11,000-14,000/yr.).
2) Provide our treasurer/accountant with a ‘usual and customary’ annual salary ($1,500-2,000/yr.).
3) Hire a Development staff person(s) at a wage commensurate with current BLS standards.
4) Hire instrumental musicians and soloists to aid us in performing the level of master works that we need and desire, and our audiences long to hear ($10,000-15,000/yr).
5) Recruit a Booster Club of 10-20 volunteers to provide us with services such as ushering and ticket sales at our concerts and fundraisers.
6) Recruit/hire a Concert Master to prepare concert venues for us a year in advance and organize the various elements of each concert on the stage.

Geographic Areas:   All our concerts are performed in the greater Mission Viejo area and in the surrounding communities of South Orange County, to include Santa Ana, Veterans Administration Long Beach Medical Center (LA County), Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Orange, Irvine, Newport Beach and Yorba Linda.

As an organization we owe a great debt of gratitude to the many vocal musicians who have come before us. In 1963 a group of people came together with a common vision. That vision led to the creation of the Laguna Festival Singers, now known as the Master Chorale of Saddleback Valley. Many changes have taken place since but the constant factor over all of the last 50 years has been the Master Chorale’s dedication to choral music. From its inception the members of the Master Chorale have been on a journey together that has been filled with music, dedication, and a great deal of hard work on the part of many people, starting with the singers’ commitment and focus in rehearsals, to all of the volunteers in our choir and on our Board of Directors. Over the past fifty seasons we have expanded the type of repertoire we sing. We now feature not only masterworks and familiar favorites, but also numerous other musical idioms, including the works of new composers. As we prepare to move forward we will continue to be guided by the vision of the original founding members and will continue to develop the strength and depth of experiences of our members. The human voice has an innate power to invoke the passion and humanity inside all of us because it is an integral part of our daily lives. The voice is how we communicate to our loved ones, friends, colleagues, and the world. When you experience a large group of human voices combined together singing, it can swell your heart with rapture or reduce you to silent tears. No other instrument on earth has the depth and power of the human voice. Socrates said that civilizations are judged centuries later by the arts and culture they leave behind. We believe our legacy will be a thriving and vibrant choral music tradition, which all of the Master Chorale members – past, present, and future – will be proud to have been a part. Charles Stephenson, Artistic Director and Conductor, Master Chorale of Saddleback Valley, April 2, 2021

The Master Chorale of Saddleback Valley, a nonprofit cultural organization, has been an integral and rewarding part of my life since I was accepted into it in 1994. Under the original leadership of Alvin Brightbill, the choir was centered at Saddleback Community College, where it provided classical and holiday music performances for hundreds of south Orange County audiences for years. After the choir became independent in 2007, Charles Stephenson became our musical director and conductor, and has remained so ever since. His contribution to the professionalism and musical excellence of the group is inestimable.
Classical music is the mainstay of our group’s repertoire, although it is not exclusive. We have regularly performed pop music, folk music, international music and comedy numbers for our audiences over the past 25 years, and we continue that tradition. Currently, we are preparing for our July concert of pop, rock and country-western songs.
Currently, I am the president of the choir, having been president three times in the past 26 years, and have sat as a member of the Board of Directors four times. Together with Director Stephenson, I intend to lead the choir through this next decade, bringing music to the people of Orange County as the group has done since 1964.
Jacki Brown, Chorale President, 2021-2023