Master Chorale

Mission: The Master Chorale is committed to advancing the art of choral music by performing great works of the past, commissioning and performing new literature and sharing the joy and power of choral music with new and existing audiences and singers.

The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, under the direction of Matthew Abernathy, Artistic Director, is an auditioned, highly select 150-voice volunteer chorus embracing a broad representation of singers from the entire Tampa Bay area. Recognized as the premier choral ensemble in Tampa Bay, and one of the country’s finest choirs, The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay has a decades-long tradition of elevating the cultural experience of the Tampa Bay community. Furthermore, with internationally distributed recordings and commissions from important contemporary choral composers, the Chorale is consistently advancing the choral art-form.

The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay performs 20 - 25 concerts a year, serving approximately 25,000 people. In addition to traditional concerts, the Chorale performs a variety of outreach activities throughout the Tampa Bay community. The Chorale serves Tampa Bay and west central Florida with a mission to advance the art of choral music by performing great works of the past, commissioning and performing new literature and sharing the joy and power of choral music with new and existing audiences and singers. Founded in 1979 by Dr. Robert Summer, The Master Chorale was later incorporated in 1988 as a 501(c)(3). Designated in 1986 as the Principal Chorus of The Florida Orchestra, The Master Chorale is featured annually on The Florida Orchestra’s Masterworks season. In 1999, The Master Chorale was appointed as Artist in Residence at the College of the Arts School of Music at the University of South Florida.