The West Bay Chorale

Great performances of classic music for
Rhode Island's West Bay area and beyond

The West Bay Chorale began its life as the Warwick Ecumenical Choir in 1979. Prominent members of local churches got together to begin the effort. Membership grew, and the first name change occurred when the choir became the Warwick Civic Chorale. As part of the Warwick Consortium of the Arts, the Chorale sang for many civic events. It received its first grant from the “Arts in the Park” program. When members of the Chorale began coming from all over the West Bay, the name was changed to again reflect new scope within the group. The Chorale was incorporated in the State of Rhode Island in 1995 and received 501(c)(3) status in 1996. In 1999 the Board of Directors began working with the Business Volunteers for the Arts, Rhode Island, in order to develop greater funding for its ambitious plans.

The Chorale began to add major works by composers such as Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven to its repertory. WBC has spotlighted other musical organizations including the American Band, the Rhode Island Wind Ensemble, Pilgrim High School and Atwater - Donnelly. It has brought musical groups from Canada and Belgium to Rhode Island. The Chorale moved to fill a void in this state (no Gilbert & Sullivan company) with successful performances of Pirates of Penzance in 2000 and Mikado in 2003. More recently West Bay Chorale has also collaborated with choirs from Johnston High School and Coventry High School. The Chorale continues to increase the languages sung - English, German, French, Japanese, Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic and in December of 2023 we added Swahili. West Bay Chorale engaged Elliot Z. Levine to create an original composition, which was performed at our May 2024 concert. The composition is based on Songs for the People by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, which appeared in the publication, Poems in 1895.

In the past there were three special programs that have now transitioned into WBC History. Programs were: a Conducting Intern Program, the Awards for Excellence Program, and Young Artists Program. The Intern Program invited young college musicians to serve as guest conductors and as apprentices to the conductor. The Awards for Excellence program was a scholarship program designed to help outstanding musicians further their college studies. The Young Artists Program invited high school and college students to sing with a chorale, an experience not offered to many musicians of this age group. Their membership fee is waived and they are mentored by a member of the West Bay Chorale. The Chorale looks forward to expanding this program in the future. WBC will still waive the fees for a participating high school student.

Throughout its history, the West Bay Chorale has shared its music with many religious, civic, fraternal and historic organizations. It has performed for Gaspee Days events, Inaugurations, First Night in Providence, and at the Breakers Mansion in Newport, Christmas in Pawtuxet, and Scottish Rite Memorial services. It has raised money for the Blackstone Chapter of Retired Citizens as well as Tollgate Winman Orchestra. Since 2019, West Bay Chorale has donated to several charities; at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, donations were given to support the people of Ukraine who were in need. More recently, funds were given to Community MusicWorks and to New England Music Camp, both of which foster the advancement of music education for aspiring musicians.