INTRODUCTION
The Houston Choral Society was established in 1987, in conjunction with the Music Department of the Houston Community College System. It brings together singers from all walks of life who desire to perform good music of all periods and styles. The choir includes adult residents of the Houston area with varied musical backgrounds but all with a common desire of seeking a rewarding choral experience. If you are interested in learning more about the chorus or would like to arrange for an audition, call 71 3-627-3609, or write us at P. O. Box 19423, Houston, Texas 77224.
DIRECTOR
Dr. Devine holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Texas Tech, a Master of Music degree from The University of Houston, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree with a major in choral conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. She has
studied at the Institute of Musicology in Budapest, Hungary. Dr. Devine was recognized by the Association of Professional Vocal Ensembles (now Chorus America) in 1987, as the only woman in the United States to develop an independent professional chorus, T
he Houston Chamber Singers, and is listed in Who’s Who in International Music and Notable Women in Texas. She received an international award for teaching excellence in 1996.
Dr. BETTY DEVINE, Artistic Director/Founder of The Houston Choral Society and ordained Minister of Music at Foundry United Methodist Church, also serves as Vice-President of Church and Community for the Texas Choral Directors Association and is Texas Stat
e Chairman for Community Choirs with the Southwestern Division of The American Choral Directors Association. Previously a music instructor at The Houston Community College System Northwest, she was head of the Fine Arts Department there for four years.
Three years ago, she founded the Northwest Music Society whose purpose is to bring together church music directors and church choir singers in the Northwest area of Houston. She was music director for the Chase Bank of Texas Employee Holiday Choir for 13
years. She maintains an active schedule as clinician, adjudicator and lecturer.
PERFORMANCES
Over the years, HCS has performed at a number of events from the 1992
Republican National convention to the Galleria-Uptown Houston Christmas
lighting ceremony. In March of 1996, HCS along with the West Point Glee
Club, raised over $100,000 for the Houston Food Bank. The voices of the
Choral Society, performing Haydn's Awake the Harp, were broadcast
into space to awaken the crew of the space shuttle. Each year a portion
of our concert profits benefits the Houston Food bank and a portion of our performance time is donated to the Shriner's and M.D. Anderson hospitals. HCS has plans to do a "Performing Tour" of England and Scotland in the summer of 2001.
Past Performance Venues:
1992 Republican National Convention
Hats Off to Bob Lanier and Bill Hobby
Joint concert with West Point Glee Club
Good Morning America (Houston Food Bank)
Galleria-Uptown Christmas lighting
Houston Museum of Fine Arts (fund raising)
State Fair of Texas
Houston Community College commencement exercise
Grand Opera House in Galveston
REPERTOIRE
The more significant works previously performed by HCS are:
Mass in C, by Beethoven
Requiem, by Brahms
Requiem, by Mozart
Mass in G, by Vaughn Williams
Hodie, by Vaughn Williams
Peacable Kingdom, by Randall Thompson
Hymn to Jesus, by Holst
Vespers, by Rachmaninoff
Mass by Schubert
AUDITIONS
The Houston Choral Society is searching for new singers in all voice ranges to join the Choral Society for the 2000-2001 season. Interested parties should call 281-578-3127 (Penny Nelson - Auditions Committee Chair - email pennynelsn(at)gmail.com) to secure an audition appointment.
Elizabeth Ferrio - Business Manager
HCS logo by Claudia Bratton