The Bakersfield Master Chorale is a choral society of adult voices directed by Dr. Jennifer M. Garrett. During its concert season, the Chorale seeks to enrich our community with choral music.
The Bakersfield Master Chorale is a 501(c)(3) educational and artistic organization. For 89 years, the musical talents of our singers have inspired, entertained, and enriched our community with choral music. We provide scholarships to young people pursuing degree in music. Also, our Young Artist Development Program identifies and trains young professional musicians who are passionate about the choral arts.
The Bakersfield Masterworks Chorale was established in 1932 as the Messiah Chorus and began the tradition of performing Handel’s Messiah every Christmas season with its members drawn from various church choirs. In 1962 the group reorganized as the Masterworks Chorale, a choral society of selected voices. In 2013, the Chorale was restructured as the Bakersfield Master Chorale. Through the years the Chorale has developed into a cultural tradition, performing four or five concerts annually and making several audio and video recordings. They have appeared in concert on four European tours, plus a South Korean Sister City exchange. In May 2016, we participated in Music Celebrations International’s National Memorial Day Choral Festival in Washington, DC and their Windy City Choral Festival in Chicago in March 2019.
The Chorale’s concert season includes contemporary, pop, folk, patriotic, spiritual, and master works. It performs as a guest artist of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra yearly.
Membership is open to qualified adults throughout Kern County and reflects the diversity of the community with singers of all ages and occupations coming together for a singular purpose: to enrich our community with choral music.