Originating in 1974, the Civic Oratorio Society was founded by Jacob Bos, an emeritus BYU professor of music. The name of the organization was changed to Utah Valley Choral Society in 1980 when Lois Johnson became the director. She retained the baton for eighteen years and established a yearly concert series. Utah Valley’s Messiah Sing-In was sponsored for sixteen years beginning in 1983. Lois introduced music by local composers and arrangers and provided singers with the opportunity to perform Classical Masterworks as well as Broadway Show tunes. The Choral Society performed in the musical “Threads of Glory”, the Temple Square concert series, the Mozart Festival in Midway, and in Provo’s Freedom Festival.

In 1999, Dr. J. Arden Hopkin was appointed as the new Artistic Director. The Board of Trustees approved a shorter name for the choir-Wasatch Chorale. In 2001, the chorale performed Mozart’s REQUIEM in Carnegie Hall under the direction of Jerold Ottley. A CD featuring original arrangements of folk songs and spirituals was released. Concerts were performed in St. George, UT and Sacramento, CA. Dyanne Riley was appointed as the Assistant Director in 2004 and Artistic Director in 2005.

Under Dyanne’s leadership, the chorale has continued a course of refinement, with improved diction, shaping, tonal quality and performance standards. In May of 2007, forty-eight members of the chorale traveled to New York City at the invitation of MidAmerica Productions. After three days of rehearsals, they sang Durufle’s REQUIEM in Carnegie Hall as part of a 250 voice mass choir. Accompaniment was provided by the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

Many performances by the Wasatch Chorale were held in the historic Provo Tabernacle. On October 26, 2007 the chorale’s performance venue was changed to the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo, Utah, a new 750 seat concert hall. New risers were purchased as the choir membership moved past one hundred. The Temple Square series continues to provide an additional concert opportunity for the chorale every two years.

A repeat invitation from MidAmerica Productions resulted in another Carnegie Hall performance on Memorial Day of 2008. Rutter’s REQUIEM was the featured work. To the delight of chorale members, it was conducted by the composer, John Rutter, and included combined voices of ten choirs from across the nation.

In celebration of the Wasatch Chorale’s 35th Season, an international tour will commence on the 29th of May 2010, with performances in London and York, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland.

History provided by Sharon Monson. Special thanks to Beryl Clayton for information on the early years.