The Chorale was formed in 1991 with founding
director David Hensley, Choral Music Instructor at Lompoc High School.
In 1992 the group was organized exclusively for educational purposes
and incorporated as a non-profit organization known as the
Lompoc
Valley Master Chorale.
The Chorale has performed at least two concerts a year since
incorporation involving sacred and secular repertoire. Depending on
concert venue and type of concert, ticket prices are between $12 and
$15 with student and senior discounts. At least one of these concerts
requires an orchestra that is hired to perform with the Chorale. A
Christmas concert (involving sacred and secular music) is normally
performed (an evening and a matinee performance) over Thanksgiving
Weekend to allow Chorale members to participate in their normal
scheduled Holiday activities. The Spring Concert (usually two
performances) is normally a classical masterwork, an Americana theme or
a Broadway theme. Snacks are served in a dinner theater environment for
all of the Broadway performances and some of the Americana style
concerts. Performance venues have been the Lompoc Civic Auditorium, the
Lompoc First United Methodist Church, the Cultural Hall of the Lompoc
Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the First
Southern Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, the Lompoc Grange Hall, the
Community Life Center at the Trinity Church of the Nazarene and the
Lompoc High School Gymnasium. Concert attendance is between 100 and 400
per performance.
The Chorale has been invited to perform for the Lompoc Music
Association, Founding Day at La Purisima Mission, the Santa Maria
Symphony (in Santa Maria) and the Lompoc Ministerial Association. In
addition the Chorale or a subset of the Chorale (the Men's Ensemble,
the Women's Ensemble or the Mixed Ensemble) has been invited to perform
for the Lompoc Historical Society, the Choir and Creche Festival at the
Lompoc California State Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
the Annual Community Thanksgiving Service, the Community Good Friday
Service and the Lompoc Barbershop Singers. Several years ago the
Chorale hosted a Choral Workshop with guest clinician Paul Salamunuvich
(Music Director Emeritus of the Los Angeles Master Chorale) inviting
choral groups from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo.
The Chorale has two contracted salaried personnel, the
Musical Director and the Accompanist. Guest musicians (vocal and
instrumental) receive remuneration. An annually elected Executive Board
governs the Chorale, which is responsible for managing the particular
affairs of the Chorale.
