Shortly after their return the Orchestra was discontinued, but the choir remained known as ‘The Chorus’ and was directed by a Webster University academic, Allen Carl Larson.
The Chorus performs music from many different periods and traditions, starting with an early 13th century round and culminating with world premieres of pieces specifically written for the group.
While mainstays of the Renaissance are frequently sung, particular attention is paid to the German Romantic School (Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms) because the choir’s distinctive blend is so appropriate for this repertoire.
That the choir’s founder and current Artistic Director are both English explains the preponderance of British composers, but American musicians and others from around the globe are not neglected.
Under Ronald Arnatt the ensemble was invited to sing at The White House and the Washington National Cathedral, performing Vaughan Williams’s “Mass in G Minor” in the presence of the composer’s widow.
Under Allen Carl Larson’s direction, the ensemble traveled to Stuttgart, Germany, to perform at the official ceremony where the city was twinned with St. Louis.
During Philip Barnes’s tenure the Chorus has sung on two soundtracks, the TV mini-series “Labyrinth” (producer Ridley Scott), and the independent feature film, “To Tokyo” (director Caspar Seale-Jones), singing the music of Oscar-winning composer, Trevor Jones.
[3][4] Performances have ranged from buildings of outstanding significance and beauty to unusual settings like the Schlafly Brewery Tap Room[5] and an outdoor program at the New Mount Sinai Cemetery.