Master Chorale of Washington
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Performing arts |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Paul Hill |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Key people | Donald McCullough (final music director) |
| Products | Choral performances, Recordings |
The Master Chorale of Washington, previously known as the Paul Hill Chorale, was a symphonic chorus located in Washington, D.C. It consisted of approximately 126 auditioned volunteer singers alongside 24 professional vocalists. Donald McCullough served as its final music director from 1997 until 2009.
History
Established in 1967 by Paul Hill as a modest ensemble of 35 vocalists, the group expanded two years later by adding 44 singers to perform Beethoven's Fidelio with the NSO. Over more than four decades, it grew into a leading chorus within Washington’s choral community, delivering hundreds of concerts at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center—including its debut concerts there in 1971—Wolf Trap's Filene Center, Carnegie Hall, and internationally at Notre Dame de Paris and Chartres Cathedral. During Paul Hill’s nearly thirty years of leadership, the chorale frequently collaborated with the NSO under conductors like Howard Mitchell, Antal Dorati, and Leonard Slatkin. It also partnered with artists including Victor Borge and organizations such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Ballet, and Washington Opera. For two decades, it hosted the Kennedy Center’s complimentary annual Messiah Sing Along under Hill’s direction.
As the ensemble developed, it introduced a core group of paid professional singers and formed an affiliated chamber choir called the Washington Singers. Sondra Goldsmith Proctor and J. Thomas Mitts contributed as rehearsal accompanists and assistant conductors while also performing keyboard parts in numerous concerts.
In the 1990s, Paul Hill was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His final Kennedy Center Messiah Sing Along took place in December 1993, where he conducted while seated on a stool; notable attendees included President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Clinton, and their daughter Chelsea. In 1997, Donald McCullough—founder of the McCullough Chorale and the Virginia Symphony Chorus—assumed the role of music director, succeeding Hill who was honored as Conductor Emeritus. At this time, the ensemble adopted the name Master Chorale of Washington.
During McCullough’s tenure, the chorale maintained its high artistic standards, expanded its professional singer base to 24 members, premiered numerous American compositions, and released multiple recordings.
Facing financial difficulties linked to the 2008 financial crisis, the board decided in March 2009 to disband the organization following the 2008–2009 season. The final performances with the NSO occurred April 9–11 under conductor Kurt Masur, featuring Brahms’ A German Requiem.
The Master Chorale’s closing concert took place on May 17, 2009, at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Led by McCullough and introduced by Robert Aubrey Davis, this farewell program showcased Randall Thompson's Frostiana alongside Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, performed with orchestra, soloists, and a children’s chorus.
Paul Hill Chorale
- Russia! (1994)
- A Paul Hill Chorale Christmas (1995)
- Unequaled Praise (1996)
Master Chorale of Washington
- Christmas with the Master Chorale of Washington (1999)
- Melodious Accord (2001)
- Holocaust Cantata: Songs from the Camps, (1999), Composed by Donald McCullough, Lyrics by Denny Clark
Additional Resources
Obituary of Paul Hill in The New York Times, September 29, 1999:
Spectrum Magazine Feature, "Adventists in the News: Paul Hill"
John F. Kennedy Center, List of Artistic Affiliates
Good Shepherd Online Profile, "Sondra Proctor"
Historical Overview of the Master Chorale of Washington
Donald McCullough Official Site
Washington Post Report, "Master Chorale to Cease Operations"
Washington Post Concert Review, June 17, 2009: "Master Chorale Concludes on a Poignant and Elegant Note"