Our History

The Chatham Chorale has been singing for Cape Cod since 1971! The Chorale’s deep roots in the local Cape communities began in the early 1970s when singers from area churches joined together to perform Christmas music at the First United Methodist Church in Chatham under the direction of Chatham physician Dr. E. Robert Harned. The group became known as the Chatham Chorale. In 1972, Marjorie Bennett Morley succeeded Dr. Harned, directing the Chorale for the next 17 years, during which the membership grew to over 100 singers hailing from towns across Cape Cod.

In 1976, a smaller chorus composed of about 25 singers selected from the larger Chorale became the Chatham Chorale Chamber Singers, performing music written for smaller ensembles in more intimate spaces.

The Chatham Chorale was incorporated as a Massachusetts non-profit charitable organization in 1977 and received 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in 1980.

Margaret Bossi became Director of the Chorale in 1987. A graduate of Smith College, with graduate studies in music at Brandeis University, Maggie directed the Chorale for the next 23 years and was granted the title of Music Director Emerita upon her retirement at the end of the 2009-2010 concert season.

Joseph Marchio was appointed Music Director of the Chorale in 2010. Joe is a graduate of the College of Wooster, where he earned both a bachelor’s degree in organ performance and a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies.  He earned a Master of Divinity degree at the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music, and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting at the Boston Conservatory. He is also the Pastor and Director of Music for the First Congregational Church of Chatham.

Donald Enos, a native Cape Codder with a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, became the Chorale’s accompanist in 1986, replacing Olive Cahoon, the Chorale’s original accompanist. Donald is the organist at the Congregational Church of South Dennis and director of the Meeting House Chamber Music Festival, which he founded in 1974. In 2024 he retired as resident pianist of the Cape Symphony Orchestra.

The Chatham Chorale performs with a variety of instrumental ensembles of every size. Many Chorale concerts are accompanied by an orchestra of players from on and off Cape Cod. The Chorale collaborates with the Cape Symphony on their popular Holiday on the Cape concerts, and more recently we have joined forces with the Cape Symphony to perform our spring concert. The Chorale has also performed with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.

50 YEARS OF CONCERT PROGRAMS

In the last 50 years the Chatham Chorale has presented hundreds of programs in dozens of venues to generations of audiences who love choral music.

Our First Concert

DECEMBER 19, 1971
Christmas Carols and Highlights From Handel’s Messiah

Below is a timeline of major works performed and milestone events in each decade.