Columbia Choral Society

To stimulate and broaden community engagement in music through the performance of classical choral music.

Donna Thompson

CCS Auditions Fall 2026

Are you interested in joining the Columbia Choral Society?  

We rehearse on Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30.

Columbia Choral Society at Piccolo Spoleto.

Our Fall 2026 auditions will be held on August 2nd and 9th from 4:30-6:00pm.

Please email Dr. Elizabeth M. Mears, our Artistic Director, at mrdrbeth[at]gmail[dot]com, to arrange your audition time. (Copy the email and replace [at] with @ and [dot] with .)

Auditions will be held at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church. The address is 6500 N Trenholm Road in Columbia.

More details about the audition can be found at https://www.columbiachoralsociety.org/joinus/

We are looking forward to an exciting Fall 2026 in our 97th season!

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/columbiachoralsociety

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/columbiascchoralsociety/

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THIS SATURDAY, MAY 16: A Powerful Plea for Peace 

Join us this Saturday, May 16, 2026, for a monumental performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and Te Deum by Anton Bruckner. Featuring 140 singers and a 40-piece orchestra, this concert serves as a moving call for unity and reflection.

Spring 2026: Dona Nobis Pacem and Te Deum (Full Program)

Driven by his harrowing experiences in WWI and the threat of a new global conflict, Vaughan Williams’ masterpiece was inspired by the stirring poetry of Walt Whitman—including his iconic poem, “Beat! Beat! Drums!”—woven together with traditional Latin text and biblical passages.
“Beat! beat! drums!—blow! bugles! blow!
Through the windows—through doors—burst like a ruthless force…”

We extend a special invitation to our veterans and their friends and families to join the community for this evocative performance. While this work honors the gravity of military service, its message of peace is one that welcomes every member of the public.
Event Details:
  • When: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7:00pm
  • Where: St. Andrews Baptist Church
    230 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC  29210
  • Our Thanks: A heartfelt thank you to St. Andrews Baptist Church for hosting us

Tickets: General Admission – $20
|  Seniors and Military $15
|  Students-High School and College $10
|  Under 14 – FREE

We will repeat this concert on Sunday, May 17 at 5pm at the Francis Marion Performing Arts Center in Florence.

 

More Concert Information (future and past) at https://www.columbiachoralsociety.org/concerts/

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/columbiachoralsociety

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/columbiascchoralsociety/

Thank you! 

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May 2026 Events

Midlands Gives – Support CCS anytime between now and May 5, 2026

Midlands Gives, which occurs this year on Tuesday, May 5, is a day of giving to support nonprofits like the Columbia Choral Society.   The Columbia Choral Society supports young vocal artists through the Guthrie Darr Young Artist Scholarship Program each year, which is supported through your contributions made during Midlands Gives. Through this scholarship program, we are able to help high school students develop and continue their independent study of vocal music. The scholarship is available to students who reside in Richland or Lexington Counties and are currently enrolled in high school in grades 10-12 or in an equivalent home-schooled program.
Donate Here. Thank you!

Spring Concerts May 16 & 17, 2026 

The Columbia Choral Society and the Florence Masterworks Choir will perform a concert featuring Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and Anton Bruckner’s Te Deum.  The joint choirs of 140 singers will be joined by a 40-piece orchestra for this dramatic and moving evening of music.

Date and Time:   Saturday, May 16, 2026,  7:00pm
Location:              St Andrews Baptist Church,  230 Bush River Road,  Columbia, SC  29210
Tickets:                 General Admission – $20  |  Seniors and Military $15  |  Students-High School and College $10  |  Under 14 – FREE

We will repeat this concert on Sunday, May 17 at 5pm at the Francis Marion Performing Arts Center in Florence.

May 29 – Singing the National Anthem at the Fireflies Game (Segra Park)

Come join us at Segra Park on Friday, May 29 for a fun evening as we sing the National Anthem prior to the game at 7:00pm against the Charleston RiverDogs.  The promotion that evening is an exclusive Hawaiian shirt giveaway.  How can you resist? And, want reserved seats with the CCS? Contact a CCS member or write management [dot] choralsociety [at] gmail [dot] com for more information.

       

               

This organization is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.