For the past 79 years, the Galesburg Community Chorus has brought high-quality music performances to the citizens of west-central Illinois. The Chorus was founded on the Knox College campus in December 1945 with 125 voices, four soloists, and the Civic Orchestra of 30 pieces. It has remained Galesburg’s oldest continuous performing arts organization.

 

Its founder, Dr. Tom Williams, was a professor of voice and choral music at Knox and the choir director at a local church. Dr. Williams served as chair of Knox College’s music department from 1944 to 1970. The Galesburg Community Chorus was originally organized to provide talented local singers an opportunity to sing great choral-orchestral works and to give the community a chance to hear these works performed. 

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Since its inception, the Galesburg Community Chorus has performed over 150 concerts, including six world premieres, as well as performing at Carnegie Hall in 2005 and 2013.