Dr. Michael Davis leading the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphonic Choir in song during Festival of Carols on December 21, 2014. (photo provided)

INDIANAPOLIS — One of the nation’s oldest symphonic choruses, a choir typically associated with a given community’s symphony orchestra, The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir marks its 80th anniversary season in 2016/17 with a stellar lineup of concerts shaped around the Choir’s longtime dedication to collaboration.

• Featured collaborative partners for the 80 Anniversary Season include: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra – The Symphonic Choir was founded at the ISO’s request in 1937 and continues to be a key musical partner. Shared 16/17 performances include: Handel’s “Messiah,” the Brahms Requiem “Carmina Burana” and Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms.”
• Indianapolis Children’s Choir – The Symphonic Choir helped found the Children’s Choir in 1986 and will invite the ICC to the stage at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall in October 2016.
• Indianapolis Public Library – As part of the library’s digitization project, the Symphonic Choir’s archives are being made available to the public, including past concert programs, audio clips, and correspondence from yesteryear. To access the archives, visit the website.
• Indianapolis Public Schools – For nine years, the Symphonic Choir’s partnership with IPS provides continuing education classes for teachers, musical master classes for students, and the All-City Honor Choir returns for its third year in fall 2016.

Beyond these local collaborative relationships, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir will join forces with New York-based orchestra Mimesis Ensemble for a performance at Carnegie Hall on October 16, 2016. This marks the Symphonic Choir’s first performance at the storied venue in nearly 40 years.

“Our 80 year musical legacy is built on collaboration, when you really get down to it,” suggests Artistic Director Eric Stark. “Whether collaborating with our friends at the ISO or through music-making with 200 of our closest musical comrades each Tuesday in rehearsal, choral music is built on communal music-making. This is at the very core of who we are and what we do.”

The full season lineup includes:

• Return to Carnegie Hall: 
• Sunday, October 16, 2016, 2:00 p.m. Carnegie Hall, New York City
• Festival of Carols:
• Sunday, December 4, 2016, 7:00 p.m. Scottish Rite Cathedral
  Friday, December 16, 2016, 8:00 p.m. The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts
  Saturday, December 17, 2016, 3:00 p.m. The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts Saturday, December 17, 2016, 8:00 p.m. The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts
  Sunday, December 18, 2016, 3:00 p.m. The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts
• Handel’s Messiah
• Thursday, December 22, 2016, 7:30 p.m. The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts
• Mendelssohn’s Elijah | 80^th Anniversary Season Celebration Concert
• Friday, March 17, 2017, 8:00 p.m. The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts
• The Brahms Requiem
• Friday, April 21, 2017, 8:00 p.m. Hilbert Circle Theatre
• Saturday, April 22, 2017, 5:30 p.m. Hilbert Circle Theatre
• Gala Bel Canto | Paris
• Saturday, April 29, 2017, 6:00 p.m. The Conrad Indianapolis
• Carmina Burana & Chichester Psalms
• Friday, June 9, 2017, 8:00 p.m. Hilbert Circle Theatre
  Saturday, June 10, 2017, 7:00 p.m. Hilbert Circle Theatre
  Sunday, June 11, 3:00 p.m. The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts

“It is only through collaborative programming that we are able to present such large-scale projects like bringing more than 300 Indy musicians to perform at Carnegie Hall, or providing an innovative education experience for the students of IPS through the All-City Honor Choir,” states Indianapolis Symphonic Choir Executive Director Michael Pettry. “In the arts, Aristotle’s saying couldn’t ring more true that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’ As we mark 80 seasons, what better way than to celebrate with those institutions and individuals closest to us!”

For more information on the full lineup, visit the Indy Choir website.