About DCA
History
Delaware ChoralArts or DCA — formerly Delaware Valley Chorale — has brought a rich palette of choral music to the region since its beginnings in 1984. Originally formed by David Christopher, subsequent music directors have included Mary Woodmansee Green and Charles (Chic) Walker with David Christopher returning in the fall of 2005 for a second tenure.
In addition to having sung with many orchestras from the region, DCA first performed with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra in the summer of 2009 as part of the City of Wilmington’s 4th of July Celebration in the Tubman-Garrett Park on Wilmington’s Riverfront, followed by a collaborative performance of the Brahms Requiem in the spring of 2011.
Joining DCA
DCA welcomes all individuals from all backgrounds to join its choral arts family. All vocalists interested in singing with the chorus are required to audition. DCA also encourages non-singing individuals to join the organization as cherished volunteers.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew (SsAM) in Wilmington. Occasionally, there are special rehearsals on Saturdays or other evenings before a major performance. Regular attendance and promptness are mandatory.
Social Networking
In addition to this website, DCA offers three additional web resources to help engage its audience.
- DCA’s official Facebook page allows information to be posted regarding events, notices, and ticket prices.
- Friends of Delaware ChoralArts is a public Facebook group to help develop community between members of the chorus and its supporters.
- DCA’s YouTube channel features videos of live choral performances.
Outreach
DCA strives to nurture and develop young people’s appreciation of the choral art through its competition for young composers and now through its “side-by-side” collaboration with high school students as well as its frequent collaboration with the Wilmington Children’s Chorus.
Leadership
DCA is run by a dedicated Board of Directors made up of members of the chorus along with support from members of the community who serve in an advisory capacity.
Funding
Funding for DCA comes from a number of sources including generous grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts and a growing number of enthusiastic patrons, fundraising projects, plus ticket and advertising sales.
Community Partners
SsAM serves as an artistic collaborative partner. In addition to rehearsing and presenting most concerts here, DCA frequently collaborates with the SsAM congregation to bring guest choral groups to the Wilmington area, present a “Spirituals” Concert each season, and to offer Musicianship Training classes at the church for singers from the community.
DCA is proud to be a member of this marketing initiative. InWilmington provides an easy-to-use centralized place for patrons to discover the incredible wealth of arts and entertainment offerings in Wilmington at any given time.
Musicianship Training
DCA periodically offers a live Musicianship Training for Singers course on Monday evenings 6:00 – 7:00 pm — prior to regular rehearsals — at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, taught by music director, David Christopher. The objective of the training is to give singers an opportunity to develop confidence and improve their effectiveness as a choral singer by studying music theory and ear training.
The program is also offered virtually and is open to community members as well as DCA members.