Background and History

In 1972 there was felt a need in the musical community of Augusta to organize a choral ensemble to perform vocal music composed for a smaller group of singers.  As a result, a women's chorus was founded under the title of The Madrigal Singers.  This ensemble restricted its repertory to the music of earlier periods of musical literature.  As the years progressed, so did the literature which this group performed.  It was decided that the name of the ensemble would be changed to the Augusta Chamber Singers to more reflect both the larger repertory and the overall community involvement of the singers.  Today the membership is made up of many professional women from all sections of the Central Savannah River Area.  The organization is non-profit and non-denominational and open to all women by audition.
Each season the Augusta Chamber Singers present several regular concerts, many with orchestra.  They also present shorter dinner programs, quite often in the madrigal dinner format with costumes.  The music chosen for all their programs is greatly varied, both sacred and secular, classical, contemporary and even Broadway theater tunes.  Over the last several years their popularity has greatly grown in the community.
The ensemble recently made a concert tour to England and Scotland.  Their opening performance was in Westminster Abbey to a very enthusiastic full house.  Other concerts were held in Wesley's Chapel, London, Salisbury Cathedral, Edinburgh's St. Giles Cathedral and many other locations as well.   Dr. Keith F. Taylor was appointed musical director of the choir from 1988-1999.  The current director is Steve Patterson.