OPUS 24 HISTORY

Since its founding, the choral ensemble Opus 24 has established a tradition of providing a quality musical experience for both participant and the listening audience. Starting with only eleven singers, Opus 24 has grown into a mature musical force in central Illinois. Singers from a wide area rehearse weekly for two hours. In addition to the regular concert season, Opus 24 has performed for festivals, conventions and special events throughout the Midwest, including three appearances for the Illinois ACDA conventions at Wheaton College, Northern Illinois University Millikin University, and Illinois State University. Opus 24 has presented concerts with Jackson Berkey, Gwyneth Walker and Ben Allaway. The ensemble performs regularly with the Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra, performing major works such as Frostiana, Fauré’s Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in G, Alexander Nevsky, Song of Democracy, and Flos Campi by Vaughn-Williams. Opus 24 was recently featured with other American choirs on Iowa Public Television in the premier of Heaven and Earth: a Celtic Journey by Ben Allaway.

Decatur Choral Society
Our two-fold purpose statement:

A) To plan, promote and develop the opportunity for singing and performing a broad range of distinguished sacred and secular choral literature for the people of Decatur, Macon County and surrounding communities in Illinois.

B) To promote public appreciation of choral works and performance of them and to educate the general public in this type of music.