This program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.Rainbow Chorale History
1998
Six friends have dinner and discuss the creation of The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware.
1999
Summer 1999: Sing-a-longs are scheduled to promote interest in the community to create a chorus representing gay Delaware as well as search for an artistic director.
Summer 1999: The Chorale bylaws are created and the choir is incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization under the auspices of attorney David Facciolio of Wilmington.
Summer 1999: Elliot Jones is named as founding Artistic Director of the Chorale. Scott Meadows is elected president of the organization.
Fall 1999: The Chorale begins rehearsals at West Presbyterian Church on Eighth Street in Wilmington. David Shueck is first accompanist.
December 1999: The Chorale performs its first concert at First & Central Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE. 34 persons step into the spotlight.
2000
January 2000: Kymberly Thompson serves as president of the Chorale.
May 11, 2000: The first Bingo-a-go-go fundraiser is staged in Wilmington, DE.
May 2000: The Chorale performs its concert Dream with Me.
Summer 2000: Ron Schnorbus is elected president of the Chorale.
August 2000: The Chorale moves its rehearsal space to Westminster Presbyterian Church.
September 2000: Michael Helman joins the Chorale as collaborative pianist.
December 2000: The Chorale performs its holiday concert Voices of Children – A Celebration of Family.
2001
January 2001: The Chorale performs at inauguration celebration of Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner.
January 2001: Ron Schnorbus is re-elected president of the Chorale.
May 2001: The Chorale performs its spring concert Anything Goes.
June 2001: The Chorale performs at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, sharing the stage with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC.
July 2001: The Chorale travels to Cincinnati, OH to participate in its first GALA conference, a northeastern regional conference.
December 2001: The chorale performs its holiday concert You Are a New Day.
2002
January 2002: Paul Jensen is elected president of the Chorale but steps down in April.
April 2002: Jessie Cocks assumes the role of president.
June 2002: The Chorale performs its spring concert Such Company.
December 2002: The Chorale performs its holiday concert Alleluia! Welcome the Light.
2003
January 2003: Kitty Harrison is elected president of the Chorale.
February 2003: The Chorale performs its first cabaret The Kings & Queens of Cabaret at Opera Delaware studios.
May 2003: The Chorale performs its spring concert I Have Had Singing.
December 2003: The Chorale performs its holiday concert We’re Talkin’ Reindeer.
December 2003: The Chorale adopts its tag line, “Eliciting change through music.”
December 2003: The Chorale celebrates its fifth anniversary.
2004
January 2004: Daniel Gallery is elected Chorale president.
May 2004: The Chorale goes online at www.therainbowchorale.org.
May 2004: The Chorale performs its spring concert Frostiana with special guest the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus.
June 2004: The Chorale performs its spring concert Frostiana in Rehoboth Beach Delaware.
June 2004: The Chorale is special guest performer at Philadelphia Gay Mens’ Chorus performance.
July 2004: The Chorale travels to Montreal, Canada to participate in its first International GALA Conference. Its rendition of “You Can’t Stop the Beat” in front of 4,000 audience members brings down the house.
September 2004: The Chorale participates for the first time as a team in “AIDS Walk Delaware.”
October 2004: The Chorale holds its first retreat.
December 2004: The Chorale performs its holiday concert In the Moon of Wintertime.
December 2004: The Chorale releases its first CD – Sing Me to Heaven – representing its first six years of musical excellence.
2005
February 2005: The Chorale performs its cabaret Magic to Do.
June 2005: Daniel Gallery is re-elected Chorale president.
January 2005: The Chorale performs at inauguration celebration for Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner’s second term.
May 2005: The Chorale performs its spring concert Cloudburst.
June 2005: The Chorale performs its first PRIDE concert in Rehoboth Beach, DE at Epworth United Methodist Church.
August 2005: Hiroko Yamazaki joins the Chorale as collaborative pianist.
October 2005: The Chorale receives its first grant.
December 2005: The Chorale performs its holiday concert T’was the Night Before Christmas.
December 2005: Governor Minner issues a proclamation declaring February 19, 2006, to be Rainbow Chorale of Delaware Day.
2006
February 2006: The Chorale takes the stage at Carnegie Hall, performing When We No Longer Touch, a cycle of songs for survival by John Kristofer Anthony.
March 2006: The Mayor of Wilmington and the Governor of Delaware send letters of congratulations to the Chorale for its performance of Hail Wilmington, the official song of the city. The song had not been performed since 1923. The Chorale performs its cabaret All Over the Map.
June 2006: Christopher White is elected president of the Chorale. The Chorale performs for Wilmington Trust’s celebration of Pride Month.
June 2006: The Chorale performs its spring concert Opera Extravaganza!
August 2006: The Chorale sings the "Star Spangled Banner" at a Philadelphia Phillies game.
September 2006: The Chorale participates in the 20th annual AIDS Walk.
December 2006: The Chorale performs its holiday concert Natalis & A Charlie Brown Christmas.
2007
March 2007: The Chorale performs at the City of Wilmington's 175th anniversary celebration held at Old Town Hall. The Chorale presents its Disney Cabaret.
June 2007: Elliot Jones directs his farewell performance as Artistic Director in Why We Sing. Alison Skinner named second Artistic Director of the Chorale. Daniel Gallery again elected Chorale president. The Chorale performs again for Wilmington Trust’ celebration of Pride Month and for the first time for Bank of America’s celebration of Pride Month.
September 2007: The Chorale participates in the Delaware AIDS Walk.
November 2007: The Chorale commissions composer Andrea Clearfield and poet Susan Windle to compose an original work for its tenth year.
December 2007: Alison Skinner conducts her first concert Light Up The Holidays with The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware.
2008
March 2008: The Chorale presents its cabaret, Growing up Broadway.
May 2008: The Chorale hosts Susan Werner and Suzanne Westenhoefer for GALA fundraising events.
June 2008: The Chorale presents its spring concert, Songs of Love
June 2008: The Chorale joins a number of local GALA-member groups for a joint concert The Circle of Our Lives – Music That Unites hosted by the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus.
July 2008: The Chorale travels to Miami, FL to participate in its second International GALA Conference. Alison Skinner resigns as Artistic Director.
September 2008: Stephen Caldwell becomes interim Artistic Director.
December 2008: Stephen Caldwell is named as the Chorale’s third Artistic Director. The Chorale performs its winter concert, Our Favorite Things. The Chorale performs for the first time with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra in a New Year’s Eve concert at the Grand Opera House.
2009
January 2009: The Chorale performs for the Arts Inauguration Celebration of Delaware Governor Jack Markell and Lieutenant Governor Matthew Denn.
March 2009: The Chorale performs its Simply the Best performance in Wilmington to kick off their 10th year.
May 2009: The Chorale sings the National Anthem at the opening of the Equality Forum in Philadelphia.
June 2009: The Chorale celebrates its 10th year with their concert Into the Blue. Performing their commissioned piece "Into the Blue" writen by Andrea Clearfield from a poem by Susan Windle at The Baby Grand. Elliot Jones, the founding Director, conducts a piece for this celebration.
June 2009: Hiroko Yamazaki resigns as Collaborative Pianist.
June 2009: Renna Van Oot is elected President of The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware.
September 2009: Jean-Francois Proulx joins the chorale as Collaborative Pianist.
December 2009: The Chorale performs Holiday Reception in Wilmington.
2010
March 2010: The Chorale performs its Cabaret Red White and FaBLUElous at Arden Gild Hall.
May 2010: The Chorale performs its spring concert in Wilmington and Rehoboth. Freedom is Coming, a concert of hope, pride and inspiration. Joined by the Sankofa African Drum Company.