History of Soli Deo Gloria Choir

1973 - 1986

In the fall of 1973, Bethany Lutheran Church was asked to provide the music for the Annual Lutheran Reformation Service to be held on the Colorado College Campus at Shove Chapel.  The choir director at Bethany, Judith Westcott, established a community choir using Bethany's choir as a nucleus, augmented by church singers of various denominations.  That December, on the first Sunday of Advent, the choir performed the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah at Shove Chapel.  Because of the joy members found in being part of a community choir, they decided they wanted to become a permanent, nondenominational choir and chose for their name "Soli Deo Gloria," which means, "To God Alone Be Glory."

K. Kenneth Westcott served as director with Judith Westcott as assistant director and accompanist through the spring of 1986.

Soli traditionally sings in church sanctuaries, though several performances have been held at the Pikes Peak Center. In 1980, the choir raised over eighteen thousand dollars to send fifty-four members to Washington, DC to perform as part of President Ronald Reagan's first inaugural festivities. In 1982, the choir performed with the Colorado Springs Symphony at the July 4th Celebration in Memorial Park. In 1986, at the Pikes Peak Center, the choir participated with other choral groups in the production of America!, a celebration of the bicentennial signing of the Constitution.

1986 - 1994

In the early years, Soli Deo Gloria Choir traditionally performed Messiah each Christmas season with members of the Colorado Springs Symphony. As membership and interest grew, the repertoire was expanded to include such major works as Mozart's Mass in C Minor, Faure's Requiem, Bach's St. John Passion and Magnificat, Brahms' A German Requiem, Mendelssohn's Elijah and Rutter's Gloria. In 1986, Anna Hamre became the director and remained for eight years. Calvin Rogers directed for one year while Dr. Hamre took a sabbatical leave.

In the fall of 1991, Soli Deo Gloria Choir became a prominent part of the City of Colorado Springs' "Festival of Lights" with a performance of Bach's Magnificat.   In 1993, the choir again performed with the Colorado Springs Symphony at the July 4th Celebration in Memorial Park.

1994 - 1998

In the fall of 1994, Edmund Ladouceur became director of Soli Deo Gloria Choir. Under his direction, the choir grew to 160 members. Music performed included Honegger's King David, Faure's Requiem, Gounod's Sanctus et Benedictus, Brahms' A German Requiem and a wonderful assortment of Christmas music for the fall concerts.

As part of its 25th Anniversary Celebration, Soli Deo Gloria once again performed Handel's Messiah.  Soli Deo Gloria Choir joined with the Colorado Springs Symphony and Colorado Springs Chorale in May of 1998 to perform Mahler's Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection).

1999 - 2001

From 1999 to 2001, Robert Crowder directed Soli. Large works included Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna, Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, Holst's The Hymn of Jesus, Op. 37, and Poulenc's Gloria.  Soli Deo Gloria Choir joined with the Colorado Springs Symphony and Colorado Springs Chorale again in May of 1999 for Verdi's Requiem. Also, in February of 1999, Soli gave its first Hymn Festival at First United Methodist Church. In December of the same year, the choir was privileged to sing with the Pueblo Symphony in Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

In May of 2000, Soli was invited and honored to participate as the guest choir with the Air Force Band of the Rockies' Stars and Stripes Forever concert at the Pikes Peak Center as part of the annual celebration of Armed Forces Week.

2001 - present

Brad Peterson joined Soli Deo Gloria Choir as Director in September 2001.

In 2002, Soli was voted Best Vocal Group/Classical by the Colorado Springs Music Awards. The awards presentation ceremony was held April 14, 2002.  Soli Deo Gloria Choir performed at Carnegie Hall in May 2003.

We look forward to many more concerts under Brad's direction.