Soli Deo Gloria Choir ~ Bringing great music to Colorado Springs since 1973!
A brief history... the SDG Choir Then & Now:
In the fall of 1973 Judith Westcott, Music Director of Bethany Lutheran Church, was asked to provide music for the Annual Lutheran Reformation Service to be held at Shove Chapel on the Colorado College Campus. Using the Bethany Choir as the nucleus, Judith brought together a community ensemble to perform the Christmas portion of Handel's "Messiah." Following the success and joy of this experience, the singers decided to form an ongoing community chorus. Founding member and Latin teacher, Irma Borgen, suggested the name "Soli Deo Gloria," which means, "To God Alone Be Glory." (SDG was penned at the conclusion of compositions by J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, and many others.) This name was unanimously adopted, and the SDG Choir was born!
K. Kenneth Westcott served as director with Judith Westcott as assistant director and pianist through the spring of 1986. SDG is also grateful to Dr. J. Julius Baird for providing encouragement, rehearsal space, and concert venues during the early years. The Westcotts envisioned a non-auditioned community chorus that would provide concerts to the Pike's Peak region each year. This tradition continues to this day!
The years between then and now have brought many conductors to the podium, many experiences to the singers, and a great deal of wonderful music to the people of Colorado Springs, and beyond. Today we thank and celebrate the musical leadership of: 1973 - 1986 Judith and Ken Westcott 1986 - 1994 Anne Hamre (Calvin Rodgers 1-year sabbatical replacement) 1994 - 1998 Edmund Ladouceur 1999 - 2001 Robert Crowder 2001 - 2010 Brad Peterson 2010 - 2011 Ray Killian 2011 (Fall) Edmund Ladoucer 2012 - 2017 Gary DeKler 2017 - present Nathaniel Voelker
Under our previous fantastic conductors, SDG Choir has performed more outstanding compositions by more great composers than you might possibly want to read about. But a few highlights include performing at/with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic for July 4th festivities plus several major Choral/Orchestral concerts, the Pueblo Symphony, City of Colorado Springs 'Festival of Lights', Air Force Band of the Rockies, Air Force Academy Cadets, and for the "Great American Railroad Journeys" on BBC. In 1980, members of SDG Choir travelled to Washington D.C. to sing as a part of the inaugural festivities for President Ronald Regan. In May 2003, SDG traveled to New York City to sing the Mozart Requiem at Carnegie Hall under the direction of John Rutter.
Since 2017, Nathaniel Voelker has served as SDG Choir Artistic Director and Conductor. Some of the many initiatives and events under Nate's leadership have included: - Initiating a Scholarship Program for high school and undergraduate singers and instrumentalists resulting in a significant growth of younger SDG members. - Directing a choir of 150 singers at "A Celtic Christmas" with Keith and Kristyn Getty with special guest Ricky Skaggs at the Pikes Peak Center. - Scheduling a choir tour to perform in Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague (canceled due to COVID). - Developing and presenting an online series for SDG featuring interviews with Metropolitan Opera lead singers, Grammy award-winning conductors, and Composers, as well as offering lectures on Requiems through history. - Initiating a "Summer Sing" program, a concert in one rehearsal, which has become a new tradition bringing many new singers to SDG. - Coordinating SDG performances in Denver and Fort Collins, and more recently with the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale at the Pike's Peak Center and with the Pueblo Choral Society (PCS) at Pueblo Memorial Hall. - Forming the auditioned SDG Chamber Singers, performing tonight!
SDG Choir is currently in residence at First Lutheran Church, and we are very grateful for their support.
To learn much more about our history... go HERE To see a detailed list of music previously performed... go HERE