Supports the Society's masterworks concert program

The Orange County Catholic Chorale, a masterworks chorus formed in 2002, is changing its name effective with its 2010 season to the Orange County Choral Society. According to Ken Keller, board president, the name change is designed to allow for more diverse musical genre programs and, also, to not infer any specific “affiliation.”

The new director will assume the role in January, conducting rehearsals and concerts as well as directing event programming.

The Orange County Catholic Chorale, Inc., a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit performing arts organization in Southern California, has launched its first annual choral composition competition. Called Magnum Opus, the competition runs from November 1, 2009 to April 15, 2010, during which period entrants may submit an adaptation of an American folk song or hymn or an original piece on an American theme -- either as an a cappella piece or with accompaniment. Accompaniment can be any of the following: a cappella choir, or choir with organ, piano, solo instrument or wind ensemble (flute, clarinet, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, percussion), or any combination thereof. The competition was made possible by a generous grant from the Robert J & Doreen D. Marshall Fund for Dramatic Arts and Classical Music of the Orange County Community Foundation.