In the summer of 1999, Greg Kunde and his wife Linda decided to offer a choral technique workshop to the adult choir at their church, St. Joseph’s in Penfield, NY. The group of 35 singers met in the Kundes’ living room and, throughout the summer, worked on choruses from the Messiah.

While Mr. Kunde is well-known world-wide for his dramatic operatic performances, his education is in choral conducting. And, indeed, he found himself most satisfied in this role of teacher and conductor of these willing amateur artists.

The group came into its own under Mr. Kunde’s nose. "When do we perform?" they asked. The Maestro had nothing planned beyond teaching them vocal focus, breath support, and section blending. However, the joy each participant experienced from this short venture could not be denied. Or contained.

The group took their inspirer’s name and worked through the autumn, even in the Maestro’s absence. Under Greg’s direction, at Christmastime, the Chorale put on a rousing performance at the Our Lady of Mercy High School auditorium with a full orchestra and an enthusiastic audience. Lives have never been the same.

Since this accidental beginning, the Chorale has grown to about fifty singers and have actively expanded it’s repertory to include opera, operetta, sacred, secular, Americana, Broadway, as well as the occasional ditty tune on the far side of hilarity.