“The story of the people who created and sustained the Choral Society of Pensacola enlightens our view of how and why this expression of music, passionately supported then, continues today.”
Long a tradition in Europe, many large American cities formed choral societies. In the late nineteenth century, Pensacola residents organized to express their appreciation of music through study and performance, often under compromising conditions. The movement not only persevered for 80 years; it flourished. The persistent pursuit of quality musicianship in a small southern coastal town with an economy focused on lumber and fishing might seem unusual, particularly choral music, normally appreciated by a small but discriminating audience
The Choral Society of Pensacola, a staple in the arts community, exemplifies the city’s history of support for the fine arts. The story of the people who created and sustained the Choral Society of Pensacola enlightens our view of how and why this expression of music, passionately supported then, continues today. Their story also adds to our understanding of how the Pensacola community changed over time as women found increased status and power through social organizations. Community organizations revealed how a society reacted to the repercussions of world events, such as war and natural disaster.
