Description

The Newport Navy Choristers is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to raise money for charitable organizations and to provide both chorus members and audiences with enjoyable choral experiences. Membership is open to active duty, reserve, and retired military personnel (both officer and enlisted) of ALL the armed services and their dependents age 16 or over, as well as Department of Defense civilian employees and their dependents.

The Choristers strive for versatility in their choral selections. Our repertoire features music written for the full chorus, male voices, female voices, small groups, and soloists. Depending on the season and the theme of the concert, a typical program might include a medley of popular and patriotic tunes, folk music and spirituals, and classical selections. Two subgroups of the Choristers, the Nautical Notes and the Sea Chanteys, perform at Chorister concerts and for occasions or in venues which are not suitable for the full chorus.

The Choristers trace their lineage to a sing-a-long at the home of Francis Lull (later the first Director) in 1953. First known as the Navy Wives Chorale, they became the Navy Wives Chorus in 1956. Composed initially of wives of students and staff at the Naval War College, the chorus sang at Navy social functions and performed concerts at various locations in Newport. In succeeding years, as the size and reputation of the chorus grew, husbands added their voices to those of their wives and the chorus began accepting members from other Naval Station Newport commands. In 1959 the group became known as the Navy Choristers, and in 1963, the Newport Navy Choristers, in order to emphasize our ties to the local community.

The Choristers perform four to five major concerts each year to benefit local non-profit charitable and civic organizations. In addition to these regularly scheduled performances, the Choristers participate in special community events and provide musical support for Naval War College and Naval Station Newport command functions.