In 1989 Martin Bittick advertised for singers to augment the chancel choir of Crossgates United Methodist Church for a Christmas presentation of Handel’s Messiah. The overwhelming response resulted in the formation of the Rankin County Community Chorus.

As the chorus grew in number and renown, our name was changed to THE MISSISSIPPI CHORUS to more accurately reflect our membership and the scope of our performances.

In addition to presentations of such landmark works as Bach’s Magnificat, Haydn's The Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Brahms' A German Requiem, the chorus has performed challenging compositions not often heard locally, such as Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Mount of Olives, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, and most recently, In Quiet Resting Places by Daniel Gawthrop, who was our guest for the concert.

THE MISSISSIPPI CHORUS has been featured as guest artist with the MS Symphony in concert performances of Oklahoma, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, Verdi's Requiem, The Messiah, and other events. We have also given three “Lighten Up” programs featuring pop, rock and Broadway tunes.

In 1994 a representative group from the chorus toured Europe for two weeks singing concerts in four countries and serving as official Goodwill Ambassadors from the State of Mississippi, as declared by Governor Kirk Fordice.

In 2007, a representative group was selected to represent the State of Mississippi in a concert series given at Carnegie Hall in New York, New York. There they sang John Rutter's Magnificat under the direction of John Rutter.

In 2009, 35 members of the chorus were, again, selected to represent the State of Mississippi singing four concerts in four cities in Europe. They were awarded a certificate of thanks from the Austrian government for aiding in Musical Education for the next generation as well as accolades from concerts held in Prague, Czech Republic and Budapest, Hungary.

 

A quote from the past:
"Te Deum," Mozart -- "... sung impeccably, with a perfect balance." Glenn Gentry, Continuo