Idyllwild Master Chorale

About IMC

The Idyllwild Master Chorale is a community-wide mixed chorus dedicated to connecting its voices to the heart, soul and musical taste of our mountain community.

Members of the IMC come from the Idyllwild area, Garner Valley, Anza, Hemet, Temecula, Palm Desert and as far away as Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties.

In 1975, Robert Evans Holmes created the beginnings of IMC by putting together a foundation group of 16 local singers for a performance of Saint Saen’s “Christmas Oratorio.” By 1976 he has added a full orchestra, a chorale of 125 singers, and four soloists to perform the entire “Messiah” by Handel. Every December since then, the IMC and orchestra have performed selections from Handel’s magnificent oratorio, along with a colorful variety of seasonal works.

In 1997, IMC added a second concert to give the singers an opportunity to test their voices in a variety of musical styles. In 2005, a third concert was added that included everything from English and Italian madrigals and motets to challenging modern works and songs from American modern works and songs from American Musical Theatre.

Over the past 40 Years, our concerts have become a destination for more than 15,000 choral lovers of Handel’s “Messiah” from all parts of Southern California.

In 2005, IMC took their entertainment level to another step by adding live musical theatre to close their season in July. They introduced this new venue with the award winning Broadway Musical, “Annie” and have continued every summer with top of the line productions such as South Pacific, Nunsense, "Wizard of Oz", and this year's Broadway Hit, "Meshuggah Nuns!."  It has become a custom to announce the summer musical at our Holiday Concert.