Camerata Chorale

The Camerata Chorale of Poughkeepsie was founded in 1963 as a not-for-profit, non-sectarian choral ensemble whose members are drawn from more than 20 Hudson Valley communities. Membership in the Camerata is by audition and the group rehearses weekly, presenting at least three varied programs each season, including music from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, in as many as seven languages. The ensemble has performed most of the established major and minor choral works in the repertoire during its 44-year history.

Camerata performs regularly with the Ulster Choral Society of Kingston and the Bach-Handel Festival Orchestra. They have sung on many occasions with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and such chamber ensembles as the Tudor Brass Quintet.  Concerts are often given in Poughkeepsie at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House and the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston, as well as many area churches. Under the direction of conductor Lee H. Pritchard, the Camerata Chorale has grown in stature and continues Passion of Joan of Arc, at the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie. The Oratorio was again performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in October 1995 with members of the Brooklyn Philharmonic with Lucinda Carver conducting. A fifth performance was given at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in April 2001, featuring the acclaimed vocal quartet Anonymous Four, with Maestro Pritchard conducting. 

With the formation of the Choral Union in 2003, the Chorale has been able to mount grand performances of masterworks with the Ulster Choral Society and singers who join us just for these concerts includes both internal and external components. We include students in our membership, both at the High School and College levels. Students meet the same audition requirements as adult singers. 

We believe that each rehearsal is a learning opportunity for members who come to share and appreciate the historical and stylistic context of the music being rehearsed each week.  Frequently we sight-read additional music by a composer during a rehearsal cycle, and sometimes this includes music of contemporaries.  We study musical and textual relationships; we study language and diction problems; and we have a vocal development program which involves all members during allotted rehearsal time.  

We offer an annual education scholarship to high school students who live in the school districts in which our members reside, and to the districts in the greater Hudson Valley. Students must apply to the Chorale through their High School music teachers and/or guidance counselors. The scholarship is named in honor of revered accompanist emeritus Edward B. Greene. Click here to learn more about this scholarship.

The organization receives funding from the Dutchess County Arts Council (Dutchess Arts Fund Project Pool), and Community Service Grants and matching funds support from IBM Poughkeepsie and other corporations. Generous support is received annually during our individual patron and sponsor program. The business community in the greater Hudson Valley is also liberal in its financial support of our ensemble.

Several years ago the Chorale established an Endowment Fund to enable the group to explore and fund special artistic endeavors and assist in funding other capital projects.

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Lee H. Pritchard, Artistic Director

Lee Harold Pritchard has directed the Camerata Chorale of Poughkeepsie since 1966, and the Ulster Choral Society of Kingston since 1978. Joining the faculty of SUNY New Paltz in 1964, he retired from full-time teaching and administration at SUNY New Paltz in 2005 after 40 years of service. During his tenure at the college, Professor Pritchard was Chair of the Music Department at different times for over 15 years. He also chaired the Department of Theatre Arts during some summer sessions. During his tenure he also served as Presiding Officer of the Faculty, Chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Council, and Chair of the Organization Committee.

Maestro Pritchard has been guest conductor of many select choirs in the Northeast for over 40 years. His work in theatre led to the establishment of a Musical Theatre degree program at SUNY New Paltz in 1987, where he directed over 45 musicals and opera for the New Paltz Players, the New Paltz Summer Repertory Theatre and McKenna Productions. He also directed works for the Poughkeepsie Ballet Theatre and Ninety Miles Off-Broadway. As a co-founder of the Hudson Valley Gilbert & Sullivan Society in 1978 (now the Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theater Company), Pritchard served on the Board of Directors from 1978-88 and was Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Society, directing the Gilbert and Sullivan canon as well as several other operettas and American musicals.

Professor Pritchard received his undergraduate degree from SUNY Fredonia and completed graduate studies at Indiana University School of Music, studying with Donald Moses, Roger Havranek, Paul Matthen, Fiora Contino and Julius Herford. He currently serves as an artistic consultant to the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, often appearing as resident guest conductor. 

Maestro Pritchard is the founder and conductor of the Bach-Handel Festival Orchestra, organized in 1984 to perform with the choruses in a three-year Bach-Handel Festival. From 1978-1990 he prepared choirs for the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and under the b continues to prepare choruses for performances with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, currently under the direction of Randall Craig Fleischer. During the 2007-2008 Fall Season the choirs will be singing on the opening Opera Gala program with the HVP at the Bardavon Opera House.

Professor Pritchard has been privileged to study with the late Robert Shaw, Dean of

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