The origin of the Cary Community Choir can be traced to the celebration of the centennial of the Town of Cary held in 1971. As a part of a weekend of festivities and commemoration, a service of worship was held at the Cary High School football field on Sunday, May 9, 1971. Local church choirs provided singers who assembled to provide music for the service.

Following the service, three local directors, Stuart Thompson, minister of music and youth of First Baptist Church, Mary Raver, director of the Chancel Choir of First Methodist Church, and William Easter, director of the Adult Choir of White Plains Methodist Church, discussed the possibility of forming an ecumenical choir to perform a more serious musical program. After securing the support of their individual choirs, they moved ahead with planning, deciding on Handel’s Messiah as a work with which the singers would have some familiarity.

Rehearsals were begun in October of 1971, with the choir meeting on Tuesday evenings at First Baptist Church. Stuart Thompson served as director, and Peggy Hoffmann, organist of White Plains Methodist Church, piano accompanist. Rehearsals continued on through November, and the performance was scheduled for the first Sunday in December, the 5th. Only five choruses were attempted for that first year, but rehearsals were quite a struggle, often requiring part by part concentration.

As the date of the performance approached. Stuart Thompson arranged to turn over direction of the choir to Charles Gatwood, head of the music program for the North Carolina Baptist State Convention and member of First Baptist Church. Mrs. Hoffmann also relinquished her position as accompanist, and Lou Mize, organist of First Baptist Church of Raleigh, N.C. was chosen to provide organ accompaniment. The first performance was judged a success, and a tradition was begun.

The choir then operated very simply for many years under the supervision of a committee comprising representatives of area churches, the number of which could be counted on two hands at the time. Soloists were chosen by audition from volunteers, and honoraria, provided by contributions of a few churches and free-will offerings at the performances, were paid only to the director and organist. Charles Gatwood continued as director through 2001, missing only one year when he was out of state. Lee Webb, minister of music at First Baptist Church, filled in that year.

For the first few years, the leadership of the planning committee was rotated among its members. Eventually, however, it was embraced enthusiastically by Kay Struffolino, who retained the position for over 20 years. Associated with the North Carolina Symphony, she was invaluable in helping to secure excellent soloists and instrumentalists.

The first change of venue occurred in 1978, the choir performing in the newly constructed sanctuary of White Plains Methodist Church. In the following year, Greenwood Forest Baptist Church’s new sanctuary became the site. The event rotated among the three churches for a total of nineteen years until it moved in 1996 to the enlarged sanctuary of First United Methodist Church. The choir’s one venture out of town (barely) was to St. Andrew Catholic Church in Apex, N.C. in 1997. The new facilities of Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church was added to the list of venues in 1999.

With the emergence of the Research Triangle Park as a major source of high-tech employment, Cary grew rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s. Along with technical expertise, the newcomers brought a wealth of musical talent to the area. The choir benefited greatly from this influx, and by 1985 the abilities of the choir had increased sufficiently to offer the entire Part I and the Hallelujah chorus in its program. The final Amen was first added in 1992.

In 1992, the choir gave a special performance of selections from Parts II and III of Messiah on April 26 at First Baptist Church. While instrumentalists had been featured at some performances during offertory pauses earlier, this was the first performance for which the choir was accompanied by an ensemble. The United Arts Council of North Carolina and the Arts Council for the Town of Cary provided the funds to make the ensemble possible.

The choir again added several accompanying instruments in 1997 and also in 2000. For the final performance directed by Charles Gatwood in 2001, a twelve-piece ensemble was secured to play in addition to the organ. This combination was so well received that it was continued under the new director, David Mellnik.

Because of the variability of the quality of volunteer soloists, the decision was made in 1979 to seek out professional singers in the area. Of course, that action also necessitated raising additional funds to provide honoraria for guest soloists, and solicitation from businesses became a regular part of the choir’s efforts.

The increased expense of adding paid musicians, along with raising the honoraria for director and organist over the years, eventually necessitated seeking tax-exempt status for the choir. Obtaining grants from most businesses and virtually all arts foundations was impossible with its informal organization.  On September 16, 2003, the choir was successfully incorporated in the State of North Carolina as a non-profit and received recognition from the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.

As a part of the incorporation procedure, bylaws were written for the Cary Community Choir, and the planning committee gave way to a Board of Directors. The Board, comprising Jean Chase, William Easter, Sue Guenther, Mary Landers, Brian McFeaters, Anne Nichols, Donna Scott (acting chair), Jeneal Teander and Tom Stribling met for the first time on January 15, 2004. At the next meeting on April 26, 2004, three additional directors, Judith Auman, Norma Carlson and Jean Costa, were elected, along with the following officers: President-William Easter, Vice-president-Jeneal Teander and Secretary/treasurer-Donna Scott.

The current board membership includes Brian McFeaters; President; Jean Costa ; Vice President; Anne Camblin ; Secretary/Treasurer; and Directors ; Christine Albro, Caroline Hart Allen, Judy Auman, Jim Bridges, Jean Chase, Jeanne Erwin, Katharine Parrish, Catherine Poff, Phillip Stiles, Tom Stribling, Jeneal Teander, Patti Webb and Janice Wilson.

After more than three decades, the Cary Community Choir is now poised with new structure, credentials and energy to bring the annual presentation of Messiah to new levels of professionalism and beauty.