Southern Delaware Chorale founder recalls group’s origin
The Southern Delaware Chorale is celebrating a remarkable milestone: 40 years of bringing choral music to life in the local community.
The group will partner with the Southern Delaware Orchestra for a special anniversary concert featuring Handel’s Messiah, with performances at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, and 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, at Cape Henlopen High School, 1250 Kings Hwy., Lewes.
With a goal to preserve the story of how and where it all began, SDC President Denise Adkins and Communications Coordinator Gabrielle Glanville recently sat down with founder Beth Hochholzer for an interview at her second home in Lewes.
When asked about her inspiration for forming the group, initially known as the Southern Delaware Choral Society, Hochholzer said, “Originally, it came about through a group of choir singers that I sang with in church. When I moved to Sussex County from Washington, D.C., I inquired about a Messiah sing-along like the one I would attend at the Kennedy Center every Christmas.”
When she realized there was no such event, she decided to start her own group, not realizing it would become the main focus of her life for the next 30 years.
“I organized my church choir and other local choirs to start a chorale for the community, primarily to perform a Handel’s Messiah sing-along,” said Hochholzer. “It was so much fun, and it very quickly developed a life of its own.”
She recalled how the members loved coming and bringing new people, some of whom started out as non-singers but developed remarkable talents.
“The group itself inspired each other and brought out everyone’s best voices,” she said.
Reminiscing on Handel’s Messiah, Hochholzer spoke about her deep connection to the piece: “Of all the music we ever did, that is the piece I remember most; I know it by heart. It was the first piece we performed as a group. I remember for weeks and weeks afterward, people would come up to me and tell me how wonderful it was.”
Performers and community members alike were excited to have this new cultural experience to attend and be a part of, she said.
“The chorale meant everything to me; it was the focus of my whole life for so long. I loved doing it, I loved the people I worked with, and I love that it is continuing. It is critical because it speaks another language. For example, people who have nothing in common may attend the same concert. As soon as the concert starts, they have something in common—the music. It brings people together.”
Looking ahead, Hochholzer said, “I hope the audience for this upcoming performance of Handel’s Messiah leaves the event understanding the need for music in the community. You can’t build the culture of the community without music. I want the singers to leave with the music ingrained on their heart. I am getting older, and my memory is starting to go, but one thing that has stayed with me is this piece. It is very special to me, and I hope it is just as special to them.”
To all singers—past, present and future—Hochholzer offers this message: “Carry on, do what you love, and pass it on to everyone you know.”
