An Evening with the Apollo

The Apollo Chorus rose from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and for more than a century it has elevated audiences with its renowned rendition of Handel's "Messiah."

Founded in 1872 as an all-male chorus by a group of downtown businessmen, the Apollo Chorus of Chicago soon expanded to include women, and grew to become one of the oldest and largest volunteer choruses in the country.

The ensemble's more than 140 members are often asked to perform at home and abroad, but the Christmastime performance of Handel's Messiah is the choir's calling card. Since 1879 the Apollo Chorus has made this masterpiece available to music lovers from all walks of life by charging accessible admission prices for their famous performance.

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Lend an ear to some of the choral groups dot the state of Illinois, from the Quad City Music Guild in Moline to Chicago a cappella to the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus.