Dennis Williams founded the group in 1971. The chorale’s initial purpose was to study and perform the great choral masterworks with orchestra; the first season featured Handel’s Messiah and Haydn’s Creation. Since then the group has performed over 60 major choral works, and its mission has evolved to include all great choral music. The Chorale’s over five decades of performances, with over 1,100 singer alumni reaching more than 40,000 audience members, attests to the accomplishment of this mission.

In 1986 the Chorale began collaborating with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra with the performance of that year’s Holiday Concerts. The relationship continues today, with the Chorale typically joining the DSO for Holiday Pops and another featured work during the season as part of the symphony’s subscription series. The Chorale also presents its own concerts in the fall and spring, and additional engagements as requested.

In 1994 the Dubuque Chorale embarked on its first international tour to England and Wales. Since then members of the organization have visited and performed in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Italy (singing for a mass at the Vatican), Switzerland, New Zealand, and Australia (singing with renowned conductor Eric Whitacre at the Sydney Opera House). In recent years they joined choirs from the Wisconsin communities of Platteville, Mt. Horeb, and Fond du Lac to tour New York City, the British Isles, and Quebec.

Upon Dennis Williams’ retirement in 2006, Francis John Vogt served as artistic director until 2009, followed by Dr. Bob Demaree until 2018. The Chorale’s current artistic director, Dr. Amanda Huntleigh began her tenure in the fall of 2018. During these years the Chorale has grown to include singers with a diverse array of occupations, ages, and socio-economic statuses. Since its founding, the Chorale’s repertoire and artistic programming has also expanded to include new collaborations and community educational opportunities.