The Saddleback Master Chorale is dedicated to providing a cultural service to Orange County in the presentation of choral masterworks and to the encouragement of the musical performing arts in general. In addition, we strive to offer our performers, and members of the audience, the opportunity to participate in professional level choral masterpieces, and to provide a networking group for music professionals and semi-professionals to enhance and broaden their musical careers. The Saddleback Master Chorale, under the current musical leadership of Mr. Charles Stephenson, is the longest standing choral-performing group in southern Orange County.

Originally formed in 1963 by the late Mrs Doris Shields to provide a musical setting for the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters, the Chorale quickly grew in size and in musical accomplishment. The Chorale has appeared in the Verdi Festival in San Diego , the Harvest Festival in Irvine Meadows, the Southern California Brahms Festival and, in 1997, was one of the nine choirs participating in a memorable performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the first Southern California "Daiku" at the Hollywood Bowl. The group has provided the Carols and music for the annual Mission Viejo Living Nativity and was featured on the Swedish National Radio as exemplifying the excellence of choral music in Southern California. In 1975, the Chorale joined with Saddleback College, which provided rehearsal space, together with a salaried director and accompanists. Numbering about 100 singers, the chorale's performances of the Verdi and Faure requiems, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis , and the Rossini Stabat Mater won critical acclaim.

The Saddleback Master Chorale has collaborated with the South Coast Symphony in March 1997 in a concert of music from Lerner and Lowe, in March 1998 in a concert of music from Rodgers and Hammerstein and in October 1998 and Spring 2002 in concerts of opera pieces. The Chorale has also collaborated with the Southern California Mormon Choir to present a concert of music by Mack Wilberg, with Mr. Wilberg guest conducting, and a presentation of the Durufle Requiem in May 1998. In June 2000, a performance of Verdi's Requiem was given in the San Juan Capistrano Mission Basilica, in honor of the 100th year of Verdi's death. A performance of Beethoven's 9 th Symphony, with the South Coast Symphony Orchestra, was our masterwork performance in June 2003. In October 2003, the Chorale, with members of the South Coast Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Alvin Brightbill, celebrated its 40 th anniversarywith a Gala Concert at Lake Hills Community Church, with a concert program of special music from past years. At this concert we were privileged to be joined by the Chorale's founding director, Mrs. Doris Shields, as well as Mitzi Interlandi and Don Walker, also former directors of the Chorale. The Chorale culminated its June, 2005 season, at the San Juan Capistrano Basilica, with a farewell concert to Mr. Alvin Brightbill featuring the German Requiem of Johannes Brahms, commemorating Mr. Brightbill's 24 years of directing the Chorale.

In 2006, the Chorale terminated it's former association with Saddleback College and began developing a concert season independent from that of the College. The newly developed season typically consists of multiple performances of four different choral concerts throughout the year, including the performance of a major masterwork in the month of June. Our program for the coming year will include a Holiday concert in December with full wassail service at two or three South County venues, and will include multiple smaller public service performances at various South County locations. March usually sees a concert of lighter works, ranging from folk music to Tin Pan Alley and the like, again, with multiple performances at various South County venues. In the month of August, we offer two performances of a concert of very special choral music, typically from the Baroque Era, with a wine and cheese reception beforehand included in the ticket price.