Houston Choral Showcase

Houston Choral Showcase (Director, Diane Benson) is Houston's only pop/variety show choir, presenting performances that include pop, jazz, swing, show tunes, movie songs, patriotic pieces and holiday tunes. Choral singing is combined with choreographed movement, staging, and distinctive costumes and props. Our goal with every performance is to deliver a fun show that is entertaining on many levels, and we hope that our audiences enjoy the music as much as we do. Each season we present a new selection of songs that is varied in style and pace -- you may encounter moving ballads, spirited dance music, new songs, old songs done new ways, and hopefully have a few laughs along the way (view song lists from recent seasons).

Members of the Showcase represent a variety of generations, backgrounds and professions, but we are united in our love of music and commitment to excellence. Many of us also participate in other musical endeavors, such as church choirs, bands and musical theater.

Houston Choral Showcase has been entertaining area audiences for over 75 years. This makes us the oldest mixed community choral group in Houston. Read on to learn more about our heritage.

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Houston Choral Showcase History

Starting in 1932 as a program with the Houston Parks Department, the group was first named the

Houston Community Chorus. Thanks to the oral history of Mr. Leonard Wilkins, "resident historian" and long-time Parks Department employee, we know that in the early years of Houston Community Chorus, the group was "adopted" by a wonderful lady named Cora Lee Gregory Wood, a part-time Parks Department employee who served as liaison for many years between the Chorus and the Parks Department until her retirement in 1980. We honor her support and dedication.

In the early 1980s there was a name change from Houston Community Chorus to the Greater Houston Chorus. It was also during this time period that the group ceased to be a program with the Parks Department and became an independent nonprofit group with incorporation in 1988. The name change to Houston Choral Showcase occurred in 1997.

Throughout our history, whatever the name, we have enjoyed performing for Houston audiences that have varied from the general public to visiting royalty. Probably our most renowned performances have been for the Queen of England and the Republican National Convention.

We thank and appreciate our Director, Diane Benson, who has been leading us since 1988. We continue to be inspired by her vision, creativity, energy and dedication. Our thanks go also to previous directors and accompanists.

To all who have been chorus members throughout the years, we build on your heritage as we continue to offer the beauty of song to the city of Houston and beyond. Let the sparkling entertainment continue!

History Gallery

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