William Ferris Chorale

Chicago’s leading voice in new music, WFC seeks to redefine “choir.” At the forefront of Chicago’s contemporary music scene for over 50 years, and with over 200 premiere performances, we expand choral repertoire through the performance of living composers. By supporting voices innovating choral music, our artists create new connections with the world around us, connecting audiences, composers and artists through dynamic, evocative music. Led by Artistic and Music Director Christopher Windle, WFC breaks barriers and innovates the art of choral singing. 

Founded 53 years ago by composer and conductor William Ferris, WFC continues Ferris’s legacy of championing the music of living composers. With an unparalleled history of commissioning and premiering works, WFC has offered over 200 world-premiere performances since its inception, including premieres of work by Samuel Barber, Carlo Menotti, Steven Paulus, Augusta Read Thomas, Kile Smith, Robert Maggio, Gabriel Novak, Ed Frazier Davis, and many more.

WFC produces an annual season of 3-4 concerts. In addition to genre-bending solo performances, WFC also partners with organizations throughout the country, including Chicago Public Schools, ACDA-IL, Musicspoke, and beyond this point.  These concerts showcase the virtuosity of our artists and the multitude of unique compositional voices around the world, as well as our commitment to Chicago and the future of choral music.

Recent seasons have seen audiences hungry for new choral music. Audiences come away from concerts exclaiming the unique experience of hearing WFC as “Beautiful, Energetic, Filled with nuances, Delicious” and insisting that “I don’t know of any other chorus in the city doing this kind of gutsy work.” These lauded performances have included Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles, David Lang’s the little match girl passion, Arvo Pärt’s Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen, Wally Gunn’s The Ascendant, and Caroline Shaw’s Partita for 8 Voices.