Praised by music critics from the Tampa Bay Times and other local media as "one of the country's finest choirs," “an amazing instrument,” and a “cultural treasure,” The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay has consistently delivered some of the most profoundly moving music performances in the Tampa Bay area. The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay (MCTB) is an auditioned, highly-select volunteer chorus embracing a broad representation of singers from the entire Tampa Bay area. With a decades-long tradition of elevating the cultural experience of the Tampa Bay community, MCTB traditionally maintains a roster of 150+ voices, performs 20 - 25 concerts a year, has internationally distributed recordings, commissions important contemporary choral composers, and presents engaging community-singing events, and inspiring music education programs locally and online. The Master Chorale primarily serves Tampa Bay and west central Florida with a mission to advance the art of choral music by performing great works of the past, commissioning and performing new literature and sharing the joy and power of choral music with new and existing audiences and singers. MCTB is the Principal Chorus for The Florida Orchestra and Artist-In-Residence at the University of South Florida College of the Arts School of Music. From The Master Chorale’s inception in 1979, founded by Dr. Robert Summer, its performances have been consistently and critically recognized for excellence. In addition to the numerous traditional concerts performed annually, MCTB presents a variety of special appearance concerts and outreach and education activities in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. MCTB’s distinguished history includes international tours and performances and premiers of many major symphonic choral works under the outstanding direction of conductors including Michael Francis, Jahja Ling, Robert Shaw, John Nelson, Julius Rudel, Sir Colin Davis, and Sir David Willcocks.