Red Letter Dates
Important Events in the Choir’s History
During the choir’s 75th Anniversary Season, we began to reconnect with past members and have now established an alumni page. We are hoping that as we continue to connect with alumni that they will help us add more detail to the choir’s earlier history.
| June 1937 | Under the direction of Waldemar Jacobsen, SFBC launches inaugural season with San Francisco’s first B-Minor Mass | |
| 1947 | Choir sings for a special United Nations conference with President Truman in attendance | |
| March 1978 | Waldemar Jacobsen passes away | |
| 1980 | David P. Babbitt appointed Artistic Director | |
| 1989 | Choir performs first concert of antiphonal music of Michael Praetorius | |
| 1992 | Choir performs gala spoof Orpheus at the Crossroads, music by David Babbitt, lyrics by Jonathan Harris; choir establishes tradition of Candlelight Christmas concert; new chamber group Concentus debuts | |
| 1994 | Choir launches Ancil and Denver Turner Memorial Organ Project | |
| 1996 | Choir opens 60th season with a concert celebrating the arrival of its new portative organ by Dutch maker Gerrit Klop; choir unveils new logo | |
| 1997 | Choir releases its first CD, Christmas Music of Michael Praetorius | |
| 2001 | Choir launches website | |
| 2002 | Choir releases a second CD, Ceremonies and Celebrations | |
| 2003 | Choir raises $91,000 for a matching grant | |
| 2004 | Choir launches Conducting Fellowship Competition | |
| 2005–2006 | 70th anniversary season; Joseph Gregorio appointed as Conducting Fellow | |
| February 2006 | David Babbitt passes away; choir completes season under the baton of Joseph Gregorio and launches search for a new Artistic Director | |
| 2006–2007 | Season concerts are conducted by four candidates for artistic director | |
| 2007 | Corey Jamason appointed Artistic Director | |
| 2008 | Choir moves to Calvary Presbyterian as its new home base | |
| 2009 | Choir unveils redesigned web site; an educational outreach program is launched | |
| 2010 | Choir and dancers perform together in a work specially commissioned for them by composer Eric Davis and choreographer Rachel Lopez | |
| 2011 | SFBC celebrates 75th Anniversary season; Sharon Gustavson retires from her position as Managing Director after serving for 25 years; Martha Westland is appointed as new Managing Director |
