Arrowhead Chorale is described by Director Stanley Wold as “an auditioned civic choir based in the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior.” The Chorale performs several concert programs annually comprised of three performances. Each year, at least one concert is performed outside the Twin Ports area.

While the present Chorale has existed since the fall of 1990, Paul Fletcher, who was, at the time, a choral conductor at the College of St. Scholastica, formed the original Arrowhead Chorale in the mid-1980’s. The original group performed about six programs of distinctive, mostly unaccompanied choral literature in its first two and a half years. Most of these concerts were performed in Duluth churches though there were occasional presentations in other communities in the region where the concerts were well received.

The original Chorale initially placed a high degree of dependence on Mr. Fletcher, who later moved on to doctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin. The Chorale remained inactive after his departure until the winter of 1989-1990. The enthusiasm of the original group sought a new conductor to head up a re-formed Chorale. In 1990, the new Arrowhead Chorale was incorporated as a non-profit organization and hired Stanley Wold as its first artistic director.

Twenty-four singers are auditioned each season to participate in a rigorous series of rehearsals and concerts. A working board of 12 to 15 members works diligently at audience development, funding, and organizational policy. The Chorale Coordinator works to contact prospective presenters, oversee concert site details, initiate contracts and implement various board directives.

While the singers of the Chorale are representative of a wide variety of professions, many of them have musical degrees and all have at least collegiate level choral singing experience. All individuals involved in Arrowhead Chorale must be able to perform solo music, pass rhythm-reading and pitch-reading tests, and demonstrate the ability to vary vocal timbres and techniques as required by different choral music for that year.