In the Spring of 1970, a new community-based choir, the University Civic Chorale was formed by Lee Kjelson, with the aid and encouragement of two University of Miami Deans, William F. Lee of the School of Music and Robert Allen of Continuing Studies. In 1982, Dr. Kjelson was invited to administratively head the community-oriented Miami Choral Society. Consequently, the UCC was incorporated into the MCS structure, joining with the esteemed organization's adult singers to create the Miami Civic Chorale. A third name change occurred in 1985 in order to both recognize the Chorale's expanding involvement in community music of the entire South Florida area, and to coincide with the Chorale's return to independent status as the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami.

Since its inception, the Chorale has been one of South Florida's most professionally active adult choral ensembles, providing community and college-university singers as well as area audiences the opportunity to experience live performances of great choral music. Of great pride is the acknowledgement that throughout its many years of existence, the Chorale has been a choral ensemble of consequence, recognized with enthusiasm for the quality of its repertoire and musical performance.

Basic to the success of the Chorale is the continuity of leadership that has characterized the more than 30 years that the Chorale has existed. In 2001, Dr. Robert Gower became artistic director, after having served as Associate Conductor and Accompanist since 1972. Jo-Michael Schiebe was appointed to Music Director in 1993 and remained until the fall of 1998. For the next two seasons, Greg Knauf led the Chorale. Chorale founder, Lee Kjelson, served as its principal Music Director from 1970-1993. For the 2006 - 2007 season Dr. Gower will share the podium with Paul Whiting. In addition, several charter and long-time members have demonstrated the loyalty and commitment that exists within this valued organization.

Also of great importance to the Chorale's recognized reputation has been the numerous performances of monumental works and premieres with such esteemed organizations as the American Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Prominent area orchestras with whom the Chorale has collaborated include the Florida Philharmonic, the New World Symphony, and the University of Miami Symphony. Several of these choral-orchestra presentations have been in conjunction with the Concert Association of Florida as well as the Palm Beach Festival, Festival Miami, and New Music America.

The collaboration with major symphony orchestras and organizations has given opportunity for the Chorale to perform under the direction of major conductors, such as Zuben Mehta, James Conlon, Franz Allers, Frederick Fennell, James Judd, Christopher Keene, Eugene Kohn, Alain Lombard, Jose Serebrier, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Pinchus Zuckerman.

Representative literature indicative of the Chorale's past extensive performance repertoire includes such challenging and diverse works as Mahler's Resurrection Symphony, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, the Fourth Symphony of Ives, Verdi's Aida and Il Trovatore (concert versions), Dona Nobis Pacem by Vaughn Williams, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Mass by Igor Stravinsky, and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. In recent years the Chorale has featured Requiems composed by Mozart, Faure, Durufle, and Rutter; Vierne's Solomn Mass, Ramirez' Missa Criolla; Brahm's Liebeslieder Waltzes; Randall Thompson's A Testament of Freedom; Jose Maria Vitier's Missa Cubana, and a concert version of Bizet's Carmen.

There are many ways in which the Chorale maintains an active role in promoting community music and performers. Most traditional is the Messiah Sing-In, which will celebrate its 36th Anniversary this year. Also of great pride is the Chorale's practice of featuring guest artists from South Florida, which have included the Miami Children's Chorus, the Greater Miami Youth Symphony, Florida's Singing Sons Boy Choir, the Miami Brass Consort, the Miami Symphony, Irish fiddler James Kelly, and highly regarded University of Miami faculty and alumni soloists. In recent years, the Civic Chorale has promoted the musical education and enrichment of local high school music students, by inviting their collaboration in concerts with the Civic Chorale.