The Chester County Choral Society, a non-profit community organization founded as the Exton Chorale, began as an ecumenical choir with members drawn from five area church choirs. Founding Director Craig E. Rider led the Chorale from 1973 to 1982, after which Paul Hoffman served as Interim Director. From 1983 to 1999, under the leadership of Bernice Hatch Brady, the Chorale grew to include singers from throughout the Delaware Valley.

In September 1999, the Choral Society began a new era under the direction of Gary P. Garletts. The group relocated to West Chester, rehearsing and performing at Calvary Lutheran Church, and renamed itself to more appropriately reflect its presence in and membership from the Chester County area. Under Mr. Garletts’ direction the group has performed such works as Bach’s Magnificat, Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Clausen’s A New Creation, Thompson’s The Testament of Freedom, and a variety of shorter works drawn from the vast repertoire of choral literature.

In addition to its annual holiday and spring concerts for the community, the Choral Society has appeared with the Ocean City (NJ) Pops Orchestra and with the Orpheus Club at the Academy of Music. Bruton Parish Church (Colonial Williamsburg), Longwood Gardens, the National Cathedral (Washington, D.C.) and the Valley Forge Music Fair have also hosted CCCS. The group completed two European concert tours, one in Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland, and more recently, the British Isles. In 1999 the Choral Society represented Pennsylvania in the National Festival of the States in Mt. Vernon, VA. The Choral Society has entertained for Chester County Naturalization Ceremonies, the Chester County Flower Show, holidays at Waterloo Gardens and West Chester’s Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration. The group also enjoys sharing its music with residents of retirement facilities in the tri-county area.