Hall Picked as New Music Director of Master Chorale

William Hall has been appointed music director of the Master Chorale of Orange County, chorale officials announced Tuesday.

“I’m thrilled,” Hall said. “After 25 years, it feels very right to identify with Orange County.”

Though Hall, 53, has taught at Chapman College in Orange since 1963, he is best known for his Los Angeles-based William Hall Chorale, which he founded in 1956. He conducted the Master Chorale for the first time in December, after the chorale’s founding music director, Maurice Allard, resigned unexpectedly. Hall was later appointed interim music director of the group.

Hall said that he will continue to direct his own chorale and that he envisions the groups “doing things together, combining talents.”

Hall’s appointment comes at a time when discussions have already begun about merging the Master Chorale and the Pacific Chorale, the other major choral group in the county. The Pacific is conducted by John Alexander.

Hall said that “talks will continue about the feasibility of the merger” but that there is no possibility a merger will occur during the 1988-89 season.

Master Chorale officials also announced Tuesday that Charles R. Cassey, music director of the Californians, their pops sub-group, resigned three weeks ago and “took several singers with him.” The Californians’ role in the larger organization had reportedly been a point of contention that led to Allard’s resignation.

Hall said Tuesday that the Californians “are still very much a part of what we’re doing. We have every intention of keeping them as part of our plans.”

Hall will lead the chorale in Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” on March 20 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

The final two concerts of the season, originally scheduled for April 24 and June 4, have been canceled. But there will be a chorale program of music by Brahms and Schumann on May 14 at Chapman College. Future plans, Hall said, include two separate series of concerts for the 1988-89 season. Details will be announced.