The Chorale was formed in 1991 with founding director David Hensley, Choral
Music Instructor at Lompoc High School. In 1992 the group was organized
exclusively for educational purposes and incorporated as a non-profit
organization known as the Lompoc Valley Master Chorale.
The Chorale has performed at least two concerts a year since incorporation involving sacred and secular repertoire. Depending on concert venue and type of concert, ticket prices are between $15 and $20 with student and senior discounts. At least one of these concerts requires an orchestra that is hired to perform with the Chorale. The Christmas concert normally consists of sacred and secular music. The spring concert is normally a classical masterwork, an Americana theme, or a Broadway theme. Each concert involves two performances (Friday and Saturday evenings.) Performance venues have been the Lompoc Civic Auditorium, the Lompoc First United Methodist Church, the Cultural Hall of the Lompoc Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the First Southern Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, the Lompoc Grange Hall, the Community Life Center at the Trinity Church of the Nazarene, and the Lompoc High School Gymnasium.
The Chorale has been invited to perform with the Lompoc Pops Orchestra, the Lompoc Music Association, Founding Day at La Purisima Mission, the Santa Maria Symphony, and the Lompoc Ministerial Association. In addition, the Chorale or a subset of the Chorale (the Men's Ensemble, the Women's Ensemble or the Mixed Ensemble) has been invited to perform for the Lompoc Historical Society, the Choir and Creche Festival at the Lompoc California State Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Annual Community Thanksgiving Service, the Community Good Friday Service and the Lompoc Barbershop Singers. Several years ago the Chorale hosted a Choral Workshop with guest clinician Paul Salamunuvich (Music Director Emeritus of the Los Angeles Master Chorale) inviting choral groups from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo.
The Chorale has two contracted salaried personnel, the Musical Director and the Accompanist. Guest musicians (vocal and instrumental) receive remuneration. An annually elected Executive Board governs the Chorale, which is responsible for managing the particular affairs of the Chorale.