Since 1987 the Fresno Choral Artists have been providing high quality performances of a wide variety of choral music for audiences in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The organization evolved from a graduate-level performing ensemble in the Music Department at California State University, Fresno, and was originally known as the University Chamber Chorale. It was open, by audition, to singers from the community as well as university graduate students. When university budget cuts threatened the group’s existence, community members, inspired by the Artistic Director’s determination to keep the group going, moved to transform the Chorale into an independent non-profit performing organization. The Chorale changed its name to Fresno Choral Artists in 1994. The university continued with in-kind support for the group until the end of the 1999 spring semester even though its official connection with the university had ended five years before.
From its inception, Fresno Choral Artists has emphasized high quality and frequent public performance. In recent years it has collaborated with church and high school choirs in offering workshops and joint performances. It is unique in that it is devoted to providing professional level vocal programs. These include pieces well beyond the performance ability of the average choral group. Fresno Choral Artists is further committed to variety and diversity in its programming. The group has performed everything from classical masterpieces and sacred music to folk songs in many languages. Fresno Choral Artists has performed with the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra (Mozart Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria) in addition to its other numerous performances, many of which have been given in cities and towns in the greater central valley area. Another highlight for the group was a joint concert in Santa Barbara with Quire of Voyces, another similar choral music group.