The Santa Clara Chorale
The Santa Clara Chorale offers the community the opportunity to grow musically and perform regularly in programs that bring significant choral music from the past and present to growing audiences in the beautiful Mission Santa Clara setting. Since its beginnings in 1963, the Chorale has performed in numerous locations in the Bay Area and carried its music abroad in several concert tours, most recently in the summer of 2006 to Prague, Salzburg, and Vienna.
Mission Santa Clara
on the campus of Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
Please Click Here for Directions
Brief History of Mission Santa Clara
On January 12, 1777, six months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence; two Franciscan padres founded the eight of California's original twenty-one missions. Mission Santa Clara was founded by Father Junipero Serra, and was named for Saint Clare of Assisi. The Mission was transferred from the Franciscans to the Jesuits in 1851.
The Original Mission was built near the Guadalupe River, but was soon moved due to frequent flooding. The Mission was rebuilt and moved several times due to earthquake damage and water damage. The remodeled Mission was destroyed by fire in 1926. A restored Mission was completed in 1929, and still stands today. There have been six Mission Churches built, and the Mission has been in its current location since 1825. The present Adobe Lodge, which houses the Faculty Club; and the Adobe Wall are all that remain of the 1825 mission.
After the 1926 fire, only one of the bells survived without damage and it now hangs in the restored church. Also saved was a magnificent crucifix that now graces a side altar in the restored church. The beautifully painted ceiling is a copy of the one destroyed in the fire. The original Mission cross, blessed by Father Serra, now stands encased in redwood in front of the present Mission church.
In 1850, the new Bishop of San Francisco asked two Jesuits to open a college at Mission Santa Clara. Santa Clara College was founded in 1851 by Father John Nobili, and was the first institute of higher learning in California. In 1912, Santa Clara College became Santa Clara University and in 1961, the first women undergraduate students were admitted.
