A choir performing inside a church with stained glass windows and wooden pews in the background.

A choir standing in the aisle of a church with stained glass windows behind them.

A large choir standing in a concert hall with wooden paneled walls and organ pipes in the background, two people standing in front of the choir beside a piano.

A church choir performing on stage with a conductor leading them. The choir members are dressed in black robes and holding sheet music. Large organ pipes are in the background, and the church features stained glass windows and a wooden cross above th

A choir of men in black tuxedos singing in a wood-paneled church or concert hall.

Conductor leading an orchestra during a performance, with two seated musicians playing string instruments in front of him, all dressed in formal black attire.

Celebrating 47 years of musical excellence, the Masterworks Choir of Florence is one of the most prestigious choral ensembles in the state, known for its choral artistry and performing a historically diverse repertoire of both new and traditional music. Since its founding in 1979, the choir has grown from a core of 30 choristers to an ensemble of over 80 dedicated, auditioned singers from the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The ensemble is led by the inspiring and engaging conductor Dr. Will Carswell and accompanied by the talented Beverly Hazelwood. 

Always seeking to expand its reach beyond the Florence community, the Masterworks Choir has performed at Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, SC, in Carnegie Hall with maestro John Rutter, with the Coker University Singers in Hartsville, and at the South Carolina Pecan Festival. The Choir has enjoyed successful tours to Austria, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Italy, and Ireland, as well as to Washington, DC. In June 2025 the Choir completed a 10-day tour of Scotland, performing in Glasgow, Inverness, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh. 

The Masterworks Choir is dedicated to presenting extraordinary musical experiences for audiences in Florence and beyond. The ensemble is in residence at Central United Methodist Church and the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center, and is supported by the South Carolina Arts Commission, The Florence Regional Arts Alliance, the City of Florence, Florence County, and the H.M. and Pearl Kyle Foundation.

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