A forerunner of the Naperville Chorus appeared in the 1960's when Dr. Paul Warren Allen of the North Central College music department drew together the vocal talents of students, college personnel, and community members with the NCC - Community Chorus. With membership at times approaching one hundred, the group flourished and performed a variety of contemporary and traditional works. The demise of the chorus came in 1971 when financial cutbacks at the college eliminated the music department.
The opportunity to revive the concept of a community-wide chorus came in 1976, when the committee planning the Naperville celebration of the United States Bicentennial chose to organize a choral group to perform with the Naperville Municipal Band. Using this group as a core, Robert O. Jaynes began regular rehearsals in the fall of 1976, and the following year the group was formally incorporated as the Naperville Community Chorus. Major Works were performed for the public semi-annually, and appearances at the city Christmas tree lighting and at summer band concerts became traditional.
With the retirement of Mr. Jaynes as director in 1989, the chorus entered a new era. Jeordano Martinez, chairman of the restored music department at North Central College, became the second director of the chorus, re-establishing the link between community and college. In the spring of 1992, the chorus dropped the word "Community" from its name in recognition of the breadth of its membership. Under the leadership of Mr. Martinez, the chorus has continued and expanded the tradition of presenting fine choral music to the citizens of Naperville.