BBS began in September 1998 as the East Bay Choral Workshop. Founded by singers from the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra's 1998 summer Broadway program, the group wanted to continue singing Broadway music.
The chorus was launched as a non-audition vocal workshop with Music Director Ellen Hoffman. By Fall 1999, the workshop had become the Berkeley Broadway Singers, and small concerts for family and friends were held. During that same season, we began singing at Bread and Roses events and at convalescent homes in Berkeley and Oakland.
Our concerts have reached more than 15,000 people since our modest beginnings in 1998. In January 2000, BBS was incorporated as a nonprofit organization, and the following October received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.