The Camagüey Professional Choir was founded on November 12, 1961, by Jorge Betancourt. Guillermo Cortina later took over as its director. It is currently under the baton of Emilia Díaz Chávez, who has served as its director for 28 years.

In its early days, it was made up of men and women from the town, housewives, and workers from various professions and trades. Many of these members remain in its ranks today and attend the School for Professional Development with the goal of achieving the required level and producing high-quality music.

It has a wide and varied repertoire, composed of works by great masters of different musical styles such as Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, as well as contemporary works by foreign and Cuban composers.

Since its founding, it has carried out extensive community service, which is in line with its founding purpose, which is simply to stimulate a taste for choral music and contribute to the spiritual flourishing of the population.

In 2008, the Camagüey Professional Choir celebrated its 47th anniversary with a concert in the Art Room of the Julio Antonio Mella Provincial Library in the province. On this occasion, they had the Women’s Choir of the José White Conservatory of Music as a guest, directed by Professor Amelia Matos Lahera.

Numerous national venues have been the setting and witness to the fine music performed by the Camagüey Professional Choir, including: the Palace of Fine Arts in Havana (Trocadero Street between Zulueta and Monserrate Streets, Old Havana, Havana); the National Theatre (Paseo and 39th Streets, Vedado, Revolution Square, Havana); the Sauto Theatre in Matanzas; the Dolores Hall (Reloj and Aguilera Streets, Santiago de Cuba) and Esteban Salas (Reloj and Aguilera Streets, Santiago de Cuba) in Santiago de Cuba; and the La Caridad Theatre in Santa Clara. They have also performed in all of Cuba’s provinces.

They have performed at all the National Festivals held in Cuba and at three International Choir Festivals. They have represented the province at two Camagüey Cultural Weeks in Havana and at two Contemporary Music Festivals, also in Havana. They participated in an artistic evening for the delegates of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students. They were also part of the large choir organized for the visit of Pope John Paul II. They have appeared on national radio and television programs.

They have recorded an LP and videos for foreign television stations. They have shared the stage with various groups, including the Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Band, both from Camagüey, as well as the Maravilla Orchestra from Florida.