The Chorus of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia is one of the most accomplished and sought-after choral ensembles today, and it is intricately bound to the history of the Accademia itself. In the second half of the 16th century, a group of choirmasters and choristers united in an association, electing Palestrina as its president, and thus the Accademia came into being. The role of the Chorus expanded in the 19th century, and by the 20th century, the ensemble was collaborating with the world’s most prominent conductors and orchestras.