Adult Choirs

2021-2022 Season

Look to the Rainbow

Cantare looks forward to returning to live concerts

and rehearsals in our 35th season! We continue to

remain attentive and adaptable in the face of Covid

variants and public health mandates. The health and

safety of our singers, audience and staff is our first

priority.

Series One: Lift Every Voice and Sing!

The Chorale began live rehearsals on Sunday, September 19, in preparation for Cantare's annual holiday concert, Lift Every Voice and Sing!, in early December. For the fall rehearsal schedule and a listing of the fall repertoire, click here. Singers can pay tuition here.

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Series 2: Brahms' Requiem

If you are a choral singer who thrives on great choral literature and who has experienced grief, loss, hope and joy, this opportunity is now available for you. Singers must audition via Zoom, and have previous choral singing experience. We will be performing this work in English, using the translation provided by choral legend Robert Shaw. Rehearsal information is available here. Tuition is $165 for this series, which includes 12 rehearsals and 3 performances. For more information or to set up an audition, please contact David Morales, david@cantareconvivo.org.

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The Chamber Ensemble remains on hiatus through the fall.

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Required rehearsal precautions for singers at this time:

• All singers must be vaccinated.

• Wearing masks is required at rehearsals.

• Singers will rehearse in a large room with good ventilation, in selected groupings of 40 singers maximum, for one hour, with chairs and rows spread apart.

Cantare Chorale

Cantare’s Chorale debuted in April 1999 under the direction of Founder and Artistic Director David Morales. Now in its 22nd season, the Chorale is recognized as one of the finest symphonic choir in the San Francisco’s East Bay. These 100 auditioned singers have performed over 750 compositions in 75 diverse concert programs, including 20 major choral/orchestral works. They perform three to four different  concert programs each season,

generally two accompanied by full orchestra. They have performed in collaboration with Coro Hispano, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Northern California Gospel Music Workshop of America, CSUEB Symphonic Chorus, and San Joaquin Delta College Choir and CSU Stanislaus Chamber Choir. They have also toured internationally three times. The Chorale collaborates with

professional instrumentalists from various Bay Area orchestras

and features local and nationally acclaimed vocal soloists for

choral/orchestral concert repertoire performances. Excerpts

of their concerts can be found on YouTube, and their historic

repertoire can be found here.

"Cantare Con Vivo Shine in Considering Matthew Shepard"  – SF Classical Voice review of the Chorale's February 2020 concert, the East Bay debut of new oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard.

Chamber Ensemble

The Chamber Ensemble stems from Cantare Con Vivo’s original choral ensemble founded in 1987. Beginning with 26 auditioned singers, the choir expanded to 40 singers in 1989 for a performance of Rachmaninoff's “All-Night Vigil” and remained that size until Cantare Con Vivo reorganized in 1999. With the formation of a new symphonic Chorale along with what would soon become Cantare’s nationally acclaimed, award-winning children’s music education program, this original choir changed its name to the Chamber Ensemble and

                                                                            returned to 26 singers. Today, the

Chamber Ensemble exemplifies Cantare's highest standards of musical excellence. These singers perform a stunning variety of sacred and secular choral works, a cappella and accompanied, from a wide historical and cultural range of repertoire. With over 1,250 choral compositions performed in over 100 different concert programs, the Ensemble continues to seek out the latest offerings from a new breed of American and international composers while also engaging with established musical creators from the past.

Summer Adult Choir

This non-auditioned 125-plus voice choir was formed in July 2018, performing a stunning concert featuring Anthems from the Christian Church.  In July 2019, they performed an array of African American Spirituals and Gospel selections. In 2020 and 2021, rehearsals and performances were cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic. We look forward to resuming this program as soon as is safe for public health.

Choir Highlights​

Visit Cantare's YouTube Channel to watch a wide variety of performances. Here are some of our favorites from recent years: 

Chamber Ensemble

Lullaby - Daniel Ender; Dec 2020

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Chorale & Chamber Ensemble

We Shall Overcome; Dec 2020

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Chorale

The Fence (that night) - Considering Matthew Shepard - Johnson;
February 2020

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Chorale & Chamber Ensemble
Ding Dong Merrily on High, arr. Bradford; Dec 2019

Chorale, Chamber Ensemble, Nova

Final Psalmody – Boito; Dec 2019

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Chorale

Sanctus - Verdi Requiem; March, 2018

Chorale, Chamber Ensemble, Nova, Oakland's Downtown Singers 

Concert Highlights; June 2017

Chorale, Chamber Ensemble, Nova, Honor Choir 

His Truth Is Marching On Highlights; May 2015

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Chorale,  San Joaquin Delta College Choir

Gloria, from Misa Criolla - Ramírez; March 2014

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Chorale, Chamber Ensemble, Nova, Honor Choir

A Pure River – Boren; Dec 2013

Excerpts of their concerts can be found on YouTube, and their historic repertoire can be found here.