2026-2027
CONCERT SEASON
1
Another incredible season is upon us! I can't wait to introduce our singers and audience to new music alongside standards of the choral repertoire - just like any Kantorei season you encounter with us! We begin the season bathing in celestial beauty with Sun and Moon and Stars. We'll perform music by some of Kantorei's favorite composers and past collaborators, including Ola Gjeilo's Luminous Night of the Soul, Eric Whitacre's Goodnight Moon, and Jake Runestad's Goodnight My Love, and introduce you to new music by former Kantorei member Leah Porter Tracy with her Sing to Us, Cedars. We'll also celebrate one of the foremost women composers of the 20th century, Lili Boulanger, with performances of Soir sur la plaine and Hymne au soleil, featuring Alicia Rigsby on piano.
JOEL M. RINSEMA Artistic Director
For our December programs, we'll perform the North American premiere of ArmenianBritish composer Kristina Arakelyan's nine-movement A Christmas Offering. It's a festive celebration that ranges from the energetic "Alleluia!" to the contemplative "Out of the East," with heartfelt moments such as "There Is No Rose." Scored for SATB chorus with harp and inspired by Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, the work draws its texts from medieval carols in Latin and early English. The musical language often evokes a medieval sound world, but with a contemporary twist, drawing on Arakelyan's own Armenian heritage and other Eastern influences. Then we'll feature seasonal works for piano four-hands and choir, with Amanda Draheim joining Alicia Rigsby to accompany works by Mack Wilberg, Ryan Murphy, Dan Forrest, and Reginald Unterseher. In March, we're bringing baritone Ben Brady — a former Denver resident performing with the MET Opera — to sing Ralph Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs with Kantorei and organist Ricki Vorrath Moyer. Ben is an East High School graduate and an alumnus of the Rocky Mountain Children's Choir (now Denver Children's Chorus) who has appeared in several recent MET productions and is a rising star in the opera world. Ben will also sing a set of his favorites and join the choir for other works featuring baritone solo. Finally, we'll be preparing for our next international recording release, "From Breath to Light," featuring local composer and friend Terry Schlenker in a program of his works, including a reprise of our new favorite, Still Waters, Green Pastures. Another great season with your favorite choir, and we're glad to have you with us!
As we begin a new season, I find myself reflecting on how much is possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose. Over the past year, Kantorei has continued to grow—not only through inspiring performances, new artistic collaborations, and innovative projects, but through the generosity, passion, and commitment of the people who believe in our mission. Together, we are building on a remarkable legacy while embracing new opportunities to connect audiences, champion living composers, and celebrate the transformative power of choral music. This season invites you to be part of that journey. Whether you are a longtime fan or joining us for the first time, I hope you'll experience the joy,
COURTNEY HUFFMAN Executive Director
inspiration, and sense of connection that define every Kantorei performance. Thank you for being an essential part of our community and for helping us shape an exciting future for choral music. I look forward to welcoming you throughout the season and sharing these unforgettable musical experiences together.
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Courtney Huffman, CFRE | Executive Director
Magnificent, joyful, uplifting...
Photo courtesy of Daniel Herman
Kantorei is a Denver-based, choral ensemble comprised of volunteer singers under the direction of Artistic Director Joel M. Rinsema. Formed in 1997 under the leadership of six friends and the artistic direction of Richard Larson (Conductor Emeritus), Kantorei has established itself as one of the nation’s premier choral ensembles. Our choral artists have studied at schools with strong music programs across the United States and serve in a wide variety of vocations, all brought together in weekly rehearsals for shared artistic excellence and community. Kantorei has performed for major choral conventions across the U.S. and with The Aspen Music Festival, toured the world, and has commissioned and premiered new choral works from such renowned composers as Kim André Arnesen, Eric William Barnum, Abbie Betinis, René Clausen, Ola Gjeilo, Jocelyn Hagen, M. Roger Holland, II, Sarah Quartel, Jake Runestad, Christopher Tin, and Eric Whitacre. In the summer of 2022, Kantorei performed the Central American premiere of Jake Runestad’s “El Último Hilo” in Guatemala City and Antigua, Guatemala, along with Guatemalan choir Vocalis. Kantorei has released two recordings on the Naxos label: "Infinity: Choral Works of Kim André Arnesen" (2018) hit #2 on iTunes and #6 on Billboard; "Sing, Wearing the Sky" (2020) featuring choral music of Jake Runestad reached #3 on iTunes and #4 on Billboard's Traditional Classical charts. Our third international release, “Song Offerings: Choral Music of Christopher Tin” (2025) is on the Decca Gold label. Our fourth international release, which will include Randall Thompson’s Frostiana and Sarah Quartel’s A Winter Day, is anticipated in January 2027 on the MSR Classics label. Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc. publishes the Kantorei Choral series. Kantorei’s vision is “to elevate the human experience through choral excellence.”
KANTOREI 2026-2027 CONCERT SEASON OCTOBER 3 & 4: SUN AND MOON AND STARS Saturday, 10/3: First Plymouth UCC
Sunday, 10/4: Wellshire Presbyterian Church
DECEMBER 3: A WINTER’S NIGHT Thursday, 12/3: Bethany Lutheran Church
DECEMBER 5, 6, 18-20: GAUDETE – REJOICE! Saturday, 12/5: First Plymouth UCC Sunday, 12/6: Parsons Theatre Friday, 12/18: Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral Saturday, 12/19: Wellshire Presbyterian Church Sunday, 12/20: Augustana Lutheran Church
MARCH 6 & 7: FIVE MYSTICAL SONGS Saturday, 3/6: First Plymouth UCC Sunday, 3/7: Wellshire Presbyterian Church
MAY 15 & 16: FROM BREATH TO LIGHT Saturday, 5/15: First Plymouth UCC Sunday, 5/16: Wellshire Presbyterian Church
SUN AND MOON AND STARS OCT. 3 & 4, 2026 Bathe in celestial beauty at “Sun and Moon and Stars,” an experience that traces the arc of light from twilight to dawn. This luminous program weaves together folk-inspired wonder and radiant modern harmony, opening with Jim Clements’ shimmering arrangement of Kate Rusby’s Underneath the Stars and Bill Whelan’s sweeping Sun and Moon and Stars. From the glowing introspection of Ola Gjeilo’s Luminous Night of the Soul and the tender hush of Eric Whitacre’s Goodnight Moon to the earthy majesty of Leah Porter Tracy’s Sing to Us, Cedars and the intimate farewell of Jake Runestad’s Goodnight My Love, the journey culminates in the incandescent brilliance of Lili Boulanger’s Soir sur la plaine, and Hymne au soleil. Join us for a concert that sings to the sky – where night, light, and human longing meet in breathtaking harmony. Featuring Alicia Rigsby on piano, Dylan Tyree on cello and a string quartet.
GAUDETE REJOICE!
Kantorei at the Holidays DEC. 5, 6, 18-20, 2026 Join Kantorei for a program of festive premieres and beloved holiday music, featuring the United States premiere of British-Armenian composer, Kristina Arakelyan's A Christmas Offering, featuring Janet Kay Harriman on harp. Inspired by Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, this ninemovement work is a festive celebration ranging from the energetic "Alleluia!" to the contemplative "Out of the East," to heartfelt moments such as "There is no rose." Like Britten, Arakelyan draws her texts from medieval carols in Latin and early English that tell the nativity story. Her musical language evokes a medieval sound world with a contemporary twist, drawing on her own Armenian heritage and other Eastern influences to bring these ancient texts vividly to life. The program also includes a world premiere written by Arakelyan, commissioned for Kantorei by Scott Horowitz and Leah Weinberg, and selections of holiday favorites featuring Alicia Rigsby and Amanda Draheim on piano four-hand.
FIVE MYSTICAL SONGS
FROM BREATH TO LIGHT
MAR. 6 & 7, 2027
MAY 15 & 16, 2027
Join us for a concert that intertwines the spiritual and the communal – from Ralph Vaughan Williams' luminous Five Mystical Songs to contemporary works celebrating connection and shared journey, including Shawn Kirchner's I' ll Be On My Way and Paul Smith's Let's Walk
Through music of celebration, remembrance, and reflection, Terry Schlenker's choral works invite us to consider the beauty of our shared journey. This concert explores the full arc of the human experience: the joy of life, the reality of death, and the mystery of what may lie beyond.
And Other Works for Choir and Bass-Baritone Solo
Together as well as a solo set featuring some of Ben’s favorites. At the center of the concert is bassbaritone Ben Brady - a Denver East High School and Rocky Mountain Children's Choir (now Denver Children’s Choir) alum who went on to make his Metropolitan Opera debut in Strauss' Arabella under conductor Nicholas Carter. His homecoming brings a blend of worldclass artistry and deep local roots. Featuring organist Ricki Vorrath Moyer and collaborative pianist Alicia Rigsby, the choir and soloist together trace a path from the mystical to the hopeful.
Choral Music of Terry Schlenker
Together, these choral works invite us to contemplate not only where we come from and where we go, but also how we live in the time between. They offer moments of hope, wonder, and contemplation as we reflect on life's greatest mysteries.
A WINTER'S NIGHT
An Evening with the Cherry Creek High School Meistersingers DEC. 3, 2026 This time-honored annual tradition brings together Kantorei and the Meistersingers of Cherry Creek High School. We are always pleased to be joined by this excellent group of young singers, as we encourage them to pursue the gift of singing beyond their high school experience. We invite you to bring the whole family for a program of familiar songs of the season – you’ll want to make it a part of your own holiday traditions.
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*One night only - membership discount does not apply
Professional, exhilarating, mesmerizing!
VENUES
AUGUSTANA LUTHERAN CHURCH
SAINT JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
December 20
December 18
5000 E Alameda Ave Denver, 80246
1350 N Washington St Denver, 80203
augustanadenver.org
FIRST PLYMOUTH UCC October 3, December 5, March 6, May 15 3501 S Colorado Blvd Cherry Hills Village, 80113 firstplymouthchurch.org
sjcathedral.org
PARSONS THEATRE – NORTHGLENN ARTS December 6 1 E Memorial Pkwy Northglenn, 80233 303-450-8888 northglennarts.org
WELLSHIRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH
October 4, December 19, May 16
December 3
2999 S Colorado Blvd Denver, 80222
4500 E Hampden Ave Cherry Hills Village, 80113
wpcdenver.org
bethany-denver.org
CONCERT SEASON
2026-2027
BECOME A SEASON MEMBER! Take advantage of our membership option designed to expand upon the Kantorei concert experience! What’s included: • 25% off main concert series tickets (up to 10 tickets per concert series – does not include Salon, A Winter’s Night or Dec. 6th performances) • VIP Reserved seating at included concerts • Recognition in our concert programs that you are one of our innercircle super-fans! • Other special offers, discounts, and invitations throughout the season By purchasing one $50 membership for your household, you more-thanbreak-even by simply purchasing two discounted tickets to each concert series. AND you can buy up to eight more tickets to each concert to invite your friends and family at the discounted price! You will receive a special code to enter at check out, so no need to log in!
Kantorei would like to thank our sponsors for their generous and ongoing support!
TICKET ORDER FORM Tickets will be delivered via email. Tickets will NOT be shipped via US mail. If you do not have an email address, please make a note of this in the “Email” field and delivery will be arranged. Tickets & memberships are also available online at www.kantorei.org.
Name (please print) Address
Email Phone I would like to become a member! $50 Adult Nonmember
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Sun and Moon and Stars Sat, Oct 3, 2026 @ 7:30 pm
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Five Mystical Songs Sat, Mar 6, 2027 @ 7:30 pm
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Five Mystical Songs Sun, Mar 7, 2027 @ 3 pm
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From Breath to Light Sat, May 15, 2027 @ 7:30 pm
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From Breath to Light Sun, May 16, 2027 @ 3 pm
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A Winter’s Night* Thurs, Dec 3, 2026 @ 7:30 pm
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For Sun, Dec 6, 2026 @ 2 pm, please contact the Parsons Theatre box office at 303-450-8888 or visit northglennarts.org.*
Membership & Ticket Subtotal:
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Additional Donation to Kantorei:
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Additional Donation to Alison N. Roman Memorial Scholarship Fund: Additional Donation to Elevate Classroom Grant Fund:
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*Membership discount does not apply
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Detach and mail to: Kantorei 3501 S Colorado Blvd Englewood, CO 80113 Kantorei does not keep credit card information on file – it is shredded after processing.
350I South Colorado Boulevard Englewood, CO 80113
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