Kantorei is an inclusive community of volunteer singers that invites audiences to experience the richness and diversity of the choral art form, joyously executed at the highest standard of musical excellence.
We are innovators: we responsibly leverage our resources to commission work by living composers, perform music by underrepresented and emerging artists, encourage future talent through educational engagement, and nurture the choral community.
EVENTS (2025-26 SEASON)
Sacred Threads: Celebrating Palestrina’s 500th & Pärt’s 90th Birthdays
Experience how sacred music flows through centuries as we honor two remarkable anniversaries in 2025: the 500th birthday of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594) and the 90th birthday of Arvo Pärt (b. 1935). This unique program intertwines Palestrina's delicate Renaissance polyphony with Pärt's mystical minimalism, revealing how threads of spiritual expression connect across time.
The first half features Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli, the legendary mass that demonstrates his genius for weaving complex polyphonic lines into perfect clarity. Its intertwining melodic voices create a rich fabric of sound that established a new paradigm for sacred music, influencing composers through the centuries.
The second half showcases Arvo Pärt's mesmerizing contemporary works including Da Pacem Domine, Nunc Dimittis, and O Holy Father Nicholas (Colorado Premiere). Pärt's signature tintinnabuli style, developed after intense study of medieval chant and Renaissance polyphony, knits simple musical threads into hypnotic soundscapes that feel both ancient and modern. His minimalist approach creates profound spiritual depth through the delicate interplay of spare musical elements.
These two masters, separated by centuries but united in their spiritual quest, show how sacred music continues to shape new patterns while honoring ancient traditions. Join us for this historic celebration of music that threads its way through time, touching hearts across centuries and cultures.
Saturday, October 4, 2025 | 7:30 pm
First Plymouth UCC
3501 S Colorado Blvd, Cherry Hills VillageSunday, October 5, 2025 | 3:00 pm
Wellshire Presbyterian Church
2999 S Colorado Blvd, Denver
Silent Nights: Kantorei at the Holidays (ft. Aaron Larget-Caplan)
International guitar virtuoso and composer and Colorado native Aaron Larget-Caplan joins Kantorei in holiday performances featuring seasonal selections written for Guitar and Choir including works by composer/guitarist Jeffrey Van made famous for his work with the Dale Warland Singers.
- Saturday, Dec 6, 2025 | 7:30 pm
First Plymouth UCC
3501 S Colorado Blvd, Cherry Hills Village - Sunday, Dec 7, 2025 | 2:00 pm
Parsons Theatre
1 E Memorial Pkwy, Northglenn - Friday, Dec 19, 2025 | 7:30 pm
Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral
1350 N Washington St, Denver - Saturday, Dec 20, 2025 | 7:30 pm
Augustana Lutheran Church
5000 E Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80246 - Sunday, Dec 21, 2025 | 3:00 pm
Wellshire Presbyterian Church
2999 S Colorado Blvd, Denver
Seasons in Song
Experience an enchanting musical journey where winter melts into spring as acclaimed ensemble Kantorei presents two masterful song cycles. Morten Lauridsen's dynamic Mid-Winter Songs paint Robert Graves' winter landscapes in luminous harmonies, while Matthew Harris's settings of William Shakespeare radiate with the warmth and promise of early spring. Join Kantorei for "Seasons in Song," where contemporary composers weave timeless poetry into a tapestry of nature's reawakening. This March concert promises to transport listeners from the contemplative hush of winter nights to the first stirrings of spring's renewal.
Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 | 7:30 pm
First Plymouth UCC
3501 S Colorado Blvd, Cherry Hills VillageSunday, March 1, 2026 | 3:00 pm
Wellshire Presbyterian Church
2999 S Colorado Blvd, Denver
Voces del Sur: A Celebration of Latin American Choral Music
Celebrate the rich and diverse choral traditions of Spanish-speaking Latin America, featuring works that span from colonial times to the present day. The musical landscape of Latin America represents a unique fusion of European, African, and indigenous influences, creating distinctive styles that reflect the region's complex cultural heritage.
This program illustrates how Latin American composers have created a unique choral repertoire by synthesizing diverse cultural influences. From colonial sacred music to contemporary works, these pieces demonstrate the ongoing dialogue between European musical forms, indigenous traditions, and African rhythmic patterns. The result is a vibrant body of choral music that continues to evolve while maintaining deep connections to its cultural roots.
Through these works, we experience the extraordinary diversity of Latin American choral music - its sacred and secular traditions, its folklore and innovation, its preservation of historical forms and creation of new ones. Each piece offers a window into the rich musical heritage of Spanish-speaking Latin America and the Caribbean, celebrating the voices and stories of these dynamic cultural regions.
*Special guests, Vocalis Camerata from Guatemala.
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 7:30 pm
First Plymouth UCC
3501 S Colorado Blvd, Cherry Hills VillageSunday, May 17, 2026 | 3:00 pm
Wellshire Presbyterian Church
2999 S Colorado Blvd, Denver