Weekly Rehearsals

This season singing Mozart’s Ave Verum, the Chancel Choir will begin on Sunday, September 11 with warm ups at 8:00 and 10:30 for the two services.
The first rehearsal will be Thursday, September 15 from 6-8. This weekly schedule continues for the season with weekly sections on Wednesdays for
tenors and basses and Sundays from 10:00-10:30 for sopranos and altos.

Special Events

The choir will be learning Linda Beck’s new Requiem for All Saints Sunday and a TGIF concert on January 20. Other concerts will be Lobe den Herren,
Cantata no. 137 for Bach’s Birthday on March 23 and Mozart’s Missa Brevis in Bb on June 15.
These concerts are in addition to singing for services each Sunday.

If you enjoy singing, join the Chancel Choir. If you enjoy listening, we hope to see you Sunday or at one of the special concerts.

History

The Chancel Choir began its ministry at the end of the nineteenth century.  This ministry continues today as a 40-voice ensemble. Worshiping God is its primary purpose with fellowship and choral singing education as secondary goals.

Directed by Dr. Linda Raney, the Chancel Choir repertoire includes the major requiems by Gabriel Faure, Maurice Durufle, W.A. Mozart, John Rutter, Bob Chilcott, Luigi Cherubini, and Morten Lauridsen, several Bach cantatas BWV 80 and 61 and many anthems including

Te lucis ante terminum by J. Aaron McDermid,
Prayer of the Children by Kurt Bestor,
Like as the Hart by Herbert Howells, and
Greater Love Hath No Man by John Ireland.

The choir has also presented the Requiem by Dr. Bradley Ellingboe, Professor of Music from the University of New Mexico.  Dr. Ellingboe directs the University Chorus and is known for his conducing, compositions, solo singing and workshops.  This new choral work includes poetry in addition to the traditional Requiem liturgy: "Death Be Not Proud" by John Donne sung by an alto soloist and "The Day is Spent" poet George Herbert sung by the entire choir.  The Requiem also includes a solo piece for organ based on a Norse folktune "Jeg lagde meg så sildig." The text of this tune described the reaction of a knight who is told that his beloved has died.

The Chancel Choir does not sing during the summer.  Special music is provided by Santa Fe Opera Apprentices.  The Choir resumes rehearsals in early September and rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00.

Members of the Chancel Choir also sing in The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus, the Santa Fe Women's Ensemble, the Sangre di Cristo Chorale and are popular soloists.