CONCERT
Red, White and Blues II
Saturday, March 14, 7PM and Sunday, March 15, 3PM
Trinity Lutheran Church
From the great gospel traditions of the South to the riveting works of living American composers, all experienced in the acoustical perfection of one of Santa Barbara’s best-kept secret venues.
CONCERT
A Modern American Choral Collaborative
Sunday, May 314, 3PM
Trinity Lutheran Church
Continuing our All-American theme with a focus on living composers, our season closer brings visiting singers together with The Choral Society and orchestra to present Lux Aeterna, Morten Lauridsen’s masterpiece. Then two-time Grammy winner Christopher Tin takes the baton, leading the 120-plus musicians in a selection of his exciting work. One performance only.
CONCERT
The Mardi Gras Gala!
Saturday, February 21, 5:30PM
Rockwood Woman’s Club
Putting the fun into fundraising, the Gala Krewe concocted another epic evening with outrageous costumes, special drinks (Love Potion #9, Kunin Wines & Sazeracs), great music from Kevin Su Fukagawa and the Santa Barbara Jazz Collective, and a heartfelt recognition of longtime members, Brooks & Kate Firestone. Thank you to ALL our donors and guests!
DISCOVER CHORAL MUSIC
Whether you are new to choral music, or a seasoned audience member, the experience is equally moving and inspiring. Choral music, sung by multiple voice parts, combines the vocal qualities of many singers seamlessly coming together as one voice and becomes transcendental when a chorus gives everything it can in each precise moment.
MEET THE CONDUCTOR
The 2025-2026 Season marks JoAnne Wasserman’s 33rd year as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Santa Barbara Choral Society. We thought we’d share a few things about her that you might not be aware of.
MEET THE CHORUS
The oldest of Santa Barbara’s community performing arts organizations, the Santa Barbara Choral Society is a semi-professional chorus comprised of about 80 auditioned singers from the Santa Barbara area.
“Something magical happens when some 80 voices come together in song. Socially and emotionally…it’s a fullfilling experience like no other. In a word: uplifting!”
IH, Santa Barbara
SING WITH US!
Auditions are held in late August for the coming season, but we are always open to welcoming new members. Season highlights for 2024-25 find us onstage at The Lobero in December and performing Brahms Requiem with Santa Barbara Symphony at The Granada next April.
We celebrate the joy of choral music, performing classical masterpieces and exciting modern works. There’s something for everyone.
NEWS & REVIEWS
NEWS | AUG. 22, 2021
The Neuroscience of Group Singing: It’s good for you!
NEWS | APR. 11, 2019
$20,000 in Anniversary Grants Handed Out by Montecito Bank & Trust
REVIEWS | Oct. 12, 2019
Performing Arts Review
State Street Ballet: American Masters
REVIEWS | Oct. 12, 2019
American baritone, Ralph Cato has travelled the world extensively, telling stories in song with his warm, clarion baritone voice.
Tenor, Benjamin Brecher has performed over fifty operatic roles with many of the world’s most prestigious opera companies, specializing in the high lying lyric tenor repertoire. He has performed 16 roles with New York City Opera alone. Career highlights include performances with Opera Orchestra of New York, L’Opera de Nice, Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, L’Opera de Montreal, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, among many others. His orchestral solo repertoire includes Mozart, Handel, Orff, Bach, Haydn, as well as many performances of Britten. In 2000 he began performing the great Irish Tenor songs in a concert produced for him entitled A Celtic Celebration, Twenty years later, the show has become a North American hit with performances with 45 Symphonies in North America. Ben continues his discography having added his twelfth recording in 2016 Forgotten Liszt, with pianist Robert Koenig, and will record a new release in 2022 entitled “Three Centuries of Thomas Moore” including the music of Britten, Berlioz, and Sarah Gibson on MSR Classics. He is a Professor of Voice at University of California Santa Barbara, where he has served as the Head of Voice.
Tracy Van Fleet is pleased to return to the Santa Barbara Choral Society. As a soloist, she has performed with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Lüneburg Symphony in Germany, Orquesta Filarmónica de Boca del Río in Mexico, Pasadena Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Los Angeles Bach Festival, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Philharmonic, USC Symphony and Chorus, and others. She has had many appearances with the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Opera Pacific, San Diego Opera and Opera Colorado.
Born and raised in Southern California, April Amante is a versatile soprano with expertise and facility in repertoire spanning from early music to contemporary musical theater.