CONCERTS
Our 2022/23 season will feature something for everyone, from classical to contemporary programming, and a special guest performance by Voctave!
LISTEN
Carmina Burana at The Granada
October 15 & 16, 2022
The Choral Society will perform in the Santa Barbara Symphony’s production of Carl Orff’s classic. Enjoy an audio clip from the Santa Barbara Choral Society’s 2008 performance.
WELCOME
Join our 75th Anniversary
Alumni Chorus
We invite singers who have been Choral Society members in the past to participate in some of our 75th Anniversary events as a special Alumni Chorus. Please contact Paul Warner to register interest.
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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 2021-2022 Season marks Jo Anne Wasserman’s 29th 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
THE CHORAL SOCIETY
Individual donations make up more than 50% of our budget. Your generous support keeps the song alive.
SING WITH US!
Auditions are normally held in August for the coming season, but we are always open to welcoming new members. Our 2022-2023 Season will feature music by Handel, Lauridsen, Tin, and Mozart to name a few!
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.
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.
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.