Introducing the Choral Society’s 2025-26 Season!
With a nod to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the American Republic, the Choral Society has curated a captivating journey through America’s musical history. This all-American repertoire invites audiences to experience the evolving spirit of America through powerful choral works. Join us in celebrating our collective musical heritage and the enduring story of America. Visit the concert page to learn more about these seasonal offerings.
Sunday, December 14, 2025
An American Holiday Concert
Join us for our annual holiday concert, with music selected entirely from works by American composers, including a world premiere of a piece by award-winning composer, and Choral Society soprano, Julia Marie Newmann.
Trinity Lutheran Church
Saturday, February 21, 2026
The Mardi Gras Gala!
This season’s gala event promises to be one of the liveliest parties of the year. Get ready for a ballroom takeover fueled by Bourbon Street energy. And you won’t want to miss the special moments as we honor longtime singers and supporters Brooks and Kate Firestone.
Rockwood Woman’s Club
Saturday, March 14 & Sunday, March 15 2026
Red, White and Blues II, An American History of Song
From the great gospel traditions of the South to the riveting works of living American composers in the accoustical perfection of one of Santa Barbara’s best kept secret venues.
Trinity Lutheran Church
Past Events
Sunday, June 1, 2025
The Many Shades of Choral
Join The Choral Society for its 2024-25 Season Finale – a tapestry of favorite songs and challenging new pieces curated by Artistic Director JoAnne Wasserman, with the amazingly talented Kevin Su Fukagawa at the keyboard. You’ll be fascinated by the range and complexity of these musical selections.
Saturday, March 15, 2025
ShamRock Gala
Irish music, a pub-style dinner, games, raffles, dancing, and festivities, all for The Santa Barbara Choral Society.
Saturday, April 12 & Sunday, April 13
Messiah | El Mesías
Presenting a fresh perspective on a beloved oratorio, our audiences will experience the work in selections sung in either English or Spanish, with full orchestra. This dual language collaboration combines the classic Messiah with a new arrangement, El Mesías, commissioned by Bach Collegium San Diego and conducted by JoAnne Wasserman.

Saturday, December 14 & Sunday, December 15, 2024
HALLELUJAH PROJECT 10
Join us for a heartwarming holiday concert for all ages with a rich program of songs from multiple holiday traditions –– from classical to popular. The Choral Society and orchestra will be joined by the young performers from the Music Academy’s SING! Children’s Chorus, and guest narrator Meredith Baxter.

Monday, November 11, 2024
Veterans Day Ceremony
Sponsored by Pierre Claeyssens’ Veterans Foundation. Please join us at the Santa Barbara Cemetery on Veterans Day for this moving tribute of music and words honoring the sacrifices of our military personnel. FREE to all, no ticket required.
Santa Barbara Cemetery
Monday, May 27, 2024
Memorial Day Tribute to the Armed Services
Sponsored by Pierre Claeyssens’ Veterans Foundation. Please join us at the Santa Barbara Cemetery on Memorial Day for this moving tribute of music and words honoring the sacrifices of our military personnel. FREE to all, no ticket required.
Santa Barbara Cemetery
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Visionaries – Then & Now
From the transcendent visions of Paradise in Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem (1890), to the soaring notes of contemporary composer Christopher Tin’s most celebrated works, the Choral Society’s season finale promises an uplifting vocal journey you will not soon forget.
Saturday, Apr. 27, 2024
Toi, Toi, Toi
In operatic tradition, the phrase toi, toi, toi is a way of wishing singers good luck prior to a performance. Remember this when you join guest soloists and Choral Society members for an evening of opera’s most iconic choruses and an opulent dinner at The Choral Society’s annual fundraising gala at the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club at Rockwood. They will thank you.
Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024
Red, White & Blues
With a nod to America’s rich multi-cultural heritage of musical traditions, this folk-forward program features selected works by revered American composers.
Saturday, Dec. 9 and Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023
The Hallelujah Project
An annual tradition, all ages will enjoy familiar Christmas and Hanukkah music, a jolly Santa, guest narrator Justin Fox, and children from the Music Academy’s SING! Program, with a finale singalong of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from the Messiah.

Saturday, November 11, 2023
Veterans Day Ceremony
Sponsored by Pierre Claeyssens’ Veterans Foundation. Please join us at the Santa Barbara Cemetery on Veterans Day for this moving tribute of music and words honoring the sacrifices of our military personnel. FREE to all, no ticket required.
Santa Barbara Cemetery

Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Oak Park 75
A potluck picnic and “Beer choir” (i.e. sing-along). Beer and soft beverages provided. Bring food for yourself and enough to share with four other people. Songbooks will be provided. (No rehearsal necessary.)
Oak Park
600 West Alamar
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Saturday, May 6, & Sunday, May 7, 2023
Mozart to Modern
The Choral Society will perform Mozart’s Requiem and music by living composers such as Christopher Tin, Rollo Dillworth, and Ola Gjeilo accompanied by full orchestra.
First Presbyterian Church

Friday, Mar. 31, 2023
Voctave at Hahn Hall
The season’s hottest ticket! Voctave, the world renowned 11-person a cappella group, will wow you their style and impressive vocal talents. Gala Party celebrating our 75th and Jo Anne’s 30th season anniversary immediately follows the concert.

Saturday, Feb. 18 & Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023
For the Love of Music
A contemplative and evocative musical valentine featuring inspirational songs from the Rennaisance to American Spirituals in a sacred setting.
Trinity Episcopal Church

Saturday, Dec. 10 & Sunday, Dec 11, 2022
The Hallelujah Project
Launch your holiday season with our perrennial favorite “The Hallelujah Project”at the Lobero Theatre, Dec.10 and 11 with its seasonal classics and traditional holiday music, performed by chorus, orchestra and the angelic voices of children, who are drawn this year from The Music Academy’s SING! program.
Lobero Theatre

Saturday, November 11, 2022
Veterans Day Ceremony
Sponsored by Pierre Claeyssens’ Veterans Foundation. Please join us at the Santa Barbara Cemetery on Veterans Day for this moving tribute of music and words honoring the sacrifices of our military personnel. FREE to all, no ticket required.
Santa Barbara Cemetery

Saturday, Oct. 15 & Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022
Carmina Burana
The Choral Society will play a supporting role in the Santa Barbara Symphony’s spectacular production of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana along with State Street Ballet, Quire of Voyces, and children from the Music Academy SING! Program.
The Granada Theatre

Postponed
Concert of Remembrance and Resilience
A welcoming and reflective concert with selections from both classical and contemporary composers, timeless Black spirituals, and songs from many countries around the world.

Monday, May 30, 2022
Memorial Day Tribute to the Armed Services
Sponsored by Pierre Claeyssens’ Veterans Foundation. Please join us in this moving tribute of music and words honoring the sacrifices of our military personnel. FREE to all, no ticket required.
Santa Barbara Cemetery

Saturday, May 21, 2022
Community Sings
The Choral Society presents a rare opportunity for area singers to spend a day working on their vocal performance skills with celebrated choral conductor Dr. Eugene Rogers.
Lehmann Hall, Music Academy of the West

Saturday, April 23, 2022
Groovy Gala at Rockwood
Flower Power Silent Auction on the terrace with mellow 60’s music. Then inside for a Beatles Love, Love, Love Concert by the FAB Choral Society Singers, with Jo Anne Wasserman conducting. Enjoy a Sock It To Me Live Auction and get down dancing to Pop, Motown, Surf Rock and British Invasion tunes. What a night!!
Rockwood Woman’s Club

Saturday, May 14 & Sunday, May 15, 2022
Pax + Amare
Duruflé’s Requiem and Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs
The ethereal, intimate setting of “Pie Jesu” is the essence of the Duruflé Requiem, which shares a 20th century vision vastly unlike other Requiem masses. The serenity of “In Paradisum” conjures visions of angels welcoming weary souls to rest. Come listen and be at peace.
First Presbyterian Church

Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19, 2021
Handel’s Messiah
The Messiah, Part 1 and “Hallelujah” Chorus
Hallelujah! The holiday spirit comes alive with the rousing Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah. Come listen to this and all of the Part I “Christmas Section” of Handel’s immortal masterwork. ’Tis the season!
Hahn Hall, Music Academy of the West
SOLD OUT

Thursday, November 11, 2021
Veteran's Day Ceremony
Sponsored by Pierre Claeyssens’ Veterans Foundation. Please join us at the Santa Barbara Cemetery on Veterans Day for this moving tribute of music and words honoring the sacrifices of our military personnel. FREE to all, no ticket required.
Santa Barbara Cemetery
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.