Our Ensembles

Cantate Chamber Singers

Cantate Chamber Singers, with 32 auditioned, experienced singers are regularly hailed for artistically exciting, innovative performances of newly commissioned and rarely heard choral works, as well as celebrated classics from the traditional repertoire spanning five centuries. Cantate Chamber Singers won the Choralis Foundation’s Ovation award for creative programming in both 2011 and 2015 and for Best Chamber Ensemble in 2024, and has issued four CDs: A BRITTEN HOLIDAY (Raven), Andrew Earle Simpson’s visionary wedding oratorio A CROWN OF STARS (Albany Records), Maurice Saylor’s brilliantly playful setting of Lewis Carroll’s THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK (Naxos), and SUNSTONE II. Cantate Chamber Singers rehearses on Tuesday evenings in Bethesda.

Cantate Concert Choir

In 2021, Cantate launched the Concert Choir, a larger vocal ensemble committed to musical excellence and to enriching the musical life of our community through concerts, outreach, and education. The Concert Choir sings a broad range of musical styles and may perform alone or jointly with the Cantate Chamber Singers. Cantate Concert Choir rehearses on Sunday evenings in Silver Spring.

Auditions

We are seeking experienced, volunteer singers who welcome the challenge of performing extraordinary repertoire in both the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir. Auditions for all voice parts for both ensembles will continue to take place over the summer. Tenors and basses are welcome to request an audition at any time, and all may submit an audition request to be added to the notification list for upcoming opportunities. Rehearsals for both ensembles will begin in September of 2024.

Please click HERE to fill out an audition request form. Cantate staff will get back to you to schedule a specific audition time. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Josey, Auditions Coordinator, at auditions@cantate.org.

Cantate seeks to maintain an equitable, safe and welcoming environment for all who participate in its various activities and functions, both in-person and virtually. We welcome musicians and volunteers of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and creeds, and strive to create an inclusive and creatively stimulating community. Therefore, discrimination and harassment of any nature will not be tolerated.