In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Phoenix Chorale History

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Based in: Phoenix, United States.
The Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale is regarded as one of the finest choral ensembles in North America. The 28-voice chorus, made up of highly trained singers residing in Arizona, has developed this reputation through live performances across the U.S. and Canada. Each season, the Chorale reaches over 7,500 local individuals through concerts and outreach events across the Valley. Annually, the Chorale's video and audio recordings reach over one million listeners around the world.

Founded in 1958 as the Bach & Madrigal Society of Phoenix and subsequently known as the Phoenix Bach Choir, the Phoenix Chorale became a fully professional choir in 1992. The Phoenix Chorale aims to be the preeminent model for American choral music by redefining standards of excellence and enriching the lives of its listeners through distinction in choral artistry.

After an exhaustive two-year search, Christopher Gabbitas was appointed as our new Artistic Director in May 2019. A two-time Grammy Award-winning singer and former member of The King's Singers, Gabbitas has performed almost 2,000 concerts worldwide and has served as a clinician in over 500 masterclasses. Gabbitas' vision for the Phoenix Chorale is to increase its visibility at home and abroad, expand outreach opportunities, and increase the capacity of the Chorale to reach a broader audience.

To launch the first stage of Gabbitas's vision, the Phoenix Chorale announces three new ongoing initiatives: Phoenix Masterworks Series, Phoenix Commissions Project, and Valley Sing. The Phoenix Masterworks Series will celebrate great choral works from the last 400 years, encouraging collaborative programs, and give audiences the opportunity to experience these timeless works. Through the Phoenix Commissions Project, the Chorale will commission a new work each season. Valley Sing is designed to build community spirit through song, bringing together friends and neighbors from across the Valley of the Sun, for the fun and joy of singing.

The Phoenix Chorale's digital audience continues to grow with millions reached through radio broadcasts, performance videos, and streaming services, like Spotify, where the Chorale maintains a listenership of over 35,000 fans each month. The Chorale's recordings are treasured by music lovers around the world, spending over 20 weeks on the Billboard Charts, and earning a total of ten Grammy nominations and three Grammy wins.

Originally formed in the living room of Drs. Hal & Timona Pittman, previous Phoenix Chorale conductors have included Millicent Wesley, Wallace Hornibrook, Dan Durand, Vance George, Anders Öhrwall, Jon Washburn, and Charles Bruffy. The Chorale, ensemble-in-residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix, is sponsored in part through grants, funding, and support from the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, Arizona Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.