Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s 42nd Summer Choral Festival

Experience the beauty and power of world-class choral music during the Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s 42nd annual Summer Festival! Singing in the beautiful acoustic space of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 24 of the nation’s best professional ensemble singers will gather to Santa Fe to present one of the largest choral events in the country. The Festival will include three brand new concert programs. Visit desertchorale.org for the full schedule of events and to purchase tickets. 

Songs of the Americas
A sonic treasure trove spanning centuries and continents
Embark on a musical expedition as sixteen professional Desert Chorale artists, accompanied by chamber orchestra and percussion, explore the rich heritage of 17th and 18th century music from North and South America. Experience the toe-tapping melodies and soul-stirring harmonies of works by Latin American Baroque composers. Then, return to the present with selections from the modern Mass of the Americas by Frank La Rocca, in which he melds together “tones of Western church music with those of traditional Mexican folk songs.” Debuted in 2018, this “cornerstone of modern liturgical composition” (Mark Nowakowski) incorporates texts in Spanish, Latin, and Nahuatl (the indigenous language of the Aztecs).

Out of this World
Explore this cosmic array of transcendent contemporary choral music
Spend an evening soaring the skies as you experience the uplifting power of great choral music, including works from some of the world’s top living composers. Join our twenty-four professional Desert Chorale artists as they traverse extraterrestrial beauty and thrills, making a stop by the ethereal Northern Lights along the way. Plus, be the first to experience not just one but two world premieres! First, our 2024 commissioned composer Daniel Knaggs will dazzle you with a brand new piece which will “explore the splendor of the cosmos, reflecting also on the meaning of our human existence.” Then, as a new partner with Chicago a cappella’sHerVoice competition and mentorship program for up-and-coming women composers, the Desert Chorale is honored to present a work by winner Andelena Jackson from Hagerstown, MD. Prepare to be filled with awe and wonder on a musical journey for the ears and the soul.

The Great Romantics
Rich German masterpieces that will tug at your heartstrings
Immerse yourself in the lush harmonies, sweeping melodies, and tender poetry of the German Romantics. Impressive works of Johannes Brahms bookend a sublime set of vocal chamber music by Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann, featuring several Desert Chorale artists as soloists, all with lyrics and music that delve into the depths of human emotion. The twenty-four professional Desert Chorale singers accompanied by piano bring to life a spectacular sampling from these giants of the Western classical tradition. Come and experience these vocal masterworks of the 19th century like you’ve never heard them before.