Experience the beauty and power of world-class choral music in the heart of Santa Fe.
Sweet music is in the air, as Santa Fe Desert Chorale celebrates its 41st year with songs to excite, engage, and inspire. Made up of 24 professional choral singers from across the country, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale has been making beautiful music since 1982, but this year promises has been the best yet, with three full programs, and the world premiere of a new piece by Grammy-nominated composer Kile Smith. The Santa Fe Desert Chorale continues its 2023 season with Candlelight Carols, December 9 – 22, 2023, at Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, in Santa Fe.
A Professional Ensemble
Under the direction of Artistic Director Joshua Habermann, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s versatile repertoire spans seven centuries, from early polyphony to contemporary works. In choosing which pieces to include, Habermann uses a very organic approach. Sometimes it centers on a certain piece of music, sometimes he’ll be thinking of a theme and will find music to fit that theme. In all cases, he is looking for something that has a larger human connection. First and foremost, he has said, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale seeks to connect people through music, no matter what their level of interest.
The choir itself is one of the few professional choirs in the country, composed of some of the best singers in the world of choral music, from all across the country. In fact, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale Summer Festival is one of the largest and most anticipated choral events in the country.
“Our singers can sing basically anything written for voices, which makes the Santa Fe Desert Chorale very unique,” says Marketing & Communications Manager Joanna Armstrong. “A lot of professional choirs focus on a certain genre or time period, but we sing the entire spectrum of music available for the human voice. There really is something for everyone.”
Candlelight Carols
Join in the festive Santa Fe holiday tradition of the Desert Chorale’s annual winter choral concert. This year’s program, A Glimpse of Snow and Evergreen, is filled with carols honoring the beauty of our winter mountain landscape and the traditions we keep at that special time of the year. Come wrap yourself up in the warm and joyous sounds of the season, featuring 24 of the best ensemble singers in the nation.
Catch a glimpse of snow and evergreen with Candlelight Carols at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, on one of these convenient dates:
- Saturday, December 9, at 7 p.m.
- Friday, December 15, at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, December 17, at 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 19, at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 20, at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, December 21, at 7 p.m.
- Friday, December 22, at 7 p.m.
A special performance of Candlelight Carols will also be performed at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church, in Albuquerque, Sunday, December 10, at 4 p.m. For more information on this and all the rest of the performances, visit the webpage.
The Santa Fe Desert Chorale brings the world of professional chorale music to New Mexico via live performances, but Armstrong adds, “While we know nothing can replace the inspiring experience of attending one of our concerts in person, people can also watch full-length video recording of recent Desert Chorale concerts with our subscription series called Desert Chorale TV.” To get more information, or to subscribe to this service, visit the website.
The Desert Chorale’s annual Summer Festival has become a centerpiece of the cultural life of Santa Fe and the nation’s largest choral event. Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s 2023 season is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the County of Santa Fe Lodgers’ Tax. Special thanks to Hutton Broadcasting. For more information about the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and its mission, visit their website.
This article was posted by David Salcido
