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A Ceremony of Carols ChoralSong will open its first Christmas concert (Dec 17, 2023) with Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols.  Britten wrote this masterwork in 1942 when he was only 29 years old and aboard a ship on his way back to England after spending 3 profitable years in the United States.  Though he had met with such musical greats as Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, these Carols, however, don’t reflect any overt American influence.  What they do represent is Britten’s genius for vocal writing, and his ability to write in a more populist and obviously melodic style. This brilliant work features a collection of Christmas poems from the Medieval and Renaissance which Britten wove, along with a traditional Gregorian chant, into a beautiful, 11-movement tapestry for chorus and harp.  The result masterfully captures a wide range of emotions, from the tenderness of the manger scene to the ecstatic utterance of...

During this holiday season, Christmas festivities are alive and flourishing in Colorado Springs, with a wide range of concerts to fill the air with joyful music. Everyone can join the celebration - from family-friendly shows for all ages to electric performances that dazzle, there is something extraordinary awaiting everyone during this joyous season! Key Takeaways Celebrate the holiday season with captivating concerts in Colorado Springs, including our own performance of A Ceremony of Carols. Experience a Country Christmas at Flying W Ranch or keep it classic with Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Spinphony. Enjoy an unforgettable concert experience by researching venues, performers, and ticket prices ahead of time. 1) ChoralSong: A Ceremony of Carols The holiday season in Colorado Springs includes an amazing tradition of choral performances, and ChoralSong is the newest in town. This outstanding chorus presents powerful and finely crafted performances of powerful choral music in a way that evokes joy and wonder...

As a member of both ChoralSong and our Board, Jamal Sarikoki brings a wealth of musical and leadership experience to ChoralSong.  His musical career began with a B.M. in Conducting and Church Music from Nyack College and then a M.M. in Conducting from the Bard Conservatory.  After filling Associate Conductor and Organist positions at both the West Point Chapel and Calvary Baptist Church of Manhattan, NY, Jamal then served concurrently as Director of Music at Venice Presbyterian Church, Venice, FL, Associate Conductor of The Key Chorale Symphonic Chorus in Sarasota, and Board member of The Sarasota Music Conservatory.  In 2021 he and his family moved to Colorado Springs so Jamal could become the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church. In addition to being an experienced conductor and organist, Jamal is also a gifted and renowned vocalist.  Throughout the course of his career, he has sung lead roles in Handel’s Messiah,...

From the rich sound of professional choirs to the harmonious blend of community choruses, Colorado Springs is home to a vibrant choral community waiting to be discovered. This musical haven offers something for everyone, regardless of their taste or experience in choral music. So why not delve into this melodic world and uncover the unique choral groups, concerts, and opportunities that await you? Key Takeaways Explore the vibrant choral community of Colorado Springs, featuring advanced choirs, concerts, live music projects, and educational opportunities. Discover a range of venues to experience local ensembles and support your local choral community through attending events or volunteering skills. Enjoy diverse musical styles from classical to contemporary with an array of vocal ensembles and directors in Colorado Springs. ChoralSong ChoralSong is a newly established choir of 20-24 voices based in Colorado Springs that aims to strengthen the region's local arts community and fill a unique niche by presenting...

The music scene in Colorado Springs is full of options for people who love to sing. Whether it’s large choir, chamber ensembles, or musical theater, there are groups open to singers of any age and skill level. Our organization, ChoralSong, is a new option among those groups. As a smaller choir focused on excellence and musical diversity, we hope everyone will find our concerts exciting.  We hope you'll check out our upcoming concerts, but please be sure to check out the other amazing vocal ensembles in our community as well! Key Takeaways ChoralSong is one of the newest singing groups in Colorado Springs, and wants to be part of the growing arts community. Colorado Springs is home to a variety of singing groups, from chamber ensembles and choirs, to musical theater companies and barbershop quartets. Local competitions and festivals provide singers with performance opportunities, while audition tips can help you find the...

 ChoralSong presented its debut concert, “A Grand Night for Singing,” this past October 7th, and by all accounts, it’s was a stunningly beautiful performance.  Featuring everything from Baroque classics, to a new collection of arrangements of Stephen Foster songs, to a taste of choral jazz, ChoralSong truly “made a splash” in the performing arts landscape in the Pikes Peak region. Noted for its profoundly musical and stylistically diverse performances, ChoralSong’s next concert will be December 17th at 7pm in the beautiful St. Mary’s Cathedral in Colorado Springs. In addition to Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, this concert will feature delightful pairings of a wide range of carols, accompanied by harp, piano, and organ. This performance will be one to remember—you won’t want to miss it. ChoralSong is “the new group to watch in Colorado Springs!...

“So who is Henry Purcell, and why is ChoralSong featuring his music in their very first concert?” Near Poverty                                      The story of Henry Purcell is quite inspirational for us because it clearly demonstrates how music has the power to build bridges between diverse groups and unite people from all walks of life.  Born in 1659 to a musical family living in “Devil’s Acre,” an infamous London slum, Henry Purcell showed an early love and talent for music.  After his father died in 1664, Henry’s skill enabled him to get a position as a chorister in the nearby Chapel Royal—and thus began the brilliant and all-too-short career of one of England’s brightest musical lights.   Education & Advancement After a few years of earning a reputation as a talented singer and budding composer, a teenaged Purcell was accepted into the Westminster School to study music under Dr. John Blow.  It is highly significant that only a...

At the heart of every thriving community, you'll find a vibrant performing arts scene.  The arts are uniquely vital to a community’s health and wellbeing—beneifts that are too often overlooked and undervalued.  While the Pikes Peak region offers a remarkable blend of arts and culture, our performing arts scene needs to be expanding as our population expands—and there’s no doubt in our minds that our community deserves and is ready for more!  ChoralSong takes this challenge seriously and is poised to bring a distinctive sound and level of choral artistry to Colorado Springs.  Our intent is to make significant contributions of lasting cultural value to our area that foster rich growth in our community life.  With your support, you can help us help you. Unrecognized Value of Performing Arts Many people remain unaware of the profound value performing arts bring to Colorado Springs and other communities.  The arts provide an essential bonding...

Our Artistic Director and Board Chair, Daniel Price, recently had the honor of speaking with KCME’s on-air host, Keith Simon, to introduce ChoralSong of Colorado Springs to their listening audience. As an independent, listener-supported public radio station in Colorado Springs that prides itself on being “local, classical, cultural,” KCME consistently shows up as an outstanding contributor to the performing arts scene in the Pikes Peak region.  Check out the 6-minute interview here!  [audio mp3="https://choralsong.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/6-21-23-Choral-Song-of-CS-Daniel.mp3"][/audio] Can You Help? As many of you know, the Tiemens Foundation recently issued a Matching Challenge Grant to the Friends of ChoralSong which is running through the month of July.  This grant is designed to enable ChoralSong to waive Singer’s Fees for its first season in preparation for their first concert on October 7th titled “A Great Night for…Singing!” at First Christian Church on 16 E Platte Ave, Colorado Springs, CO, United States.   Efforts like this Matching Challenge provide critical support as...