Santa Fe Desert Chorale

The American Immigrant Experience
2023-07-29 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
Joshua Habermann, conductor, sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath
The unique musical language of the United States is rooted in the songs brought to her shores by successive waves of immigrants. Listeners will embark on a musical journey that explores how their contributions have influenced and defined our country’s music, and given us the rich tapestry of American song. This program will also feature the world premiere of a piece written especially for the Desert Chorale by the Grammy-nominated composer Kile Smith.

The Ecstasies Above
2023-07-30 16:00 - 17:30, 2023-08-05 19:30 - 21:00 | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
Program sponsored by Suzanne Timble
Joshua Habermann, conductor sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath
This program features two virtuosic works for strings and voices from English composers George Frideric Handel and Tarik O’Regan, whose Triptych the Chorale performed in 2017. First, Dixit Dominus showcases Handel as his most Italianate, with florid decoration and rhythmic drive. We then continue into O’Regan’s work, The Ecstasies Above, which is a setting of Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “Israfel,” describing an angel whose “heart strings are a lute, and who possesses the sweetest voice of all God’s creatures.” A double string quartet and organ join the entire Desert Chorale for this masterful program.

Artist Spotlight Recital
2023-08-02 16:00 - 17:00 | St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 550 W San Mateo Rd, Santa Fe, NM, 87505, United States
Our professional singers not only blend seamlessly in an ensemble—they also shine on the solo stage! Three of your favorite Desert Chorale artists come together for an art song recital with collaborative pianist Nathan Salazar in the intimate, surround-sound setting of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church. Sneak out of the office early and treat yourself to an afternoon filled with profound poetry and soaring melodies.

The Tudors and the Medici
2023-08-03 19:30 - 21:00 | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
Program Sponsored by Catherine and Guy Gronquist
Concert Sponsored by Dmitri Bovaird and Maggie Edmondson in loving memory of Nina Hinson Rasmussen and
Dr. Prescott C. Rasmussen
Joshua Habermann, conductor, sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath
This program highlights two great dynastic families of Europe whose patronage left an extraordinary imprint on the cultural landscape, and brought to fruition some of the greatest artistic achievements of their time. Sixteen singers accompanied by early strings and organ will perform works by composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and King Henry VIII himself. Come and experience compelling stories of political intrigue and extraordinary music interwoven in this tour of London, Florence, and beyond.

The American Immigrant Experience
2023-08-04 19:30 - 21:00 | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
Concert sponsored by Roxanne Howe-Murphy and James Murphy
Joshua Habermann, conductor sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath
The unique musical language of the United States is rooted in the songs brought to her shores by successive waves of immigrants. Listeners will embark on a musical journey that explores how their contributions have influenced and defined our country’s music, and given us the rich tapestry of American song. This program will also feature the world premiere of a piece written especially for the Desert Chorale by the Grammy-nominated composer Kile Smith.

Candlelight Carols
2023-12-09 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-12-15 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-12-17 16:00 - 17:30, 2023-12-19 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-12-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-12-21 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-12-22 19:00 - 20:30 | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
Joshua Habermann, conductor
In December, we invite you to join us for A Glimpse of Snow and Evergreen, our holiday concert filled with carols honoring the beauty of our winter mountain landscape and the traditions we keep at that special time of the year.

Candlelight Carols
2023-12-10 16:00 - 17:30 | Immanuel Presbyterian, 114 Carlisle Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, United States

Songs of the Americas
2024-07-14 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-07-27 19:30 - 20:30, 2024-08-01 19:30 - 20:30 | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
The 2024 Summer Festival is sponsored by an Anonymous Donor
Program sponsored by Suzanne M. Timble
Joshua Habermann, conductor sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath
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
2024-07-21 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-07-26 19:30 - 20:30, 2024-08-03 19:30 - 20:30 | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
The 2024 Summer Festival is sponsored by an Anonymous Donor
Program sponsored by Elaine Wang Meyerhoffer
Joshua Habermann, conductor sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath
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 the 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’s HerVoice 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
2024-07-25 19:30 - 20:30, 2024-07-28 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-08-02 19:30 - 20:30 | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
The 2024 Summer Festival is sponsored by an Anonymous Donor
Program sponsored by Catherine and Guy Gronquist
Joshua Habermann, conductor sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath
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.

2024 Artist Spotlight Recital
2024-07-31 16:00 - 17:00 | St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 550 W San Mateo Rd, Santa Fe, NM, 87505, United States
Our professional singers not only blend seamlessly in an ensemble—they also shine on the solo stage! Three of your favorite Desert Chorale artists come together for an art song recital in the intimate, surround-sound setting of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church. Sneak out of the office early and treat yourself to an afternoon filled with profound poetry and soaring melodies.

Carols & Lullabies: A Rose in Winter
2024-12-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-20 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-21 19:00 - 20:00 | The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, United States
Joshua Habermann, conductor
Experience the warmth, light, and beauty of the holiday season during the Desert Chorale’s annual Winter Festival. This year’s program, A Rose in Winter, reflects on the hope and wonder we experience this time of year, as miraculous as a flower blooming during the cold of December. Our twenty-four professional artists and guest collaborative pianist return to the Land of Enchantment from across the nation for concerts, caroling, and more. Celebrate this festive time of year with beloved carols you know and love alongside new musical treasures to add to your collection of favorite seasonal tunes.

Carols & Lullabies: A Rose in Winter
2024-12-15 16:00 - 17:00 | Immanuel Presbyterian, 114 Carlisle Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, United States
