SFDC Postpones 2020 Winter Festival to Winter 2021, Announcing New Virtual Winter Program in December 2020 and Rescheduling of Santa Fe Sings! Choral Workshop to Virtual Format in February 2021, Citing Public Health
SFDC Successfully Completes Sustainability Campaign to Raise $400,000
SFDC Releases 2016 Recording of Rachmaninov’s “All-Night Vigil, Op. 37”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 25, 2020: The Santa Fe Desert Chorale (SFDC) has announced the postponement of the all-professional Chorale’s 2020 winter season programming due to the continued threat of the COVID-19 virus. The decision was reached by the SFDC Board of Directors, with the intention of protecting public health and safety during this global crisis, in accordance with the state of New Mexico’s public health order.
The Nochebuena program which was to be presented in eleven performances from December 12-22, 2020 has been postponed to the same period of time in 2021.
Nochebuena builds on the Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s long-standing commitment to performing music by Hispanic composers. New works and beloved carols from South, Central, and North America make for a joyful celebration of the season. A New Mexico tradition, performances will be presented in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Information on 2021 tickets is forthcoming.
New Virtual Winter Program –– Desert Chorale: Home for the Holidays
The Santa Fe Desert Chorale is thrilled to be presenting a virtual winter concert, Desert Chorale: Home for the Holidays in lieu of its traditional winter concerts. This special filmed event features both holiday favorites and lesser heard gems by a quartet of Desert Chorale artists based in New York City, alongside artists from across the nation offering duet and solo performances from their homes.
Majestic organ interludes and program commentary from Artistic Director Joshua Habermann weave throughout the hour-long experience, which culminates in a grand finale highlighting the artists who were scheduled to be with us this December singing the encore favorite, “Silent Night.” The link to this virtual event will be shared with ticket holders prior to the beginning of the program on December 12th at 5 pm MT and will be accessible through December 25th.
Tickets: $5 for students / $20 for individuals / $35 for households/multiple viewers
Dates: December 12-December 25, 2020
A full musical program is available upon request.
5th Annual Santa Fe Sings! Rescheduled to Virtual Program in February 2021
First produced by the Desert Chorale in 2016, Santa Fe Sings! draws participants ranging in age from eighth graders to octogenarians from across Northern New Mexico, singing together under the direction of Joshua Habermann. In 2019, there were 171 registrants representing eight New Mexico counties and five other states. This year’s chorus will again be open to singers of all backgrounds who will come together in a new virtual format to sing selections spanning the full choral canon.
In order to keep our communities and artists safe as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we will be offering an interactive virtual version of Santa Fe Sings! in February 2021 in lieu of our usual in-person evet.
Participants will engage in a weekly series of half-hour Zoom sessions from home, spanning three weeks. Participants will be assigned Zoom sessions according to their voice part, each led by one of our very own Desert Chorale singers: Kathlene Ritch (soprano), Sarah Nickerson (alto), Bradley Naylor (tenor), and Matt Goinz (bass). Steinway artist Jacquelyn Helin will assist on piano. This month-long workshop will culminate in a sing-along-from-home recording of all four teachers performing the three pieces taught over the course of the workshop. Artistic Director Joshua Habermann will lead this showcase, offering insights on the repertoire selected and how it relates to the Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s upcoming Summer 2021 programming. This joyful music-making event is generously underwritten by Stephen and Jane Hochberg.
Dates/Times: This event will take place in February 2021, exact dates and times TBD.
Tickets: Adults: $20 // Students (8th grade+): $5
SFDC Successfully Completes Sustainability Campaign to Raise $400,000
After launching its Keep Our Voices Singing sustainability campaign on July 2, 2020, the Desert Chorale was thrilled to announce successful completion of the campaign on October 19, 2020. The campaign raised
$400,000 from over 300 donors to support the Chorale through this unprecedented year. Reflecting on the campaign, Executive Director Emma Marzen said, “The incredible outpouring of support we received from our donors exceeded our hopes and assured us that we would not only be able to survive the current global pandemic but thrive as we work toward the future. The challenges we face are still great, but we know that we will come back stronger than ever when it is safe to do so thanks to our wonderful Desert Chorale family. On behalf of the Board of Directors, artists, and staff of the Chorale, thank you for your immense generosity. We cannot wait to be with you and sing for you again soon.”
SFDC Releases 2016 Recording of Rachmaninov’s “All-Night Vigil, Op. 37”
On November 20, 2020, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale released their newest mastered recording, Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, Op. 37. Widely recognized as one of the greatest, major a cappella choral works of all time, Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, popularly known as the “Vespers,” is a Santa Fe Desert Chorale staple. Conducted by Artistic Director Joshua Habermann, this work was performed in its entirety by 32 Desert Chorale artists during our 34th Annual Summer Festival in 2016. An homage to the Russian masterpiece, this CD draws on two performances recorded live by Kabby Sound Studios at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, NM on August 13, 2016 and at the Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque, NM on August 14, 2016. Generous gifts from Greg Dove and Catherine & Guy Gronquist made the creation of this CD possible.
Physical CDs are $20 and can be purchased at desertchorale.org/shop or call 505-988-2282. Streaming on all platforms now
Santa Fe Desert Chorale Schedule by Date:
Desert Chorale: Home for the Holidays
Online | Saturday, December 12 – Friday, December 25, 2020
Santa Fe Sings!
Online | February 2021 (weekly workshop)
Tickets:
Tickets are available at desertchorale.org/tickets or by phone at (505) 988-2282. Tickets range from $5 (students) to $35.
CDs may be purchased at desertchorale.org/shop or by phone at (505) 988-2282. CDs are $20.
Media Contacts:
For more information, please contact Executive Director Emma Marzen by email at emma@desertchorale.org. For images, please contact Zina Jundi by email at zjundi@comcast.net.
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Santa Fe Desert Chorale thanks the following organizations for their ongoing support:
The City of Santa Fe Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, New Mexico Arts, and the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Mission Statement: The mission of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, one of the nation’s premier professional vocal ensembles, is to excite, engage, and inspire diverse audiences with the beauty and power of great choral music.
About the Santa Fe Desert Chorale:
Founded in 1982 by Lawrence “Larry” Bandfield, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale is one of the longest-running professional music organizations in New Mexico, as well as one of the most distinguished. In his 2020 review of the Strength and Refuge: A Joyous Exploration of the Psalms program at Highland Park United Methodist Church (Tower Arts Series), Scott Cantrell of the Dallas Morning News remarked that, “The Santa Fe Desert Chorale [is] a top-notch, 24-voice group… comprising the crème de la crème of professional choral singers from coast to coast. The singing throughout was boldly projected, finely finished and expressed and, where necessary, quite nimble.”
Artistic Director Joshua Habermann, now in his twelfth season, leads the Chorale in repertoire spanning seven centuries, from early polyphony to contemporary works. The composition of the Chorale is truly national in scope and the ensemble is recognized as one of the finest American chamber choirs. Now in its 38th year, the Desert Chorale Summer Festival season is a centerpiece of the cultural life of Santa Fe, and among the nation’s most significant choral events.
The Chorale’s first commercial release, The Road Home, launched at No. 3 on the Billboard Classical Chart following a sold-out CD launch program in Santa Fe. Another recent highlight was an invitational appearance at the 2015 American Choral Directors Association National Conference, which was later broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio. In the 2017-2018 season, the Chorale presented three concerts in the Dallas area, and performed for regional ACDA conferences in Los Angeles and Chicago. In the 2018-2019 season, the Chorale toured to Dallas and presented regular winter and summer seasons in New Mexico, and in February 2020 the Chorale returned to Dallas as part of the Tower Arts Series of the Highland Park Methodist Church.
Throughout its history, the Chorale has maintained a commitment to give voice to music from Hispanic and Native American communities. Dedicated to advancing the composers of our time, the Chorale has commissioned 24 works by 20 composers; three-quarters of the composers commissioned have been American. In addition, another seven works have been given their world or American premieres by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. The Desert Chorale’s Commissioning Club now assists in this endeavor by selecting and funding a new commission annually.
The ensemble performs at historical sites in Santa Fe such as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and Cristo Rey Catholic Church, as well as other venues throughout the Southwest and across the nation. The Desert Chorale prides itself on its strong relationships within the community of Northern New Mexico, and enjoys collaborations with the Center for Contemporary Arts, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, The Jewish Film Festival, Museum of International Folk Art, and galleries throughout Santa Fe, among others.
Through its community engagement programming, the Chorale partners with other musical, artistic, social service, and educational organizations in Santa Fe and beyond. The Hearts in Harmony partnership with the Interfaith Shelter, now in its fourth year, is an example of the Chorale’s commitment to strengthening our community through song.
