Cantus

Concerts: Cantus continued its hybrid in-person/online concert model that the organization piloted during and in the re-emergence from the covid-19 pandemic. In the 2022-23 season, the ensemble performed five subscription concerts, as well as a collaborative concert with a norwegian women's chorus, also named Cantus. The ensemble also premiered new works by such composers as mariana sadovska, yosvany estepe, mari esabel valverde, and chris foss. In addition to performing for in-person audiences, Cantus made each program available online on a pay-what-you-can basis that reached listeners across 45 states, 16 countries, and 48 of Minnesota's 87 counties. Emphasizing its commitment to access, Cantus continued to offer online concerts on a pay-what-you-can basis and expanded (see schedule o)that approach to select in-person performances as well; during the 2022-23 season, more than half (51 percent) of online attendees and 7 percent of in-person audiences paid a reduced ticket price. Additionally, chorus america named Cantus as the winner of the alice parker fund award for thoughtful presentation of choral music based in the traditions of the black and latinx communities.

Media initiatives: british record label signum classics released "into the light" in november 2022, marking the ensemble's first holiday album in more than a decade. The album was well received by audiences and critics alike: "into the light" hit no. 13 on billboard's "classical crossover" chart in december, and bbc music magazine dubbed the album "a pleasure from start to finish" in its five-star review. Throughout the year, Cantus continued to release performance videos on youtube that highlight the ensemble's stylistic versatility, ranging from joan szymko's "ffe mwe, mwe ffe" to the world premiere of jennifer lucy cook's "time, and part of an ongoing strategy to engage broader audiences and expand access. Minnesota public radio also made a live recording of Cantus' "i hear america singing" program (see schedule o)for curation into an upcoming broadcast special.

Touring: Cantus' national touring continued its post-pandemic rebound in the 2022-23 season, with engagements spanning 15 states. Of particular note, the ensemble appeared at the chautauqua institution in chautauqua, new york; sonoma state university in rohnert park, California; shalin liu performance center in rockport, Massachusetts; newport classical in newport, rhode island; and elsewhere. In conjunction with national touring, the ensemble also conducted master classes and workshops with students at the university of Iowa, sonoma state university, juniata college, and elsewhere.

Education: a commitment to deepening the music-education experience in the lives of young people and fostering a future for ensemble singing remain integral to Cantus' mission. In 2022-23, Cantus worked with the choirs of white bear lake and minnetonka high schools in its award-winning high school residency program. Cantus also partnered with rochester, minnesota-based choral arts ensemble for a two-day workshop with high school students from southeast Minnesota.