I cannot believe it’s October. And I can’t believe the season starts this weekend! “Heroes And Legends” kicks off our 2011/12 Season and features the Chorale singing some of my favorite Beatles songs! I can’t even imagine how beautiful it’s going to be to hear “Blackbird” and “In My Life” sung by the Phoenix Chorale. I can’t wait to hear it!

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BTW, program notes are now available – click here.

And have you seen the video preview yet? Artistic Director Charles Bruffy gives in-depth details on the concerts. Watch it now.

All concert details (times, locations, tickets, etc.) are available here.

I hope to see you this weekend!

- Jen Rogers, Director of Marketing & Communications

3-Concert Subscription Packages are still available! Customize your subscription by choosing the dates and times that best suit your schedule. Subscribers receive seating in our Premium section in the front rows at each venue, which is only available to subscribers. Read below for the full list of subscriber benefits. Subscribe now! And enjoy benefits, savings, and the Chorale all season long.

SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES:

3-Concert Subscription Package = $90
(still available online)

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4-Concert Subscription Package = $120
(no longer available)

SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS:

1. The best seats in the house! The front rows in each venue are reserved as our “Premium” seating section available only to subscribers.
2. Free (and easy!) ticket exchanges. Subscribers can exchange tickets for another concert date for free! Easy exchanges can be made online or over the phone.
3. Ticket insurance. If you lose your tickets, call us or come to the concert box office and we’ll replace them for you. Easy!
4. Bring-A-Friend! Share the Chorale with a friend. With each series subscription that you purchase, you’ll receive a voucher good for a free ticket to any of our concerts except “A Chorale Christmas.”
5. Savings! Subscribing now saves money! You’ll save over buying tickets at the door.
6. More savings! Season subscribers can buy additional tickets to any concert for $5 off the General Admission price.
7. Insider advantage: Subscribers get the first chance to buy our upcoming CD, as well as the first word about special events, future seasons, and Chorale news.

All sales are final and non-refundable. Programs, artists and dates are subject to change.

October 8 & 9

Our first concerts of the season explore some monumental figures – both real and fictitious. We’ll perform Herbert Howell’s tribute to John F. Kennedy with his Take Him Earth, for Cherishing as well as Bob Chilcott’s stunning arrangement of MLK by U2. We’ll sing three creative stories of Sirens – those mythical beings that lure sailors to their death by singing songs of overpowering beauty – written by Mason Bates (composer in residence with the Chicago Symphony known for his genre-mixing compositional style). Finally, we’ll celebrate some biblical heroes in spirituals by Moses Hogan, perform some favorites from the Beatles (yes, THE Beatles!), and we’ll present the world premiere of a new composition written especially for us by Shawn Crouch. Click here to watch a preview of this concert.

October 8, 2011 - Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm
Christ Church of the Ascension (4015 East Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley – map)
Tickets for this concert are still available and can be purchased at the door starting at 2:00 pm.

October 8, 2011 - Saturday evening at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (100 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix – map)
Tickets for this concert are still available and can be purchased at the door starting at 6:00 pm.
*KBAQ 89.5 FM Talks at Trinity starts at 6:30 pm

October 9, 2011 - Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm
American Lutheran Church (17200 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City – map)
Tickets for this concert are still available and can be purchased at the door starting at 2:00 pm.

Our 2011/12 Season brochure is here! Check it out now or click here to see our entire season of concerts.

To purchase tickets and subscriptions, call us at 602-253-2224 (M-F, 10 am-3 pm) or click here

We can’t wait to see you soon!

Phoenix Chorale soprano Danya Tiller

Check out this interview by KBAQ 89.5 FM’s Jane Hilton featuring Phoenix Chorale soprano Danya Tiller. Danya discusses her new position as Artistic Director of the Phoenix Girls Chorus. To listen to the interview, click here.

The Phoenix Girls Chorus is comprised of girls between the ages of 7-18 serving Phoenix and the surrounding communities. Founded in 1981, the organization has grown to a five choir program serving approximately 190 girls each year. The Phoenix Girls Chorus is currently taking auditions for next season. More information is available here.

Aerial view of the Charles River

I was fortunate to go to Boston for the editing sessions of our upcoming album featuring the Ola Gjeilo‘s choral music. Having raised the most funds during our spring fundraising campaign, this was my reward!

My trip to Boston started July 5 with a stop at the Chorale’s administrative office to pick up my music. Then we hopped on a red-eye flight to Boston and arrived the next morning. We drove straight to the Soundmirror studios and started listening. And by listening, I mean heavy duty listening.

In the studio at Soundmirror.

This is my first recording with the Chorale. We had already spent the better part of three days over Memorial Day Weekend creating this album and going into the editing sessions, I really didn’t know what to expect.

I sat there in awe. It was emotionally overwhelming to listen to such lush, gorgeous sounds. There was a moment during the editing process that will stay with me forever. We were listening to the playback of “Northern Lights” and the music, the artistic interpretation and singing were so subtle and moving it brought tears to my eyes.

Serious listening in the studio...

As I looked around the room, I realized that I was surrounded by the people that made this piece a reality: Joseph Ohrt commissioned this piece (he teaches at Central Bucks High School West in Pennsylvania); Ola Gjeilo, the composer of the piece; Blanton Alspaugh, our producer who was there when we recorded the piece; Joel Rinsema and myself, who actually sang on the piece; and of course, Charles Bruffy – who interpreted and breathed life into the piece with the Chorale.

At a RedSox game with the group.

We were all in the same room listening to this beautiful new creation – a wonderful and significant creation – something so subtly beautiful in this crazy mixed-up world… I can’t wait for everyone to hear “Northern Lights.” I hope you will be moved, like me, to curl up on the floor and weep with beautiful sorrow and hopefulness.

It was such a pleasure to be there and to get to be a part of the editing process. I learned so much just from listening to conversations and comments during the sessions.

Me and Charles (it was his first baseball game ever!)

I love being a part of the Phoenix Chorale family. We’re all just regular everyday folks, getting together for a July 4 barbecue or pedicures… We all have jobs and families and struggles and oh, yeah, we can sing like that! I really think you will feel you’ve died and gone to heaven when you hear these pieces.

- Stephanie Stickford, Phoenix Chorale Alto

The Phoenix Chorale is seeking an Intern for the Fall 2011 Semester.

As Marketing & Communications Intern, you will gain a broad range of experience in a variety of areas including (but not limited to) patron services, concert operations, volunteer coordination, media relations, social media, fundraising, box office, event planning, concert promotion, administrative support, and special projects as assigned. Previous experience in any of these areas is a plus – but not required – as you will receive on-the-job training. More details on the internship here.

Interested? Please submit a cover letter and resume by email to: Jen Rogers at jen@phoenixchorale.org

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Nearly two weeks ago we closed our season and ended our spring fund drive to raise “$6Ok in 3O Days.” We are thrilled to report that and not only did we reach our goal, we surpassed it… raising $69,000!

Thanks goes to our wonderful Phoenix Chorale singers who led the charge, raising xx% of the total!

Through the generous support of our friends like you, we are happy to announce we are officially moving forward with our new recording project featuring the music of composer Ola Gjeilo. The recording sessions are scheduled for this coming Memorial Day weekend – and be sure to keep an eye out for the new album this fall!

Read more about the campaign in the news release here.

See the GRAND TOTAL for yourself here.

And, here’s a fun video of thanks:

Thank you again for your support!