This spring, Phoenix Chorale brings together a powerful mix of contemporary choral music that reflects the heart, history, and hope of America in a concert called AMERICAN VOICES. Led by Artistic Director Christopher Gabbitas, the program features beautiful harmonies, bold new works, and timeless traditions—all performed with the signature warmth and precision of one of the country’s leading vocalensembles.
Concerts take place Saturday, May 3 at 3:00 PM at Camelback Bible Church in Paradise Valley and Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 PM at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Phoenix. Tickets are on sale at phoenixchorale.org
As we head toward the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, AMERICAN VOICES offers a musical reflection on the many influences that have shaped American culture. The concert features works by Frank Ticheli, Eric Whitacre, Aaron Copland, and George Gershwin, alongside traditional spirituals and songs from the Shaker and Sacred Harp traditions—music that has helped define the American sound.
The program also includes the world premiere of Vista Point, a brand-new piece by Los Angeles-based composer Jennifer Lucy Cook, commissioned specially for Phoenix Chorale. Set on a hiking trail, Vista Point follows three characters, each embarking on their journey for different reasons, as they navigate the physical and emotional effort of the climb. The piece captures the internal dialogue between humans and the land —an especially fitting theme for one of America’s greatest hiking states.
At the center of the concert is something truly special: Scenes in America Deserta, a rarely performed choral gem by composer John McCabe. Written in 1986 and inspired by the desert landscapes of the American Southwest, this stunning work sets text by architectural historian Peter Reyner Banham and captures the silence, space, and mystery of the desert in breathtaking sound.
Concert Details:
AMERICAN VOICES
Saturday, May 3, 2025 – 3:00 PM
Camelback Bible Church
3900 E Stanford Dr, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Sunday, May 4, 2025 – 3:00 PM
All Saints’ Episcopal Church
6300 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Tickets:
$42 General Admission
$37 Seniors & Military
$20 Youth
On sale now at phoenixchorale.org
About Jennifer About Jennifer Lucy Cook
Jennifer Lucy Cook (she/her) is a composer and lyricist based in Los Angeles. Recent choral commissions include Phoenix Chorale, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and Vox Femina, and she debuts a new piece at Carnegie Hall this Spring. Her piece “Time” was awarded a J.W. Pepper Director’s Choice and along with her arrangement of “What Was I Made For,” both received a J.W. Pepper Editor’s Choice for 2024. She wrote additional material for Alan Menken’s solo show “A Whole New World for Alan Menken” that debuted at the London Palladium. Jen also wrote music and lyrics for Salem, a dark comedy retelling of the witch trials, which has since garnered significant social media attention. Other theater commissions include Full House Theatre Co., British Youth Musical Theatre, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. She earned a Master’s degree in Musical Theater Writing from Goldsmiths University in London and a Bachelor’s in Media Music from Brigham Young University.
About Phoenix Chorale
The Grammy® Award-winning Phoenix Chorale, led by Artistic Director Christopher Gabbitas since 2019, is regarded as one of the finest choral ensembles in North America of the western classical tradition. All of the 24-voice ensemble’s members are professional singers who currently reside in Arizona.
Founded in 1958 as the Bach & Madrigal Society of Phoenix and subsequently known as the Phoenix Bach Choir, the Phoenix Chorale became a fully professional choir in 1992.
Previous Phoenix Chorale conductors have included Millicent Wesley, Wallace Hornibrook, Dan Durand, Vance George, Anders Öhrwall, Jon Washburn, and Charles Bruffy.
Phoenix Chorale’s digital audience continues to grow through radio broadcasts, performance videos, and streaming services like Spotify, where the Chorale maintains a listenership of over 50,000 fans each month. The Chorale’s recordings have spent over 20 weeks on the Billboard Charts and have earned a total of ten Grammy® nominations and three Grammy® wins.
Annually, the Chorale’s video and audio recordings reach over one million listeners around the world. The Chorale is ensemble-in-residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix. For more information visit phoenixchorale.org
