With our season opener just over a week away, I’m thinking about how “Cantaré” started out – and what it means now.
I remember being at a Chorus America national conference with Jonathan Miller, our founder and then artistic director, and Susan Schober, a founding ensemble member who was leading our education programs. We heard about a Minneapolis choir that had created a program called “¡Cantaré!,” bringing composers from Mexico to work with students. We looked at each other and said, “We should do that in Chicago!” About four years later, we did. And in the decade since then, the composers we’ve brought here have created 35 new works for students all over the city, and for Chicago a cappella. Over the next few weeks, we’re celebrating this milestone by presenting the incredible music written for us by these dear friends and musical colleagues from Mexico.
Of course, when we were planning this concert, we didn’t dream that we’d be seeing our city in the news every day, with many of our neighbors in the community experiencing so much stress and uncertainty. I’m prouder than ever to demonstrate the deep friendships we’ve cultivated for so many years, and to share this joyous celebration of Mexican culture.
We’re asking our friends to support this work at a special pre-concert benefit event on September 27 at the National Museum of Mexican Art. We’ll have two composers in conversation about identity and its influence on their work, and a curator from the museum will give guided tours of paintings connected to music on the concert. Dinner, margaritas, churros, art, and a concert of amazing music…it will really be a multi-sensory experience!
Please consider supporting our work by joining us on Sept. 27 – or at any of the Cantaré concerts. Our musical celebration will demonstrate the vitality of our cross-border friendships and the importance of spreading joy as an antidote to fear.
Our leaders in Chicago have encouraged all of us to come together and rally around one another. I hope you’ll be with us as we do just that.
Find details on the Cantaré Prelude Benefit