Chanticleer

We celebrate America’s 250th year of independence by showcasing the diverse voices, songs, harmonies, and rhythms of our shared musical heritage. We explore how those voices influenced each other and how they impact the present day. The cornerstone of this program is a new commission by composer Trevor Weston, demonstrating the link between traditional American hymnody and African American Spirituals. Other repertoire traces the progression of the American choral tradition from Black Gospel quartets to Shape-Note singing to Barbershop quartets and vocal jazz. The program also includes settings of traditional American Bluegrass tunes and beloved folk songs, like “Calling my Children Home” and “Shenandoah,” as well as arrangements of more contemporary American classics, like Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” and “Home” from The Wiz.

The GRAMMY® Award–winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer is celebrated worldwide as “an orchestra of voices,” renowned for its dazzling virtuosity and expansive repertoire. Founded in San Francisco in 1978 by singer and musicologist Louis Botto, Chanticleer has become one of the most prolific touring and recording ensembles, with over one million albums sold. Rooted in Renaissance music, its repertoire spans classical, gospel, jazz, popular music, and newly commissioned works, earning multiple GRAMMY® Awards and honors for adventurous programming. Named after Chaucer’s “clear-singing” rooster, Chanticleer remains deeply committed to artistic excellence, education, and community engagement.