Cantus Vocal Ensemble

Cantus Vocal Ensemble (Cantus) gives voice to shared human experience by inspiring audiences through song and word, sparking new depths of understanding and empathy. Based in Minneapolis, Cantus is widely known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming, and riveting performances. Beginning in 1995 as a group of St. Olaf College singers with a devoted following, Cantus is now a nationally recognized ensemble of eight full-time vocalists dedicated to ambitious low-voice repertoire, audience engagement, and in-depth youth education residencies.

As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus has come to prominence with its distinctive approach to creating music through its collaborative artistic structure. Working without a conductor, the members of Cantus rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to the entirety of the artistic process, creating programs that feature diverse composers and a variety of perspectives, fulfilling its vision of giving voice to shared human experiences.

Cantus’ core programs and activities feature their Hometown Series, an annual concert series with more than thirty in-person performances throughout the Twin Cities that also tours nationally. Cantus’ commitment to equity and access for the community includes pay-what-you-can in-person concerts, $5 student tickets, free community concerts, and open rehearsal.

Integral to the Cantus mission is its commitment to current and future artists by preserving and deepening music education in the schools. Cantus typically works with more than 5,000 students each year in masterclass and workshop settings across the country and has visited 31 Minnesota high schools throughout the 14-year history of its award-winning High School Residency program. Cantus also presents a Young and Emerging Composers’ Competition, to encourage the creation of new repertoire through cash prizes, a performance, recording and potential publication of the winning composition.

Cantus is expanding the vocal music repertoire, actively commissioning new music, and seeking to unearth rarely performed repertoire for low voices. Cantus’ non-hierarchical structure affords an inclusive perspective on commissioning and programming music of many traditions, styles, and backgrounds including historically underrepresented composers. Recent commissions include Cuban composer Yosvany Estepe, trans Latina composer Mari Esabel Valverde, Black composers Christopher H. Harris, Reginald Bowens, and Black female composers Ysaÿe Barnwell and Rosephayne Powell. In line with Cantus’ ongoing commitment to fostering new works for tenors, baritones, and basses, the ensemble has partnered with composer and former Cantus bass Timothy C. Takach and Graphite Publishing on the Cantus Choral Series, distributing Cantus’ signature arrangements and compositions for ensembles everywhere to perform and enjoy.

Cantus has a rich history of collaborations with performing arts organizations, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Boston Pops, Chanticleer, Lorelei Ensemble, Theater Latté Da and the James Sewell Ballet. The ensemble is heard frequently on both classical public radio nationwide and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Cantus regularly engages community and artistic partners to fulfill its vision to “give voice to shared human experience”. Notable engagements include a 2017 collaboration with female, Black a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock for a performance at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. In 2022 collaborations included Cuban American jazz pianist and composer Nachito Herrera in its Ramas y Raíces concert; and with Esperanza United, an organization that “leverages the strengths of Latin@ communities to end gender-based violence.” Cantus collaborated with students participating in Esperanza United’s programming to write about their migrant experience and shared their stories in their concert My Journey Yours. Another recent collaboration included StreetSong-MN, a choir composed of people experiencing homelessness, their supporters, and St. Stephens Human Services.

Cantus has a 12-member Board of Directors led by Chair Brian Newhouse, and Bob Peskin serves as Interim Executive Director during the leadership transition. The staff currently consists of three full-time administrative staff, including the Development Manager and Concert & Operations Manager, and eight full-time ensemble singers, each with administrative, production, marketing, and artistic responsibilities. Total operating revenue for fiscal 2024 is anticipated to be approximately $1.2 million with 57% in contributed revenue and 43% in earned revenue.