| Concert by Cantus | |
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Cantus performing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst |
Cantus is a nine-member male vocal a cappella ensemble based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
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Cantus is a full-time, professional vocal chamber ensemble, made up of nine men singing in a TTBB (tenor, tenor, baritone, bass), changed male voice arrangement. The artists are self-led, with programming and musical direction coming from within the group itself.[1] The ensemble is known for innovative concert programming, often tying together works of numerous genres to explore a selected theme,[2] including classical music, orchestral-vocal repertoire, folk music, art song, popular songs, spirituals, and newly commissioned works.
The vocal group maintains a schedule of around 70 live concert performances and 30-40 education/outreach activities in a given season, both in the United States of America and abroad. Cantus is an active proponent of music education, encouraging people of all ages - especially men - to sing. The ensemble has worked with tens of thousands of singers throughout the country in educational activities ranging from master classes to festivals and collaborations. New members are acquired through annual national auditions.[3]
The group was established by St. Olaf College students Brian Arreola, Albert Jordan, Erick Lichte, and Kjell Stenberg (three of whom were cellists), who recruited fellow students to sing with them in 1995. After a successful Northeast Tour in the summer of 1998, Cantus transitioned into a professional ensemble and non-profit organization by 2000, based out of Minneapolis, MN.
Cantus is the only artist-led full time classical vocal ensemble in the United States, and is one of two professional classical male vocal ensembles in the United States that pays its artists full-time salaries, while maintaing a year-round schedule of performances, the other being San Francisco’s Chanticleer.
The ensemble was the 2009 recipient of Chorus America’s Margaret Hillis Award,[4] the first collaborative ensemble to earn this award.
Cantus was selected by Minnesota Public Radio to be Artists in Residence for the 2010-11 season.[5] The residency included supported touring, radio co-hosting, and international broadcasts via Performance Today.
As part of their 2011-2012 season, Cantus was featured with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. [6] The 2011-2012 season marked the fifth year of the group's critically acclaimed collaboration with Theater Latte Da, All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, which tells the true story of the Christmas Truce of 1914, when World War I soldiers set down their arms to celebrate the holidays with the enemy. [7]
Aaron Humble, Tenor
Shahzore Shah, Tenor
David Walton, Tenor
Adam Reinwald, Baritone
Matthew Tintes, Bass-Baritone
Chris Foss, Bass
Cantus has released numerous critically acclaimed recordings in 24-bit, High-Resolution Compact Disc format, most of which were recorded by noted engineer and Stereophile Magazine Editor, John Atkinson.[8] The group's 2010 and 2011 releases That Eternal Day and Christmas with Cantus brought in the Grammy Award-winning production team of Steve Barnett and Preston Smith for recording, engineering, and mastering.
Kurt Anderson, baritone (1996–1999)
Brian Arreola, tenor (1995–2005)
Nathan Bird, tenor (2010-2011)
E. Mani Cadet, tenor (2006–2007)
Kelvin Chan, baritone (2000–2005)
Brad Cramer-Erbes, tenor (2002–2005)
Alan Dunbar, bass-baritone (1998–2004)
Micheal Hanawalt, tenor (1996–2004)
Eric Hopkins Ellingsen, tenor (2008-2011)
Curt Hopmann, tenor (2000–2001)
Brook Jacobsen, baritone/tenor (1995–1999)
Albert Jordan, tenor (1995–2006)
Michael Jones, tenor (2006-2008)
Erick Lichte, bass-baritone (1995–2003)
Mitch Lewandowski, bass (1995–1996)
Tom McNichols, bass (2004-2008)
Phillip Moody, baritone (1996–2000)
Tom Phelps, bass (1996–1998)
Kjell Stenberg, baritone (1995–1998)
Lawrence Wiliford, tenor (1995-2002)
Paul Wilson, baritone (1999–2002)
Peter Zvanovec, tenor (1999–2006)
Meet Cantus! on YouTube