A More Hopeful Tomorrow -The Singers 2022-23 Season Announcement

THE SINGERS 2022-2023 SEASON OFFERS A MORE HOPEFUL TOMORROW

The Twin Cities-based choral organization, led by Artistic Director Matthew Culloton, presents their 19th season, with music of hope, healing, and empathy. 

Saint Paul, MN – The Singers and Artistic Director Matthew Culloton proudly announce their 2022-2023 concert season, A More Hopeful Tomorrow. “When planning this season, it was clear to me that our community is still in a slow process of healing from numerous pandemics,” says Matthew Culloton. “It was important to me that The Singers and I don’t gloss over the wounds, but instead use our collective voice to lift those who need our love and understanding as healing continues.”

A MORE HOPEFUL TOMORROW – Oct. 22, 2022 at 7.30pm, Ted Mann Hall, Minneapolis ONE NIGHT ONLY!

The Singers launch their 19th season with a concert that features Damien Geter’s Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow– a work about COVID’s dramatic impact on the Black community, and how we all work to heal and recover. The score draws inspiration from J.S. Bach, African American spirituals, and the words of Walt Whitman. Also on the program are works uplifting works by Jocelyn Hagen, Scott Senko, Karen Marrolli, and Paul Rudoi.

WHAT SWEETER MUSIC: CHRISTMAS WITH THE SINGERS (Dec. 4, 10, 11, 2022)

The combination of cherished carols, beloved Christmas works, and musical surprises has made The Singers’ holiday program an annual favorite for Twin Cities audiences. This year, the choir shares music of Reena Esmail, B.E. Boykin, and world premiere works by Timothy Takach and conductor Matthew Culloton. 

Sun 12.4.22 at 3pm, Westwood Lutheran, St. Louis Park Sat 12.10.22 at 7.30, Lutheran Church of Good Shepherd, Edina Sun 12.11.22 at 2pm, Nativity of Our Lord, St. Paul

MY SOUL’S REPOSE: BACH & PÄRT (Mar. 18 & 19, 2023) 

The Singers are thrilled to collaborate with Aaron David Miller, one of the world’s most exciting and inventive organists. The baroque delights of J.S. Bach’s motets and Arvo Pärt’s meditative sacred works, as well as their solo organ music, mean that musical contrast is the order of the day. Don’t miss this inspiring musical pairing of these beloved composers!

Sat 3.18.23 at 7.30pm, Lutheran Church of Good Shepherd, Edina Sun 3.19.23 at 3pm, House of Hope, St. Paul

WALDEN POND: THE EARTH SINGS (May 20 & 21, 2023) 

Considered by many to be Dominick Argento’s choral masterpiece, Walden Pond employs three cellos and harp to evocatively team with the choir and bring new life to Thoreau’s revered text. Jake Runestad’s Come to the Woods celebrates the human connection to nature through the words of John Muir. Other environmental works by Adolphus Hailstork, Moira Smiley, Alberto Grau, and Katerina Gimon remind us why we love nature and must fight hard to save it.

Sat 5.20.23 at 7.30pm, House of Hope, St. Paul Sun 5.21.23 at 3pm, Westwood Lutheran, St. Louis Park

OTHER SPECIAL CONCERT EVENTS (not a part of the subscription series)

– Behind the Curtain; The Singers with composer Damien Geter – Sunday, Oct 23, 2022 at 3pm, Lundstrum Center for Performing Arts, Minneapolis

– HANDEL: MESSIAH with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (Dec. 15-18, 2022)

– Behind the Curtain; The Singers with Achieve Academy Choir – Friday, Dec 2, 2022 at 7pm, Wellstone Center, West St. Paul

– The Singers and The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers in Concert! Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 at 7pm, House of Hope, St. Paul

Single Tickets for the concerts are on sale now. For ticket and season information, visit www.singersmca.org.

ABOUT THE SINGERS

Founded in 2004, The Singers organization is dedicated to giving world-class performances of the finest choral literature. The Singers, a professional choir of 40 members, exists to serve as artists, educators, and advocates of the choral art. Recognized nationally for their innovative programming, commitment to new music, and peerless artistic quality, The Singers made their debut at the renowned Ravinia Festival in June 2013, and have made subsequent returns in 2014, 2015, and 2016. They are frequent collaborators of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

The Singers and Matthew Culloton are very engaged in educational collaborations that pair the choir with school choirs around Minnesota. Singing “shoulder to shoulder” with high school students in concert settings has inspired thousands of young musicians who have never experienced music making at a professional level. Dr. Culloton leads conducting masterclasses with public school educators, and conducts the organization’s Community Sing programs.

The Singers have premiered and commissioned nearly 80 new works by composers including Stephen Paulus, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, Timothy Takach, Linda Kachelmeier, Abbie Betinis, Jocelyn Hagen, Joshua Shank, Craig Carnahan, and conductor Matthew Culloton. From 2004-2014, Betinis, Hagen, and Shank served as Composers-in-Residence with the ensemble. Timothy Takach is the current Composer-in-Residence for the ensemble.

The Singers have released 10 recordings commercially, including their latest collection of American choral works, Come to the Woods. The 2010 release, Lauridsen: Mid-Winter Songs is featured prominently in a documentary film, Shining Night, about the life and works of internationally recognized composer Morten Lauridsen. Splendid Jewel: Choral Music of Stephen Paulus contains the world premiere recordings of ten works written by one of Minnesota’s leading composers.

The Singers have performed at national, regional, and state conferences of Chorus America, the American Choral Directors Association, the American Guild of Organists, and the National Federation of Music Clubs.