Cleveland Chamber Choir Announces 10th Anniversary Season
All Concerts Pay-What-You-Wish
The Cleveland Chamber Choir, the region’s premier professional choral ensemble, continues its mission of performances of unique and diverse repertoire in its 10th Anniversary 2024/25 Season. The pay-what-you-wish concerts blend music by living composers with ten centuries of choral tradition, and emphasize the works of composers historically excluded from the concert hall.
“Ticket prices can scare people away from classical music concerts,” said Artistic Director, Gregory Ristow. ”With our pay-what-you-wish programs, we hope to bring the healing power of choral music, sung by Cleveland’s top professional singers, to more people.”
The concert lineup showcases the choir’s continued commitment to social awareness and advocacy. Over the course of the season, the choir will partner with local charities to help raise awareness of and funds for their work.
The season begins with Meditations and Mysticism, on October 26th and 27th. In a hectic time, this program invites us to, “Take a moment, take a breath, take time, take care,” as composer Reena Esmail says. The concert features well-known choral works such as Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, excerpts from Philip Glass’s opera Einstein on the Beach, and Gregorian chant by Hildegard of Bingen. It will also offer moments for meditation and communal music making. “We’ll invite audience members to join us in a sonic meditation, which is a beautiful moment of coming together to create and enjoy harmony,” Ristow says.
This concert is presented in partnership with award-winning mental health program, Ghetto Therapy™️ , which offers free therapy sessions open to the public for all age groups. Therapy sessions include a healthy dinner, facilitated discussions by guest speakers and exposure to different forms of therapy including Reiki, sound, art, meditation, and yoga.
Our Saturday performance will also feature a fundraiser, celebrating 10 years of making music in Cleveland. There will be raffle baskets, with goods and experiences generously donated by Cleveland businesses and organizations; raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the event. Following the performance, you can join us for a reception ($20 suggested donation). We hope you will celebrate with us!
Register for tickets here.
On December 20th and 21st, the choir will present David Lang’s Pulitzer-Prize Winning The Little Match Girl Passion, a modern day retelling of the 1845 Hans Christian Andersen story, influenced by Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. This will be a captivating, immersive experience, featuring new connective music by award-winning local composer Tom Lopez and a visual arts collaboration with the students of the Cleveland School of the Arts. Lang’s work will be interspersed with holiday works from a variety of choral traditions.
This concert is presented in partnership with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, aligned with the themes of David Lang’s award-winning work. The concerts are presented with the support of the Cleveland School of the Arts and funded in part by The Amphion Foundation, Inc..
Register for tickets here.
The Choir will present the music of trailblazing Jewish Renaissance composer, Salamone Rossi on March 1st and 2nd. In Synagogue and Salon: The Hebrew Psalms and Madrigals of Salamone Rossi, the choir will share both the pioneering sacred choral music for Jewish services, and also the secular music Rossi wrote for the Court of Mantua, where he, along with his contemporary Monteverdi, was among the most celebrated of composers of the time.
HaZamir Cleveland will partner with the Choir for these concerts. HaZamir is a youth choral movement that offers high schoolers the opportunity to learn and sing Jewish choral music, and create enduring friendships that transcend geographic, political, social, and denominational differences.
Ticket registration coming soon!
The season concludes on a major scale on May 17th, with the choir joining forces with the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra for I Believe! Margaret Bond’s Credo sets the text of W.E.B. DuBois, the pioneering sociologist, civil rights activist, and co-founder of the NAACP. Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor captivates with its timeless elegance and intricate arrangements. The program features soprano Katherine Jolly in both works, an accomplished singer who has appeared on opera stages throughout the country and is the winner of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera National Council Grand Finals.
Influenced by themes from Credo, and following our collaboration from December, the Choir will partner with the music program at Cleveland School of the Arts.
Register for tickets here.
Prior to each concert this season, Charles Edward McGuire, PhD, from Oberlin College & Conservatory, will present a pre-concert talk, offering insightful perspectives on the music to be performed that evening. He will delve into the historical context of the works performed, as well as techniques the composers used. A distinguished scholar and captivating speaker, McGuire's pre-concert talks promise to heighten the appreciation and understanding of the music for the listeners. “I am looking forward to this season, and the future of CCC: Greg has created an incredible season of provocative, beautiful music that will be as fun to talk about as it will be to hear,” McGuire remarked.
The choir is grateful for the full season grant support provided by the Ohio Arts Council, and season underwriting from KeyBank.
“Ticket prices can scare people away from classical music concerts,” said Artistic Director, Gregory Ristow. ”With our pay-what-you-wish programs, we hope to bring the healing power of choral music, sung by Cleveland’s top professional singers, to more people.”
The concert lineup showcases the choir’s continued commitment to social awareness and advocacy. Over the course of the season, the choir will partner with local charities to help raise awareness of and funds for their work.
The season begins with Meditations and Mysticism, on October 26th and 27th. In a hectic time, this program invites us to, “Take a moment, take a breath, take time, take care,” as composer Reena Esmail says. The concert features well-known choral works such as Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, excerpts from Philip Glass’s opera Einstein on the Beach, and Gregorian chant by Hildegard of Bingen. It will also offer moments for meditation and communal music making. “We’ll invite audience members to join us in a sonic meditation, which is a beautiful moment of coming together to create and enjoy harmony,” Ristow says.
This concert is presented in partnership with award-winning mental health program, Ghetto Therapy™️ , which offers free therapy sessions open to the public for all age groups. Therapy sessions include a healthy dinner, facilitated discussions by guest speakers and exposure to different forms of therapy including Reiki, sound, art, meditation, and yoga.
Our Saturday performance will also feature a fundraiser, celebrating 10 years of making music in Cleveland. There will be raffle baskets, with goods and experiences generously donated by Cleveland businesses and organizations; raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the event. Following the performance, you can join us for a reception ($20 suggested donation). We hope you will celebrate with us!
Register for tickets here.
On December 20th and 21st, the choir will present David Lang’s Pulitzer-Prize Winning The Little Match Girl Passion, a modern day retelling of the 1845 Hans Christian Andersen story, influenced by Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. This will be a captivating, immersive experience, featuring new connective music by award-winning local composer Tom Lopez and a visual arts collaboration with the students of the Cleveland School of the Arts. Lang’s work will be interspersed with holiday works from a variety of choral traditions.
This concert is presented in partnership with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, aligned with the themes of David Lang’s award-winning work. The concerts are presented with the support of the Cleveland School of the Arts and funded in part by The Amphion Foundation, Inc..
Register for tickets here.
The Choir will present the music of trailblazing Jewish Renaissance composer, Salamone Rossi on March 1st and 2nd. In Synagogue and Salon: The Hebrew Psalms and Madrigals of Salamone Rossi, the choir will share both the pioneering sacred choral music for Jewish services, and also the secular music Rossi wrote for the Court of Mantua, where he, along with his contemporary Monteverdi, was among the most celebrated of composers of the time.
HaZamir Cleveland will partner with the Choir for these concerts. HaZamir is a youth choral movement that offers high schoolers the opportunity to learn and sing Jewish choral music, and create enduring friendships that transcend geographic, political, social, and denominational differences.
Ticket registration coming soon!
The season concludes on a major scale on May 17th, with the choir joining forces with the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra for I Believe! Margaret Bond’s Credo sets the text of W.E.B. DuBois, the pioneering sociologist, civil rights activist, and co-founder of the NAACP. Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor captivates with its timeless elegance and intricate arrangements. The program features soprano Katherine Jolly in both works, an accomplished singer who has appeared on opera stages throughout the country and is the winner of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera National Council Grand Finals.
Influenced by themes from Credo, and following our collaboration from December, the Choir will partner with the music program at Cleveland School of the Arts.
Register for tickets here.
Prior to each concert this season, Charles Edward McGuire, PhD, from Oberlin College & Conservatory, will present a pre-concert talk, offering insightful perspectives on the music to be performed that evening. He will delve into the historical context of the works performed, as well as techniques the composers used. A distinguished scholar and captivating speaker, McGuire's pre-concert talks promise to heighten the appreciation and understanding of the music for the listeners. “I am looking forward to this season, and the future of CCC: Greg has created an incredible season of provocative, beautiful music that will be as fun to talk about as it will be to hear,” McGuire remarked.
The choir is grateful for the full season grant support provided by the Ohio Arts Council, and season underwriting from KeyBank.
The Cleveland Chamber Choir is hiring!
We are seeking a creative and driven Donor Relations Coordinator (part-time) to oversee fundraising initiatives and
expand our community ties throughout Northeast Ohio.
Click here for more information on the opportunity, including qualifications, job duties, and details about how to apply.
We are seeking a creative and driven Donor Relations Coordinator (part-time) to oversee fundraising initiatives and
expand our community ties throughout Northeast Ohio.
Click here for more information on the opportunity, including qualifications, job duties, and details about how to apply.
Thank you for being a part of our Ninth Season!
The Cleveland Chamber Choir finished the 2023/24 season with Choral Splendor: Old & New, a captivating exploration of how today's composers reimagine great music from the past as new compositions. The program featured works by contemporary composers, including Caroline Shaw, Claudia Hinsdale, and Andrew Rindfleisch, reflecting on works by Dietrich Buxtehude, Gregorio Allegri, and Sebastian de Vivanco. Continuing the Choir's mission of commissioning the works of living composers, these concerts also included two world premieres from Northeast Ohio composers: a co-commission with Oberlin College & Conservatory by Jeff Scott, co-founder of Imani Winds, and a commission from Cleveland State University student Joshua Estok.
A centerpiece of the concerts was Caroline Shaw's work To the Hands, which specifically addresses themes of displacement, refugees, and homelessness and the reality of the current refugee crisis and issues surrounding immigration. In addition, a portion of donations raised in association with this concert were shared with Re:Source Cleveland (formerly Refugee Response) to support their mission of empowering resettled families.
Click here to read the concert review from Cleveland Classical.
A centerpiece of the concerts was Caroline Shaw's work To the Hands, which specifically addresses themes of displacement, refugees, and homelessness and the reality of the current refugee crisis and issues surrounding immigration. In addition, a portion of donations raised in association with this concert were shared with Re:Source Cleveland (formerly Refugee Response) to support their mission of empowering resettled families.
Click here to read the concert review from Cleveland Classical.
In December, Cleveland Chamber Choir celebrated the holiday season with carols, Renaissance polyphony, and Sephardic music from Spain and Portugal.
The concert featured familiar favorites, like "Fum, fum, fum" and "Riu, riu Chiu"; Tomas Luis de Victoria's meditative "O Magnum Mysterium," Matteo Flecha's fiery ensaladas that combine madrigal, dance, and polyphonic traditions; the sacred compositions of Afro-Portugese composer and music theorist Vicente Lusitano, whose work was neglected and excluded because of his race; and music from the Sephardic Jewish tradition.
A portion of the free-will donations made at these concerts was directed towards the Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center to support their work in serving Latino youth and their families through programs and activities designed to foster cultural pride and art appreciation.
This concert was presented with generous grants from The Cleveland Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, the Gund Foundation, and Local 4 Music Fund.
Read our review from Cleveland Classical here.
The concert featured familiar favorites, like "Fum, fum, fum" and "Riu, riu Chiu"; Tomas Luis de Victoria's meditative "O Magnum Mysterium," Matteo Flecha's fiery ensaladas that combine madrigal, dance, and polyphonic traditions; the sacred compositions of Afro-Portugese composer and music theorist Vicente Lusitano, whose work was neglected and excluded because of his race; and music from the Sephardic Jewish tradition.
A portion of the free-will donations made at these concerts was directed towards the Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center to support their work in serving Latino youth and their families through programs and activities designed to foster cultural pride and art appreciation.
This concert was presented with generous grants from The Cleveland Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, the Gund Foundation, and Local 4 Music Fund.
Read our review from Cleveland Classical here.
Twenty-five years ago, on Oct. 6, 1998, two men offered to give Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, a ride home from the Fireside Lounge in Laramie. Instead, they drove him to the middle of nowhere, pistol-whipped and tortured him, tied him to a fence, and left him for dead. After Shepard lay in a coma for eighteen hours, a passing cyclist–who at first thought Shepard was a scarecrow–called for aid. Six days later, Shepard died from the brain damage.
In his concert-length oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard, Craig Hella Johnson seamlessly weaves together passages from Shepard’s personal journal, interviews with his parents, texts from Rumi, Hildegard von Bingen, and a panoply of musical styles to create a work that The Washington Post says “demonstrates music’s capacity to encompass, transform and transcend tragedy.”
CCC kicked off our Ninth Season with this moving performance, joined by Lakewood Symphonic Mixed Choir under the direction of Rayna Brooks.
Read our review from Cleveland Classical here
We are grateful to the sponsors and community partners that helped to make our
Ninth Season possible
Ninth Season possible
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Cleveland Chamber Choir is thrilled to announce the appointment of our next Artistic Director, Dr. Gregory Ristow.
Read our recent press release to learn more about Dr. Ristow
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Cleveland Chamber Choir strives to collaborate with other local artists to help feature and celebrate the amazing artistic talent of the Northeast Ohio region. In Season 3, CCC performed John Corigliano's beautiful setting of Dylan Thomas' poem Fern Hill with Bluewater Chamber Orchestra. We have partnered with local photographer Elisa Vietri to set the recording of the performance with images she has taken of our local landscapes.
Please enjoy this beautiful piece, conducted by CCC Artistic Director Scott MacPherson, and featuring mezzo soprano soloist Kira McGirr, recorded live at First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland in May 2018. Bill Marx, Sound Engineer Daniel Meyer, Artistic Director, BlueWater Chamber Orchestra Caroline Carlsmith, Cover Design |
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A Vehicle for Good
The Cleveland Chamber Choir organization is a family of performing artists, administrators, audience members, and over 230 individual donors brought together in the philosophy that choral music is a vehicle for good in the world. Since its founding in 2015, CCC has donated more than $10,000 to help further the missions of:
- Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit & Medina Counties
- CASA Ohio
- Greater Cleveland Food Bank
- More Than Music Artist Relief Fundz
- The Music Settlement
- Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence
- United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland
- VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
- Women 4 Women Ohio
- YMCA of Greater Cleveland
- BlueWater Chamber Orchestra
- Case Western Reserve University
- Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital
- Cleveland Composers Guild
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Cleveland State University
- Kent State University
- Oberlin Choristers
- Theodore Roosevelt High School
- VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
- WCLV 104.9 Ideastream Public Media
- Youngstown State University
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Cleveland Chamber Choir performs "God's Grandeur" from A.M.G.D. (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) by Benjamin Britten at our March 2018 "March Choral Madness" concert at First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland
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CCC's performance of Jonathan Quick's "Loch Lomond" at our September 2018 "Remembrance: War, Peace, and Comfort" concert at the Maltz Performing Arts Center
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The Cleveland Chamber Choir is an ensemble of professional singers from Northeast Ohio.
Committed to the Northeast Ohio region, the Cleveland Chamber Choir is dedicated to growing a diverse audience of choral music and presents concerts throughout Cleveland and its surrounding communities.
Email [email protected]