For the first time in our 56 year history we are unable to rehearse or perform together. In order to maintain the opportunity to sing “together” and to provide our audiences continuing entertainment and solace in these challenging days, we are now singing virtually! If you’d like to sing with us in this Virtual Season, email us at cantatasingers@ymail.com
Click here to learn more about our first 50 years
Who are the Cantata Singers?
The Cantata Singers were founded in Elmira, NY in 1964 as a community-based choral organization dedicated to providing local residents the opportunity to perform, or listen to (or both), great classical choral works. Since the beginning, we have performed over 150 free concerts throughout the Southern-Tier region. Our season typically consists of three performances, an Advent-Christmas concert in early December, a performance in late February or early March, and another in May, concerts that are likely to include anything from Bach or the Renaissance masters to the works of contemporary composers. Sacred or secular, music intended for the concert stage, church, synagogue, or cultural festival is all fair game.
The Cantata Singers mission is to provide high quality, free performances of great music for the entertainment and education of our audiences and singers. Diversity, equity and inclusion are part of music and therefore are at the core of who we are.
Rehearsals
We rehearse every Sunday beginning with the first Sunday after Labor Day weekend until our final concert in May. We typically take a week or two off around the Christmas and New Year holidays. We meet at the Parish Hall at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 408 S. Main St. Horseheads, across from the public library. Rehearsal time is 6:00 to 8:30 pm with a short break approximately halfway through.
What Makes the Cantata Singers Unique?
It’s more than just the music we sing, our choral family is a source of strength.
We are big enough to take on great choral works, yet small enough so every voice counts.
We sing in the best places, churches and other venues that provide superior acoustics that display the music to the best advantage.
We have a goal. Our efforts are
focused, because our music is an offering. In the words of our motto, ‘Soli Deo Gloria’.
We work collaboratively with area educational institutions to help expose students to fine choral singing and great music.
We actively seek new and rarely performed choral gems of all traditions and time periods.
We work hard, yet we have great fun!
Auditions
We are a fun loving group that takes our music seriously, but you do not need to be a trained singer to join us. Auditions are not required, although the director may ask to hear new singers for placement purposes.