CHICAGO A CAPPELLA

Chicago a cappella launched ¡Cantaré! Chicago in 2016-17. Originally developed in Minneapolis by the renowned choral organization VocalEssence, ¡Cantaré! Chicago is a unique program designed to bring the talents of composers from Mexico directly into Chicago classrooms. This cross-cultural program creates a deeper understanding of Mexican cultural traditions and enhances the musical skills of Chicago-area students. It encourages ensemble singing in schools, supports vital school music programs, and engenders cultural pride and cross-cultural connections. The program focuses mainly on schools with predominantly Latino/Mexican-American populations.

The program brings a Mexican composer to work as artist-in-residence at Chicago-area schools, both high schools and elementary schools, with a total of four weeks of residency during the school year. After working with students for one week in October, the composer writes new music specifically for each school group and then returns in March and May to work with the students, refining their performance of the new pieces. During the residencies, the composer also teaches students about Mexican culture and works with them on other Mexican songs. The program culminates in a free community concert where all choirs perform their new works and sing together with Chicago a cappella's professional ensemble and high school intern ensemble.

Each residency can be customized to meet the needs of the partner school's curriculum as well as take advantage of the talents of the composer. In addition to the composer residencies and classroom visits by Chicago a cappella artists, Chicago a cappella offers participating schools a resource guide and companion CD that addresses social, historical and cultural contexts of Mexican choral music, which teachers can use as a springboard for integration into their school curriculum.

¡Cantaré! Chicago is a partner program of VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! based in Minneapolis, MN.

HerVoice is a competition and mentorship program for emerging women composers. In collaboration with the Kansas City Chorale, Vancouver Youth Choir, and composers Stacy Garrop, Chen Yi, and Zanaida Robles, the program promotes the work of promising composers—particularly emerging composers—and provides hands-on training to further their skills in choral composition. The program is open to all composers of any age who self-identify as female, from anywhere in the world. Each winner is assigned to work with Chicago a cappella or one of the partner choirs, receives a cash award and consultations with a mentor composer. The choir holds a workshop rehearsal and a full public performance, with a recording created for the composer’s future marketing purposes. Importantly, all composers who submit entries to the program are included in virtual sessions with mentor composers to discuss business aspects of composing and issues pertaining to navigating a career as a female composer.