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Cántico: The Portland Chamber Singers unites musicians with a passion for performing in a quest to make choral music more accessible.

Many lament that classical music is a dying art, assailed by declining audiences, shrinking budgets, competition from the pop-rock industry behemoth and cuts in school arts funding. Cántico: The Portland Chamber Singers, a new Portland chamber choir, is seeking to buck this trend. Now in its fourth year, this roughly 20-voice vocal ensemble combines an eclectic array of vocal talent with an unlikely mix of programming- including classical, jazz, contemporary a cappella, folk music and small ensembles- in its quest to bring choral music to a new audience.

While Cántico is firmly rooted in the classical choral tradition, its repertoire encompasses a wide scope of styles, from Renaissance motets to doo-wop. There is a large diversity of musical backgrounds among Cántico's singers that reaches from vocal jazz to opera to acoustic folk rock. Cántico tries to showcase a little taste of that diversity in its concerts. In addition to traditional choral music, Cántico's concerts feature smaller ensemble numbers that highlight the different musical backgrounds of its singers.

Cántico was formed by a few self-described "choral geeks" who were looking for a musical outlet that would fit in with the demands of day jobs and children. The group combines a very high standard of performance with a workable rehearsal schedule, making performing with the group manageable for a lot of serious singers who would have otherwise abandoned music due to the competing pressure of jobs and parenthood.

Cántico hopes to bring the excitement of live choral music not only to classical choral enthusiasts, but also to those who may be new to the genre. The concert programming is designed to be enjoyable to both choir fans and newbies. We sing great music from many different styles, drawing on both the familiar and less common. Our hope is that our audience may discover some new favorites and catch a little bit of the excitement and passion we have for the music we sing.

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Our Members (2011-2012):

Karen Porter, Director

Dayna Lowry, Soprano
Ginger Habel, Soprano
Jeanette Hansen, Soprano
JaneAnne Peterson, Soprano
Juliana Boyer, Soprano

Courtney Atack, Alto
Heidi Bruno, Alto
Kristine Parker, Alto
Skye Pixton Engstrom, Alto
Susan Harward, Alto
Tessa Daniel, Alto

David Orme, Tenor
John Peterson, Tenor
Jon Hastings, Tenor
Paul Ownby, Tenor

Brad Schnell, Bass
David Porter, Bass
David Read, Bass
Dale Rasmussen, Bass
Matt Erickson, Bass

Cántico Alumni:

Rebecca Webb, Director 

Ann-Marie Binkerd, Soprano
Brittany Foushee, Soprano
Emily Duke, Soprano
Quincy Magalei, Soprano
Stephanie Christensen, Soprano
Victoria Webb, Soprano

Lindsey Wilcox, Alto

Daniel Webb, Tenor
Keith Biggs, Tenor
Ryan Lingmann, Tenor
Tyler Lake, Tenor

John Barrow, Bass
Kevin Jones, Bass
Louis Prahl, Bass
Patrick Laing, Bass
Bryce Pixton, Bass
Jonathan Brems, Bass
Rob Cornilles, Bass
Steven Lingmann, Bass
 

Instrumentalists & Special Guests 

December 2011

Catherine Stone, harp*
Diana White, oboe*
Heidi Bruno, piano
Kristine Parker, flute

December 2010

Kristine Parker, flute*
Amber MacKay, flute*
Heidi Bruno, piano
Quincy Magalei, piano
Courtney Atack, percussion
Paul Ownby, percussion
Karen Porter, piano

Spring 2010
Ann Christensen*, violin
Alisa Rogers*, organ
Courtney Atack, percussion
Rebecca Webb, piano
Quincy Magalei, piano
Keith Biggs, organ 

December 2009
Kristine Parker*, flute
Kristen Killpack*, flute
Skye Pixton Engstrom, guitar
David Orme, guitar
Keith Biggs, organ
Quincy Magalei, piano

Spring 2009
Steven Wismer*, congas
Karen Porter, piano
Heidi Bruno, piano
Kristine Parker*, flute
Tara Burke*, violin
Heidi Burke*, violin
Kaela Burke*, viola
Hannah Burke*, cello
Rebecca Webb, piano

*special guest instrumentalist. (Those without asterisks are from within Cántico.)