Kantorei is a Denver-based, choral ensemble comprised of volunteer singers under the direction of Artistic Director Joel M. Kantorei’s choral artists have studied at schools with strong music programs across the United States such as Baylor University, Brigham Young University, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, St. Olaf College, Wartburg College, and Westminster Choir College. Kantorei’
s singers reside throughout the greater Denver area. Some serve as choral music educators, church choir conductors, and vocal instructors. Others are doctors, social workers, optometrists, counselors, clinical psychologists, accountants, realtors –all brought together in weekly rehearsals for shared artistic excellence and community. Kantorei frequently performs at major choral conventions across the U.S., has toured around the world, and works with composers and conductors of international renown. Kantorei has sung under the batons of René Clausen, Simon Carrington, Eric Whitacre, Karen Kennedy, and Anton Armstrong. Kantorei has commissioned and premiered new choral works from renowned composers including Kim André Arnesen, Eric William Barnum, Abbie Betinis, René Clausen, Ola Gjeilo, Jake Runestad, Joshua Shank, and Eric Whitacre. Its first international released recording in January 2018, “Infinity: Choral Works of Kim André Arnesen” on the Naxos label climbed to the #2 best-selling classical album on iTunes, #6 on the Traditional Classical Billboard Charts and #19 on the overall Classical Billboard charts. In May 2019, Kantorei recorded the music of Jake Runestad,”Sing, Wearing the Sky”, scheduled for release on August 14, 2020. Santa Barbara Music Publishing Inc., publishes the Kantorei Choral series. Formed in 1997 under the leadership of six friends and artistic director Richard Larson, Kantorei has established itself as one of the nation’s premier choral ensembles and has performed for the American Choral Directors Association National Conferences in 2003, 2011 and 2019. Kantorei’s mission is “to elevate the human experience through choral excellence.”
“…This is an impressive ensemble, always precise and always well-blended.”
– Raymond Tuttle, Fanfare Magazine, July 2018
“Maestro Rinsema’s Kantorei sound gorgeous here.”
– Philip Greenfield, American Record Guide, July 2018
“What finer advocates for his music could a composer have than these excellent singers of Kantorei?”
– David Vernier, Classics Today, April 2018
