Soul Music

Art of Life — Produced by Karen Smyles

Making music since 1982, Choral Arts Philadelphia actively participates in the region’s musical community by celebrating the talents of local professional and amateur musicians. As Philadelphia’s premier chamber chorus, Choral Arts Philadelphia presents concert experiences that delight and engage the community as well as contribute to their appreciation of the repertoire. Choral Arts Philadelphia is committed to musical excellence, historically informed performance practices, and furthering the great tradition of choral music.

Under the tenure of its first artistic director, Sean Deibler, the chorus regularly partnered with the Philadelphia Orchestra in concert and on recordings. Since then, Choral Arts Philadelphia has built a significant reputation and artistic presence in Philadelphia and has maintained a particularly strong commitment to exploring areas of the choral repertoire outside of the central canon. Under the artistic direction of Matthew Glandorf since 2007, Choral Arts Philadelphia has continued to build its reputation as a premiere early music choir. In its distinguished 32-year history, the choir has performed nearly 300 works by more than 100 composers.

Art of life visited with Choral Arts during rehearsals for a performance that was part of their Bach@ 7 series. In Fall 2013, Choral Arts and Bach Festival of Philadelphia launched a new season-spanning collaborative project that highlights rarely heard cantatas by J.S. Bach. We talk with Matthew Glandorf about the organizations beginnings and why the music of Bach is so special. We also meet singers and musicians and learn why they cherish their roles with Choral Arts.