A case could be made that Minnesota is the choral hotbed of America.
Sure, San Francisco boasts the incomparable Chanticleer and Salt Lake City has the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
But starting with the Christiansens at St. Olaf College, the Minnesota choral tradition has metastasized, spawning various professional and semi-pro ensembles as well as more fine college choirs at Concordia College, Martin Luther College, Gustavus Adolphus College and, yes, right here at Minnesota State University.
Elisabeth Cherland, MSU’s director of choral activities, says of the Minnesota choral tradition: “The choral culture is strong in Minnesota and has deep roots. The Lutheran liberal arts tradition was foundational, and this rooting has allowed for the growth of choirs in many different settings and contexts. I see the strength of our choral tradition because so many of my students come to MSU from great high school programs and understand the power of corporate singing and music-making.”
Her thoughts are amplified by Dale Haefner, director of the Performance Series at MSU.
“The Mankato area supports a number of well-regarded community choral groups as well as excellent high school choirs,” Haefner says.
That built-in audience is part of why Haefner is bringing back the internationally acclaimed Cantus for a 7:30 p.m. show Monday as part of the Music Performance Series at MSU’s Halling Hall.
Cantus, composed of eight male singers, is considered among the best choral groups in the world. It’s been almost 10 years since they last sang here.
“Audience response was fantastic in 2014,” Haefner said.
The Free Press caught up with a member of the group to talk more about their culture and what the local audience can expect to hear.
Cantus tenor Paul Scholtz says it is rare for any choral musician to have a gig that is “full time, with salary and benefits,” but that’s the case with Cantus. Scholtz is in his ninth season with the Twin Cities-based group, although he is not the longest-tenured; one member has been with them 16 years.
While Cantus, in its 29th season, originated at St. Olaf, their reputation now enables them to audition new members from all across the U.S. and even Europe. With no designated director or conductor, each member is given an equal voice in the curation of concert music, believing that a patchwork of experiences helps guide them.
According to their extensive website (which even includes complete financial information), “We want to share music and ideas with our audiences that may be less familiar to them and allow them to experience empathy and understanding of the world.”
As Scholtz puts it, each of the eight singers is considered an artistic director.
“(We) program collectively,” he says. “We do a lot of talking among the group.”
When they are not touring, they rehearse five hours a day, five days a week. Every two weeks, they meet for a couple of hours just to discuss programming, and any member can pitch an idea. Previous themed presentations include “My Journey, Yours,” focused on immigrants, and “All the Days are Purple,” examining the Jewish experience.
Scholtz says, “We tend to be vulnerable and authentic.” Every member of the group at least occasionally does an arrangement, and some do new compositions; one of those, to be performed in Mankato, is a world premiere of “Honest Work,” by Cantus tenor Paul John Rudoi. Still, 80% of their material is from purchased sheet music arranged for male chorus.
Their Mankato concert is a new program, “Brave,” which examines what it means to identify as a man in a society that prizes conformity over personal authenticity. With works by composers from Edvard Grieg to Fanny Mendelssohn to Sara Bareilles, “Brave” takes a nuanced look at evolving ideas of masculinity and asks, “Are you strong enough to be sensitive?”
The program also includes Cantus’ arrangements of works by pop icons Billy Joel and Harry Chapin. Scholtz says the wide range of human experience “requires a diversity of styles as well as composers, and it’s even more compelling if we can include pop or jazz, as well as classical.”
While COVID was a stressful time for all groups that thrive on live performance, Scholtz says Cantus used the time to do recording, releasing the “COVID Sessions,” which drew over 2 million online views. That led to a practice they have maintained of live-streaming their concerts. The group records for UK-based Signum Classics, and their most recent holiday album includes an arrangement of the Austrian carol “Still, Still, Still” by Aaron Humble, Cherland’s predecessor at MSU, and himself once a member of Cantus.
Cherland calls Cantus “a world class professional choral ensemble … a Minnesota-based treasure,” adding, “their mission goes beyond just giving great concerts. They help us see how choral singing and art make the world a better place.”
She says she’s “thrilled our students will have the opportunity to work with them,” as Cantus members will offer master classes to both the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir prior to their performance. Haefner says he’s also contacted local high school choral directors to see if their students would like to observe the afternoon sessions.
Adds Cherland, “I don’t have to sell the importance of our work together. We need choirs and opportunities to sing together more than ever, and I’m grateful for inspiring colleagues and the many choral artists in this state.”
“The Cantus appearance on campus gives choral music enthusiasts the opportunity to experience one of the premier men’s vocal ensembles in the United States,” Haefner says.