San Diego Master Chorale Announces 2023-24 Season

Season includes California Festival, Messiah Sing, Honor Choir, St. James Music Series, and more

Tickets go on sale September 12

For Immediate Release:
September 6, 2023

Contact: Laura Schairer
[email protected]
480-797-3111

The San Diego Master Chorale has announced its 2023-24 Season comprised of five distinct programs, with a compelling blend of tradition, collaborations, and artistic exploration. Tickets will go on sale September 12, 2023 at sdmasterchorale.org. Single tickets are $30, with discounts available for Students, Seniors, and Active Duty Military; children 12 and under are free. 

“Every season is an opportunity for new exploration,” said Music Director John K. Russell, “whether it’s revisiting a cherished masterwork like Duruflé’s Requiem, or new works written in this decade by composers like Jennifer Lucy Cook and Zanaida Robles. This season, the Chorale is singing music that’s familiar and beloved to audiences and singers alike. There’s really a playlist for everyone.” 

The San Diego Master Chorale’s 63rd season opens with its forward-looking “Where All Are Welcome” program, November 4-5, 2023, during the opening weekend of the California Festival. The California Festival is a statewide initiative showcasing performances of music written in the past five years (CAFestival.org). “Where All Are Welcome” celebrates diverse cultures and life experiences through choral works by some of California’s brightest composers including Saunder Choi, Shawn Kirchner, R. Matthew Brown, and Zanaida Robles.

The season continues with its 13th annual “Messiah Sing” on December 3, 2023. On March 16, 2024, the Chorale hosts the largest invitational youth “Honor Choir” in San Diego, bringing 100 talented students from across San Diego County together for a day of workshops and a community concert with the SD Master Chorale. 

The Chorale is also expanding its youth engagement providing new student group tickets, free of charge when reserved by educators and choir directors as well as $5 “rush tickets” available 10 minutes before concert time for anyone 25 years old and younger.

Additional highlights for the season include the Chorale’s first appearance as part of the St. James Music Series with Duruflé’s Requiem in April followed by “Stage & Screen” in June, featuring popular theater and film music and beloved opera choruses. Guest appearances by San Diego Master Chorale this season include “Noel Noel” with the San Diego Symphony (December 2023) at The Rady Shell and with the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra (June 2024).

“The San Diego Master Chorale is known for its collaborative work both on stage and in the community so it’s exciting to see what we can now build from this solid foundation,” says Executive Director Jen Rogers. “We’ve developed a truly remarkable season, filled with new partnerships, new experiences, new friends and some new spaces. This season will really illustrate what we all love about this art form, how beautifully transformational it is when individual voices from different backgrounds, with different voices and ideas, come together to create something beautiful, something new.”

1. WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME
November 4, 2023, 4:00 pm
Village Community Presbyterian Church, Rancho Santa Fe

November 5, 2023, 3:00 pm
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Embark on a journey of unity and inclusion with the San Diego Master Chorale as we celebrate diverse cultures and life experiences through choral music. Drawing inspiration from composers like Jennifer Lucy Cook and Jocelyn Hagen, we explore the path of inter-religious harmony and the richness of different traditions. Featured works by California-based composers Saunder Choi, Shawn Kirchner, R. Matthew Brown, and Zanaida Robles augment this rich tapestry of human connection. Join the Chorale for a musical experience where all are welcome and united through the shared voice of music.

These concerts are part of the California Festival, A Celebration of New Music. This statewide music initiative showcases the most compelling and forward-looking voices in performances of works written in the past five years. CAFestival.org 

2. MESSIAH SING
December 3, 2023 – 4:00 pm
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego

Embrace the spirit of the season with the San Diego Master Chorale’s 13th annual ‘Messiah Sing.’ Audience members join SD Master Chorale singers in a communal celebration, singing selections from Handel’s Messiah. Under the direction of Music Director John K. Russell, featured soloists from the Chorale will be accompanied by organist Martin Green, who is both Canon of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral and the Chorale’s Associate Music Director. Together, we’ll create a shared musical experience like no other. Bring your own score or rent one at the venue and be part of this timeless holiday favorite.

3. HONOR CHOIR
March 16, 2024 – 4:00 pm
First United Methodist Church, San Diego

Witness the future of choral music when 100 gifted students from across San Diego County take the stage for the San Diego Master Chorale’s annual Honor Choir. After a day immersed in workshops and rehearsals, these talented young singers will unite with the SD Master Chorale, igniting a performance filled with inspiration and joy. From masterworks to works by today’s greatest composers, the Chorale’s Honor Choir concert creates a harmony that combines youthful energy with the wisdom of experienced voices. Don’t miss this unforgettable showcase of talent, enthusiasm, and hope.

4. DURUFLÉ REQUIEM
April 27, 2024 – 4:00 pm
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego

April 28, 2024 – 4:00pm*
St. James-by-the-Sea, La Jolla

Immerse yourself in a musical experience that soothes and elevates the soul. Duruflé’s iconic Requiem transports you to a world of serenity through its lush harmonies, flowing melodies, and an enduring sense of tranquility. Experience the harmonious embrace of this masterwork along with works by Britten, Butler, and Brahms, performed by the San Diego Master Chorale with organist Martin Green, Canon for Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. Join us for an unforgettable afternoon as we celebrate the enduring beauty of choral art and offer a serene escape through the power of music. *This performance is part of the St. James Music Series.

5. STAGE & SCREEN
June 1, 2024 – 7:00 pm
First United Methodist Church, San Diego

Take a seat and raise the curtain on one of our most celebrated programs as we present an encore performance of Stage & Screen—a magical blend of choral music from opera, theater, television, and film. From the whimsical chords of ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ to the dramatic crescendos of Verdi’s masterful operas, the San Diego Master Chorale brings to life the songs that have shaped our collective cultural memories. Join us for an evening filled with joy, nostalgia, and a performance that resonates across generations, touching the hearts of music lovers young and old.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO MASTER CHORALE Since 1961, the San Diego Master Chorale has presented inspiring and exhilarating performances throughout San Diego County. Featuring 140 of the region’s finest singers, the Chorale performs classical masterworks, new music by contemporary composers, and diverse works under the direction of Music Director John K. Russell. 

Each year, the SD Master Chorale reaches tens of thousands of listeners, both on stage and off, through live performances across San Diego including collaborations with the San Diego Symphony and Mainly Mozart Festival, and through broadcasts on San Diego’s NPR station, KPBS. The mission of SD Master Chorale is to connect all people to the joy of professional-caliber live choral music and enrich lives by sharing what we have in common — our voice. For more, visit sdmasterchorale.org.

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