the choral project
What could be more glorious than the sound of a child singing? The only possible answer is the sound of dozens of children coming together in a series of choirs performing in the breathtakingly beautiful acoustics of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis Assisi, led by our very own choral director, Carmen Flórez-Mansi.
The Santa Fe Symphony’s Youth Choruses provide world-class choral instruction and performance opportunities to students in 3rd grade and up.
We are now offering three choruses—Cantate (beginner), Anima (intermediate), and Choral Scholars (advanced). An audition is required to join the Intermediate and Advanced groups only. The Beginner group does not require an audition.
AUDITIONS
Beginner Students—No audition required
Intermediate Students—Sing a major scale using solfège (do-re-mi) and “America the Beautiful”
Advanced Students—Classical or folk song of choice by memory
To schedule an audition, email cflorezmansi@santafesymphony.org.
The Symphony Youth Chorus has a co-enrollment policy, meaning that students in middle and high school must be enrolled in their school’s music program if one is offered. The Youth Chorus programs are an opportunity for children to explore their voices in a fun, safe, group setting.
All three choruses will be led by Carmen Flórez-Mansi, a lifelong educator and conductor. All choral groups will rehearse at Clare Hall on the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis Assisi Campus, located at 131 Cathedral Place in downtown Santa Fe. Clare Hall is located on the south side of the Cathedral by the fountain.
Beginner—Cantate Youth Chorus
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:15 to 5:00 PM
Intermediate—Anima Youth Chorus
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM
Advanced—Choral Scholars
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM followed by The Symphony Chorus rehearsal & Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM
choral scholars
Do you know a high school student in Santa Fe who loves to sing?
Have them sign up for our Choral Scholars Program. We’re eager to get outstanding high school choral singers who want to join The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus into our Choral Scholars program. Students receive dedicated vocal instruction on technique, performance practice, audition preparation, and more!
For more information about our Choral Scholars Program, e-mail Carmen Flórez-Mansi at cflorezmansi@santafesymphony.org.
MEET THE DIRECTOR
“I am honored to lead The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus and its new Youth Choruses to new heights in excellence and collaboration, and help budding young singers blossom fully.” —Carmen Flórez-Mansi
Carmen Flórez-Mansi, a native of New Mexico, currently serves as the Pastoral Director of Music at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Since 1989, she has performed as a vocal artist, choral conductor, vocal instructor, and a liturgy specialist throughout the Southwest, including appearances at the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, and The Santa Fe Opera. She is also the Founding Director of the Choral Arts Society at St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, which she founded in 2014. Under her direction, this advanced 42-member chorus won the New Mexico Music Educators 2017 State 4A Choral Championship and the 2019 3A State Championship.
In 2017, Mrs. Flórez-Mansi appeared as Guest Choral Director for The Symphony’s annual performances of Handel’s Messiah at the Lensic Performing Arts Center and “Carols & Choruses” at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. She was appointed Choral Director of The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus in June 2018.
She made her debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall as choral conductor for its Father’s Day concert on June 18, 2017, performing Mass of the Children by John Rutter. This was not her first appearance at Carnegie Hall, however. In June 2007, she and 55 members of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Pontifical Chorus performed Handel’s Messiah at Carnegie Hall and in February 2016, she returned to Carnegie Hall with nearly 100 Santa Fe singers—most of them from the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi’s Pontifical Chorus. She and her choristers were honored with an invitation to join the Sistine Chapel Choir in November of that year for the Closing Mass of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, celebrated by His Holiness Pope Francis, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy.
For more information, e-mail Carmen Flórez-Mansi at cflorezmansi@santafesymphony.org.