Gather your friends and family and join us for our highly anticipated Choral Masterworks performance at Santa Fe’s iconic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Choral Director Carmen Flórez-Mansi leads the angelic voices of our Symphony Chorus for this uplifting program with featured soloists accompanied by Collaborative Pianist Paul Roth.

Experience some of the most beautiful Latin American choral works ever written, including Ariel Ramirez’ Misa Criolla, Nico Gutierrez’ Amo, Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bendita Sabedoria and Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, Movement No. 1, and other choral masterworks with featured soloists: Katherine Keener, Soprano; Kehar Koslowsky, Mezzo-Soprano; Carlos Vazquez Baur, Tenor; Caleb Heaton, Bass; and Devin DeVargas, Bass.

Carmen Flórez-Mansi, Choral Director

A native of New Mexico, Carmen Flórez-Mansi 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 liturgy specialist throughout the Southwest, including appearances with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, and The Santa Fe Opera. Mrs. Flórez-Mansi is also the Founding Director of the Choral Arts Society at St. Michael’s High School, 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 which took place at Cleveland High School in Albuquerque.

Katherine Keener, Soprano

Katherine Keener is a soprano contract singer with The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus.  A Colorado native, Katherine graduated with honors from the University of Colorado with a degree in Music Education.  While at the University of Colorado, Katherine studied voice with Dr. Patti Peterson and performed in several operas with CU’s Ecklund Opera.

Kehar Koslowsky, Mezzo-Soprano

Kehar Koslowsky is an accomplished choral artist, currently singing with The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus, with whom she was a soloist last season in Vivaldi’s Gloria. She has performed extensively in the Washington, DC area with the Cathedral Choral Society, Washington Bach Consort, and Woodley Ensemble. She was a staff singer at St. Michael’s Cathedral, and St. John’s Church Lafayette Square …

Carlos Vazquez Baur, Tenor

Born and raised in Santa Fe, Carlos Andres Vázquez Baur began his musical journey with the Cathedral Basilica choirs and marimba band, singing in multiple masses and large events including the 400th Anniversary Mass and at Carnegie Hall, and starred in staged productions with Pandemonium Productions from 2004 until 2013.

Devin DeVargas, Bass

Devin DeVargas, bass-baritone, brings a warm refreshing presence coupled with a resonant and commanding sound to the opera stage. Most recently, he appeared as Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro at Red River Lyric Opera, and as the Congregation Leader and Shipmaster in Lori Laitman’s The Scarlet Letter while at the University of Oklahoma.

Caleb Heaton, Bass

Caleb Heaton teaches choir at Santa Fe High School and is the team leader of the choral program in the Santa Fe Public Schools. He has a Bachelor of Music from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. At Concordia College, he toured Germany and the Southwestern United states with the internationally acclaimed Concordia Choir.