CANTORE MEN'S ACAPPELLA
Cantore (Latin for “singers”) is ten men who love to sing. Its members come from many walks of life. Outside of singing, they teach, preach, program computers, farm, write, make art, roast coffee, sell things, or are retired. Their common bond is making good a cappella music. Their repertoire is primarily sacred and draws from a variety of styles and traditions, from standard religious choral works, international, classical, bluegrass gospel, spirituals, folk, hymn arrangements, and a few pop and secular numbers. They perform in churches, banquets, festivals, retirement communities, civic events, and more. Since 2002 they have performed over 300 times, and have toured as far as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida.
covid-era videos!
The COVID-19 pandemic has put all ensemble music-making on hold, so scheduled performances have been cancelled, and we take it all a day at a time. But the song must go on! We are working on some "virtual choir" pieces, and had a fun evening rehearsal recently in our separate cars! Yes, believe it! Or watch the videos below. Enjoy!
If you walked or drove by the Park View Mennonite Church parking lot on Monday, June 8, you might have been curious about the eight cars parked in a circle, nose-in, around a conductor waving his arms while singing into a mic. There was a good reason. Here is one product of our absolutely COVID-risk-free real-time group music rehearsal, made possible with an FM transmitter and our car radios. It was mostly for fun, and to sing together for the first time in three months. It was also to help David Newman, baritone, and JMU music professor, to further research this method of real-time ensemble singing with zero exposure risk. Enjoy! And thanks, David!
A "Virtual Choir" rendition of Bradley Lehman's "Dry Bones."
Meet the SINGERs
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CURRENT MEMBERS
Phil Kniss
Jim Hershberger Jeremy Nafziger Jeff Myers Hans Burkholder Robert Maust Christian Herrick Don Bomberger David Clymer Kirk Shank-Zehr (left to right in photo above) |
OUR GROUP STYLE
Cantore has no conductor, per se. While one of its members gives primary direction, all members are involved in developing consensus on style and musical interpretation. Members often bring songs to rehearsals and make suggestions, expanding the repertoire and bringing new and interesting possibilities. Members switch voice parts occasionally, depending on the song.
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