The Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale is regarded as one of the finest professional choral ensembles in America and is equally dedicated to the creation and performance of new music, which it intermingles with more traditional concert literature. Audiences around the world have been treated to the sounds of the Chorale through live performances across the United States and in Canada, and in live broadcasts and recordings on radio stations across the globe.
In 2004, the Phoenix Chorale became the first North American choir to release an album on Chandos Records, one of the largest independent classical record labels in the world. The Phoenix Chorale’s newest solo recording, Spotless Rose, was released in September 2008, and was nominated for ‘Best Classical Album’ and won a Grammy for ‘Best Small Ensemble Performance.’
In 2008, the Phoenix Chorale’s recording Grechaninov: Passion Week, was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including ‘Best Classical Album of the Year,’ ‘Best Choral Performance,’ ‘Best Surround Sound Album,’ and won a Grammy for ‘Best Engineered Album, Classical.’ Grechaninov: Passion Week is the Phoenix Chorale’s second joint-recording in a series of albums on the Chandos Record label with the Kansas City Chorale, also led by Artistic Director Charles Bruffy.
Two other joint-recordings have been released on Chandos Records, Eternal Rest (2005) and Rheinberger: Sacred Choral Works (2007), which was nominated for two Grammy Awards, ‘Best Choral Performance,’ and ‘Best Surround Sound Album.’
In its 50-year history, the Phoenix Chorale’s conductors have included Millicent Wesley (the Chorale’s first conductor from 1958), Wallace Hornibrook, Dan Durand, Vance George, Anders Öhrwall, Jon Washburn, and Charles Bruffy. More information at www.phoenixchorale.org.
