GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
In 2023 Kantorei’s board of directors created the Global Engagement Committee to help reach strategic goals related to our mission and vision. Our current global engagement is focused on Vocalis, a choir in Guatemala.
Global Engagement Founding Principles
Grow Kantorei’s domestic visibility by having a positive impact on choirs outside of the U.S.
Provide musical education, board development tools, strategies and resources that drive lasting sustainability in developing choral communities.
Through its efforts, develop a network of global choirs that expand Kantorei’s artistic recognition and awareness around the world.
How does Global Engagement fit?
Kantorei’s Mission
We are innovators: we responsibly leverage our resources to commission work by living composers, perform music by underrepresented and emerging artists, encourage future talent through educational engagement, and nurture the choral community.
Kantorei’s Values
Community – We provide an opportunity for singers, artists, students, and audiences from many different backgrounds and identities to share in musical experiences that allow us to transcend the world we live in. Our singers show up for each other, both musically and personally. We are in community with the composers who partner with us. We create nurturing relationships with other choirs so we can collectively thrive. We show young and emerging artists what their musical future can look like.
Inclusion: We amplify voices that should be heard, and seek to bring our voices to new places. We connect diverse audiences through the power of music
Innovation: As an organization, we are never stagnant. We feel a responsibility to use our funding to to to to educate, delight, and amaze, which is evident through every aspect of our work: programming,
recordings, concerts, and community impact
How did it all start?
In 2017 Kantorei formed a relationship with the Guatemalan choir Vocalis when both groups discovered that we were performing similar concerts half a world away. In the ensuing choral exchange, Vocalis members came to Denver to perform with Kantorei and several members of Kantorei traveled to Guatemala to perform with Vocalis. Building on this act of cultural diplomacy, the two choirs co-commissioned a new work from Grammy-nominated composer Jake Runestad based on the poetry of renowned Guatemalan and Mayan poet Humberto Akʼabal, and featuring English, Spanish and Ki’che languages.
Impact
The partnership between Kantorei and Vocalis has been a profoundly enriching experience, leaving a lasting mark on the musical and personal growth of our members. From its inception, this collaboration has created a valuable space for learning, cultural exchange, and choral development—becoming a bridge of friendship between two communities united by their shared passion for music.
Through this alliance, we have had the privilege of participating in specialized workshops, music camps, and masterclasses led by Kantorei’s singers. These experiences have strengthened our vocal technique, ensemble tuning, artistic interpretation, and collaborative skills—while offering a broader perspective on the discipline and dedication that choral singing demands at the international level.
- Lucia, Vocalis Singer
Being part of Vocalis Camerata while serving on the Vocalis Board has allowed me to see this collaboration with Kantorei from both the inside and the outside. As a singer, I’ve experienced how their influence refined our sound and expanded our musical perspective. As a board member, I’ve seen how this partnership has strengthened our structure, deepened our focus, and inspired a renewed commitment to excellence throughout the organization.
I think the biggest change has been in our mindset. Before Kantorei, excellence felt like something we were reaching toward; now, it feels like something within reach—something we can build, refine, and sustain through process, discipline, and collaboration. The partnership has encouraged us to look inward as much as outward, recognizing that growth comes from both high standards and shared purpose.
- Ricardo, Voclis singer and board member
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Are you a choir interested in working with Kantorei?