About
Us
KANTOREI is
a four-tiered organization. Uncommon among boychoirs
in that the changed voices (tenors and basses) are
retained, the Performing Choir interprets music from
an extensive repertoire including music characteristic
of the European boychoirs, as well as a vast array
of sacred and secular music spanning several centuries
including, folk and world music, spirituals, patriotic
pieces, show tunes, gospel, and jazz. The choir's
repertoire has broadened to include commissioned works
and dozens of choral arrangements written specifically
for KANTOREI.
The Lyric,
Cadet, and Chorister Choirs are the preparatory levels
of the program. The Choristers have little or no music
training or singing experience. Cadet Choir members
have usually participated as Choristers for a year
or more, or come into the program with other prior
training. The Lyric Choir provides a more challenging
level to the preparatory program.
Tour
The Performing Choir
has been internationally acclaimed in concert appearances
throughout Scandinavia, Great Britain, France, Germany,
Switzerland, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Canada,
Japan, New Zealand, and Brazil. The boys have performed extensively
in the United States giving concerts in such diverse
places as the United States Air Force and Naval Academies,
the United States Capitol, the White House, the Holocaust
Memorial Museum, Grand Canyon National Park, Opryland,
and Walt Disney World.
Local
Performances
Local ensemble performances
include the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Bach Chamber
Choir, Rockford Chamber Players Brass Ensemble, Mendelssohn
Chorale, Rockford College Music Academy , and many
other professional singers and instrumentalists. Other
northern Illinois appearances have included the "On
the Waterfront" Festival, the “Young at
Heart” festival, the Concert in the Park series,
and "First Night Rockford." In the Rockford
community, the choir performs annual Christmas and
spring concerts. The 2003-2004 season marked the group’s
40th Anniversary, which was celebrated with a spectacular
concert at the Coronado Theatre and featured KANTOREI
alumni.
In
addition to these more high profile concerts, the
boys perform gratis concerts each year for the residents
of the Provena Cor Mariae Health Care Center. The
choirs also perform regularly in other venues throughout
the community including Kiwanis, Rotary Club, Boys
and Girls Club of Rockford, New American Theatre,
nursing homes, etc. Recruitment campaigns have included
many performances in various schools in order to reach
underserved boys. As a result, the choir has benefited
by a broadening of its diversity.
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Honors
and Awards
In April 2002, the
group was invited to perform during the opening ceremonies
of the RAMI (Rockford Area Music Industry) Awards.
Later in the ceremony, KANTOREI was awarded the “Best
Choral Group” and “Album of the Year”
for Songs for a Better World.
In 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 KANTOREI was once again presented
with the “Best Choral Group” Award.
Sharing
the Stage
Through the study
of choral music at home and on tour, KANTOREI has
been privileged to share the stage with a host of
other prominent choirs including the American Boychoir,
Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Golden Gate Boys
Choir of San Francisco, Cincinnati Boychoir, Memphis
Boychoir, Land of Lakes Singing Boys of Minnesota,
Green Bay Boychoir, Amabile Youth Singers (Canada),
Boni Pueri (Czech Republic), Matsubokkri Children’s
Choir (Japan), Roder Jongenskoor (Netherlands), Jazeps
Medins Choir of Men and Boys (Latvia), the Tallinna
Poisterkoor (Estonia), the Australian Boys Choir,
Christchurch Boys Choir, Otago Boys Choir, St. Patrick
College Choir, and the St. Kentigern’s Boys
College Choir (New Zealand). KANTOREI recently hosted
a joint concert with Cantus, the men’s professional
choir from Minnesota .
Singing
Ambassadors
KANTOREI has made
numerous appearances at the Alliance World Festival
of Singing for Men and Boys (formally known as AmericaFest),
a prestigious international festival of men and boychoirs.
As Rockford's "Singing Ambassadors," KANTOREI
has actively participated in programs that bridge
cultural and language barriers, foster international friendships, create an appreciation for various lifestyles
and customs, and promote international understanding
through music.
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us for more information
