The 2025-2026 Concert Season
Just when we need it most, the Arizona Masterworks Chorale presents some of the greatest choral pieces ever!
May 17: Rejoice in the Desert
The Arizona Masterworks Chorale season finale is a celebration of life in the Sonoran Desert, including Benjamin Britten’s “Neo-Classical” (1943) cantata Rejoice in the Lamb, a set from local guest artists the Masters Men’s Choir of Phoenix, and masterworks by contemporary Arizona composers Kira Zeeman Rugen, Michael Hegeman, Michael McCabe, Paul Sautter, and our own Darren Herring.
Sunday, May 17 at 3 PM
Church of the Epiphany
2222 South Price Road, Tempe
Click to Buy Tickets Online
$20 General Admission
$15 Seniors and Students
12 and under free with paid admission
Concert Program
The Classic Masterwork:
Rejoice in the Lamb
A Cantata for Solists, Choir, and Organ
Benjamin Britten (1943)
from the poem “Jubilate Agno” by Christopher Smart
(c. 1763, published 1939 as “Rejoice in the Lamb: A Song from Bedlam”)
Special Guests The Masters Men’s Choir of Phoenix
Wankantanhon Hotan’ipe, arr. Linthicum-Blackhorse
Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal, arr. Alice Parker
Shenandoah, arr. Jack Schrader
Here Comes the Light, arr. John Yane
The Times They Are A-Changin’, Bob Dylan, arr. Adam Podd
Unclouded Day from “Heavenly Home”, J.K. Alwood, arr. Shawn Kirchner
Special Guest Artists
For the past 16 years, the Masters Men’s Choir has served as the adult extension of the Phoenix Boys Choir, seeking to be the premiere male chamber ensemble in Arizona.
Contemporary Masterworks
From Arizona Composers
Kira Zeeman Rugen
Atmosphere
A Golden Thread Will Find You
Michael Hegeman
Three Chansons by Guilliame DuFay, c. 1420-1440
Se la face ay pale
La belle se siet
Adieu ces bons vins de Lannoys
Paul Sautter
Ademus Te, Christe
Michael McCabe
A Radiant Mercy Softly Lies
Hymn to St. Cecilia
Darren S. Herring
O Sacrum Convivium
How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You
Program subject to change without notice
March 8: A Return to MasterworkS
A concert that spans centuries of choral beauty: Schubert’s radiant Mass in G, written with youthful devotion and classical grace, Eric Whitacre’s luminous Five Hebrew Love Songs, a modern cycle of poetry, tenderness, and joy, and an exploration of chant from medieval to modern music, performed with a chamber ensemble and guest artists.
Saturday, March 7 at 4 PM
Orangewood Presbyterian Church
7321 North 10th Street, Phoenix
Concert Program
The Classic Masterwork:
Mass in G Major, D.167
Franz Schubert
Kyrie Andante con moto, G major
Gloria Allegro maestoso, D major
Credo Allegro moderato, G major
Sanctus Adagio moderato, D major
Benedictus Andante grazioso, G major; canon Osanna in excelsis, D major
Agnus Dei Lento, G major
Conductor: Darren Herring
Vocal Soloists: Jennifer Holm, soprano; James Stirling, tenor; Bryan Waznik, baritone
String Quartet: Violin I: Claire Sievers; Violin II: Sarah Peters; Viola: Marcella Columbus; Cello: Moria Bogardus
The Contermporary Masterwork:
Five Hebrew Love Songs
Music by Eric Whitacre, Poetry by Hila Plitmann
CLICK TO READ PROGRAM NOTES AND POEM TEXT
CLICK TO HEAR AMC’s PERFORMANCE of “Five Hebrew Love Songs”
Temuná (A Picture)
Kalá Kallá (Light Bride)
Larov (Mostly)
Étze Shéleg! (What Snow!)
Rakut (Tenderness)
Conductor: James Stirling
Vocal Soloist: Ashlie Smith, soprano
Violin: Sarah Peters; Tambourine: Darren Herring
Connecting the Ages:
The Evolution of Liturgical Chant
Setting the historical and spiritual context: one of the oldest continuously practiced sacred musical traditions, still a part of modern Western music.
Conductor: Ashlie Smith
Byzantine Chant: Lenten Divine Liturgy Selections (Traditional)
Soloist/Chanter: Rev. Protopresbyter Apostolos Hill
Cherubim Song (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
Song for Athene (John Tavener)
Organ Drone: Darren Herring
The Lord is My Shepherd (John Rutter)
Flute: Kathryn Yoder
December 14: You Rutter Watch Out!
A Masterworks Chorale Christmas
Fun for the whole family with holiday masterpieces from Master Composer John Rutter, a joyous community sing-along, and seasonal favorites from the Chorale. Be a part of it all on
Sunday, December 14 at 3 PM
in the sanctuary at Church of the Epiphany, 2222 South Price Road, Tempe
Concert Program
You Rutter Watch Out!
The Essential Carols of John Rutter
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
Nativity Carol
Candlelight Carol
Angel Carol
Christmas Lullaby
Star Carol
Sans Day Carol
I Wish You Christmas
A Community Sing-Along
We’re All in the Mood for Good Cheer!
With and Audience Carols Sing-Along
Seasonal Favorites
The Chorale Celebrates the Joy of the Season
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Eddie Pola)
Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson)
Carol of the Bells (Peter Wilhousky, arr. Kent Trostel)
Light the Candles (Jill Galina)
The Twelve Days After Christmas (Frederick Silver)
Throw the Yule Log On, Uncle John (P. D. Q. Bach)
Deck the Halls in 7/8 (James McKelvy)
Sir Christèmas (William Matthias)
“We’re celebrating the choral legacy of Christmas through the brilliance of John Rutter and a touch of Holiday music and mischief”
November 30: Messiah Sing-Along 2025
The Arts at Ascension presents the fourth annual Sing-Along of George Frederick Handel’s classic holiday oratorio “Messiah”. It’s a free, family holiday fun afternoon, featuring soloists and choristers from The Arizona Masterworks Chorale and the North Scottsdale United Methodist Church, musicians from the Women’s Orchestra of Arizona — and the voices of everyone who loves singing choruses from Handel’s magnificent creation.
Come and sing along, or just sit back and enjoy the greatest Christmas oratorio ever.
Open seating and no rehearsal necessary for singers! If you don’t have a score, click here to download one in PDF.
Sunday, November 30 at 3:00 PM
North Scottsdale United Methodist Church
11735 North Scottsdale Road, Just South of Cactus Road
Admission Free – Donations Requested
The Program
Sinfonia (Overture: Orchestra)
Ev’ry Valley (James Stirling, Tenor)
Chorus: And the glory of the Lord
Thus Saith the Lord / But who may abide (Robert Altizer, Bass)
Chorus: And He shall purify
Behold, a virgin shall conceive (Ashlie Smith, Alto)
Chorus: O thou that tellest good tiding to Zion
For Behold / The people that walked in darkness (Darren Herring, Bass)
Chorus: For unto us a child is born
Pifa (Pastoral: Orchestra)
There were shepherds … And suddenly there was with the angel (Jennifer Holm, Soprano)
Chorus: Glory to God in the Highest
Rejoice, greatly (Jennifer Holm,Soprano)
He shall feed his flock (Ashlie Smith, Alto and Jennifer Holm, Soprano)
Chorus: His yoke is easy
Chorus: Hallelujah!
No rehearsal is required!
Bring your own choral score or download this one, and join in the fun.
Admission is free, donations are requested to benefit all Arts at Ascension members.
Programs are subject to change without notice.