View source for Santa Fe Desert Chorale

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The '''Santa Fe Desert Chorale''' is a 24-voice professional [[choir]] in [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]] which was founded in 1982.

== History ==

The Santa Fe Desert Chorale was founded in 1982 by artistic director Lawrence Bandfield. He chose Santa Fe with the belief that the city's artistic reputation would provide visibility to the group. Banfield led the Chorale until 1998.<ref name=obit>{{cite news|title=Conductor Founded Santa Fe Desert Chorale in 1982|url=http://www.abqjournal.com/obits/profiles/11914535689obitsprofiles02-11-09.htm|accessdate=15 October 2013|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|date=11 February 2009}}</ref>

From 1999 to 2004 the director was Dennis Shrock, who had previously been the choral director of the [[Oklahoma City Philharmonic]].<ref name=shrock>{{cite news|last=Record|first=Sandra|title=Dennis Shrock named interim choral director at TCU|url=http://www.choralnet.org/view/259383|accessdate=15 October 2013|newspaper=Choralnet.org|date=24 June 2010}}</ref>

In 2002 they started a year-round program for children (ages 7 to 14), which also holds public performances.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

[[File:Joshua-Habermann-2019-5474.jpg|thumb|Joshua Habermann, director (2019)]]
The Santa Fe Desert Chorale did not have a director for their 2008 Summer season, using four prospective directors, as well as three guest [[conducting|conductor]]s. Since 2009, their official director has been Joshua Habermann, who was one of the four finalists tried during the 2008 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://desertchorale.org/newsite/conductor.html |title=Santa Fe Desert Chorale Music Director |publisher=desertchoral.org |accessdate=2008-10-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725230631/http://desertchorale.org/newsite/conductor.html |archivedate=2011-07-25 }}</ref> Habermann also directs the [[Dallas Symphony Chorus]].<ref name=simpson>{{cite news|last=Simpson|first=Michael Wade|title=Summer Voices: Santa Fe Desert Chorale|url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/music/classical_music/article_6c041ad6-e40d-11e2-8d4e-001a4bcf6878.html|accessdate=14 October 2013|newspaper=The Santa Fe New Mexican|date=5 July 2013}}</ref>

During the Winter, 2011 season, the Chorale debuted a second group, named Desert Chorale II composed of students from the [[University of New Mexico]], in addition to singers from the main group. Desert Chorale II was formed by Habermann as a means of providing training to singers outside of a university setting.<ref name=second>{{cite news|last=Van Cleve|first=Emily|title=Desert Chorale's Second Group Debuts for Holidays|url=http://www.abqjournal.com/74094/north/desert-chorales-second-group-debuts-for-holidays.html|accessdate=15 October 2013|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|date=9 December 2011}}</ref>
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== Organization ==

The Desert Chorale holds general concerts during Summer, and holiday concerts in December. They have recorded 13 CDs.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}

The casting of the chorus changes yearly, with about two thirds returning on any given year. Habermann conducts auditions in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, while some musicians send recordings.<ref name=simpson />

==See also==
* [[Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://desertchorale.org/}}
* {{AllMusic |class=artist |id=mn0001720204 |tab= |label=Santa Fe Desert Chorale |first= |last= |accessdate= }}

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[[Category:American choirs]]
[[Category:Culture of Santa Fe, New Mexico]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1982]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Santa Fe, New Mexico]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Musical groups from New Mexico]]


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