Singing to Enrich and Inspire
Auditions
2026-27 season
happening now
Coming in October 2026
Considering Matthew Shepard
by Craig Hella Johnson
October 24 - November 1, 2026
Historic Chateau Theatre
tickets on sale in August
Our 2026-27 season begins with the powerful contemporary choral work Considering Matthew Shepard. Written by Minnesota composer Craig Hella Johnson, this three part oratorio is a compassionate and deeply human piece centered around the murder of Matthew Shepard. It weaves together excerpts from Matthew's own journal, reflections from his family, interview and news accounts, and poetry and spiritual texts to create a story of hope, compassion, and our shared responsibility to one another.
Singing to enrich and inspire
Choral Arts is a community choral organization in Rochester, MN, dedicated to outstanding choral performance. We have two auditioned choirs -- the mixed 60-voice Ensemble Singers, and the 25-voice Treble Singers.
Please take a moment to learn more about us:
Commissioned Works
Choral Arts has a long history of supporting the creation of new choral works through our commissioning program. Our concerts regularly feature world premieres of new pieces. Currently our library includes more than 80 commissions. Learn more about our commissions
Education & Outreach
Recent studies show that choral activities are essential for community health. The 2019 Chorus Impact Study: Singing for a Lifetime revealed that music education in schools is key to lifelong singing and the benefits it brings.
The study further highlighted the importance of choral groups in communities. People of all ages who sing feel more connected to others and better able to socialize . Also, choral singing promotes healthy, vibrant aging and even improvements to chronic health conditions.
Choral Arts Ensemble supports several programs that bring choral music to our community.
