History of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale

2011 marks the 29th anniversary of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, New Mexico’s first professional choir and now one of the premier choral ensembles in the United States. Each summer, and again during the December holiday season, some of the finest singers from the Southwest and from around the country come to Santa Fe to rehearse and perform works from the rich choral tradition, as well as new compositions commissioned by the Chorale from a broad range of international composers. The Desert Chorale’s annual audience, which numbers nearly 10,000 adults and children, is comprised of New Mexico residents and national and international visitors.

Founder Lawrence Bandfield (1933-2009) conducted the first season in 1983 and established the Desert Chorale as New Mexico’s first professional choir. A champion of Hispanic music, Mr. Bandfield collaborated with scholars throughout the United States to revive some of the great sacred music that arrived in the Americas via the Spanish Empire. Not only were Mr. Bandfield and the Desert Chorale instrumental in the preservation of Hispanic music, but they also added to the repertoire with commissions of new music representative of the eclectic cultures of northern New Mexico.

The values that founder Lawrence Bandfield established sustain the Desert Chorale today: diverse repertory performed by the finest professional musicians, an intimate rapport with audience members and supporters, and strong relationships within the community of Northern New Mexico, including collaborations with the Santa Fe Opera , Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus , Santa Fe New Music , Santa Fe Pro Musica and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum .

Youth education and community outreach remain an important part of the Desert Chorale’s mission, and have included: All-County Youth Chorus, the Desert Chorale’s Children’s Choir, public lectures, pre-concert lectures, open rehearsals and performances at community events on the Plaza and elsewhere in the city, at schools and at senior residence communities. In the summer of 2011, Desert Chorale members will serve as mentors for the choral program of Santa Fe Public School’s second annual Summer Music Camp .

National radio broadcasts of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale performances are heard frequently on Performance Today (Minnesota Public Radio ). The current recording catalog includes 14 titles, representing the four talented music directors who have led the ensemble over the course of its history – Mr. Bandfield, Dennis Shrock, Linda Mack and, now, Joshua Habermann.