In Fall 1987 Artistic Director David Morales founded Cantare Con Vivo (To Sing With Life) as a non-profit, tax-exempt music organization. From its inception, the 24-singer mixed choral ensemble has provided choral music with an uncompromising commitment to excellence for its singers and listeners. In 1989 they expanded to 40 singers and remained as such for a decade, until February 1999, when Cantare reorganized, forming three distinct wings to its program: Cantare Chorale, Chamber Ensemble, and a Music Education and Outreach Program for children in Oakland's urban center.

The Chorale is the finest of its kind in the East Bay, with 100-plus auditioned singers performing three different concert programs each season, often accompanied by full orchestra. They successfully completed their first international tour in June 2005, traveling to the Baltic Countries and presenting outstanding concerts in each. In June 2008 they returned to Europe, this time to Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague, performing for standing-room-only audiences in addition to giving the premiere performance of Bloch's Sacred Service in Eastern Europe.

The 24-voice Chamber Ensemble, Cantare's premier musical group, presents a rich array of the most challenging choral works available, including those hot off the press from various countries.

Cantare Children's Choirs of Oakland offers weekly choral music education to over 1000 underserved children from kindergarten through high school. This outstanding program, free-of-charge to all its participants, helps to fill the widening gap created by state and city cutbacks. The All Star Singers was formed in 2004 focusing on middle and high school age singers, including boys with changing voices. In April 2008, they received the Gold rating at the Heritage festival in Anaheim. In February 2009 we began our newest choir Nova, targeting unchanged voices in middle and high school, successfully debuting in April. Our current plan is to begin a high school boys choir in February 2010. We will also debut our first commissioned piece in April 2010 in celebration of our tenth anniversary.

Cantare offers a rich variety of both sacred and secular music in styles representing numerous national and international composers. (See the repertoire on the Cantare Chorale and Chamber Ensemble pages). Cantare's adult choirs have performed over 100 different concert programs, representing over 1000 compositions, including numerous choral/orchestral works. Cantare is funded through the generosity of its singers and supporters in addition to several foundations, grants and corporate sponsors, and graciously welcomes tax-deductible contributions to assist in making its events and programs possible. (See: Make a Difference)