Cantare from the Comfort of Home

In 2020 we rose to the challenge the pandemic presented and made dramatic program shifts.

During shelter-in-place, when so many activities came to an abrupt and prolonged halt, our youth music education programs and adult choirs continued to thrive.

We challenged ourselves vocally, rehearsed new material, sang in harmony, shared the joy of group singing, and celebrated our artistic achievements, all from the safety of home.

Virtual Youth Programs

Virtual lessons provided a sense of consistency, normalcy, and connection for our school communities. Cantare teaching artists held more than 40 class sessions a week over Zoom and maintained our commitment to musical excellence, quality instruction, and school partnerships.

Adult Virtual Program

For adult choir members, we offered “Still Singing,” a virtual lecture series/sing-a-long via Zoom that explored classical masterworks, the history of African American music, and a diverse range of choral works.

It has been a challenge to keep my daughter motivated to attend so many Zoom calls and classes during this COVID-19 stay-at-home time. But week after week she has looked forward to and proactively attended choir rehearsals.

Without a doubt it has been her favorite school-related task, and hearing her singing along with her friends, and seeing how happy she is after the rehearsals, has been a joy for everyone in our family.

–After-School Choir Parent

It was great to be able to share this virtual holiday concert with faraway family and friends. I am also very proud of our Cantare community for venturing into the challenging virtual choir world, and can’t wait to try it again.