WHO WE ARE
Lifting Voices, Uplifting Lives
Vision
Cantare is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the power and beauty of choral music through adult choirs, youth programs, and concert performances. Cantare is committed to serving the Alameda and Contra Costa County communities by lifting voices and uplifting lives. Its innovative and nationally acclaimed inclusive in-school music education classes and after-school choirs reach thousands of children and youth who lack access to the musical arts. Cantare’s adult, intergenerational, and youth programming creates experiences that inspire participants and audiences—the young and the young at heart—to cultivate harmony, compassion, and understanding through the profound joy of singing. Join us!
Who We Are
Led by Founder and Artistic Director David Morales, Cantare offers three adult choirs: Our auditioned, 100-voice symphonic Chorale and 26-voice Chamber Ensemble, as well as an audition-free, one-month summer choir that draws between 75-100 singers united by their passion for singing. Cantare also provides approximately 100 in-school music education classes for young children in socioeconomically under-resourced Oakland schools, nine tuition-free after-school youth choirs, and an advanced, no-cost choral program for teens. Cantare holds weekly rehearsals and hosts seasonal concerts, including intergenerational performances and accompanied by full orchestra designed to entertain audiences and foster community spirit.
History
In 1987, Cantare began as a 26-voice auditioned adult Choral Ensemble, under the artistic direction of founder David Morales. The choir—then called Cantare Con Vivo (To Sing with Life)—soon grew to 40 vocalists and remained as such for 12 years.
Cantare's adult choirs have performed over 180 different concert programs, presenting more than 1,600 compositions, including numerous major choral and orchestral works.
In 1999, Cantare expanded and reorganized under three branches: Cantare Chorale, Chamber Ensemble, and a Music Education and Outreach Program for elementary public-school children in under-resourced Oakland communities.
Beginning with an inner-city children’s choir of 30 students, Cantare now partners with seven public elementary schools in Oakland, offering music education in approximately 100 classrooms each week, helping to fill a void in music instruction due to limited government funding and budgeting priorities.
Cantare currently offers consistent music education to over 2,600 underserved Oakland children from transitional kindergarten through high school. We provide tuition-free after-school choirs at partner schools, as well as an award-winning auditioned choir for middle and high school students.
Cantare was the recipient of Chorus America’s Education and Community Engagement Award in 2005 and 2014. Since 1999, our youth programs have successfully engaged more than 21,000 youth. In 2022, Cantare received the Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award that recognizes organizations whose work furthers diverse African American choral traditions through performance, and demonstrates a long-term commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
