Repertoire
photo by: Peter Michaelis Photography 2025
Charis performs a wide variety of choral repertoire, ranging from Renaissance motets to choral masterpieces of the Baroque era, to premieres of Contemporary works. Artistic Director, Jeremy Wiggins, offers a variety of themed concerts each year. Pairing well-loved masterworks along with new and lesser known choral anthems keeps audiences coming back for more.
Charis has a history of showcasing American contemporary works. In March of 2023, their An American Elegy concert, introduced audiences to Jeffrey Van's A Procession Winding Around Me and Thomas Lavoy's moving The Last Letter. Charis has also performed (and recorded) a number settings of fine poetry by contemporary American composers including James Bassi, Franz Biebl, Julie Dolphin, William Hawley, Judith Zaimont, Nancy Wertsch, Elliot Z. Levine, and James Harold Carr.
Charis has had the privilege of working with local composers Michael Minard and Gwyneth Walker and were thrilled to have the composers present for some of those performances. During the Sjögren years, Mr. Minard composed directly for the group. In 2015, Charis participated in an international concert series with Camerata Vocals of Hannover Germany premiering a commissioned work, Seek Him, by Fredrik Sixten.
While Charis allows the human voice to take center stage in a cappella selections, the group enjoys collaborating with professional solo instrumentalists including their primary accompanist, Terence J. Flanagan, and guests like Oren Fader on classical guitar, guest soloists for special works like soprano Joanna Mongiardo in Schubert's Mirjams Siegesgesang, smaller ensembles and full baroque orchestras on period instruments such as the 2024 performance of Bach's St. John Passion with Ryland Angel as the Evangelist and Christopher Grundy as Jesus.
In addition to various benefits and special appearances, Charis typically prepares three annual programs, in early December, March and April/May, some with several performances.
Recent Song Samples.
(More can be found on our Recordings page)
Charis has a history of showcasing American contemporary works. In March of 2023, their An American Elegy concert, introduced audiences to Jeffrey Van's A Procession Winding Around Me and Thomas Lavoy's moving The Last Letter. Charis has also performed (and recorded) a number settings of fine poetry by contemporary American composers including James Bassi, Franz Biebl, Julie Dolphin, William Hawley, Judith Zaimont, Nancy Wertsch, Elliot Z. Levine, and James Harold Carr.
Charis has had the privilege of working with local composers Michael Minard and Gwyneth Walker and were thrilled to have the composers present for some of those performances. During the Sjögren years, Mr. Minard composed directly for the group. In 2015, Charis participated in an international concert series with Camerata Vocals of Hannover Germany premiering a commissioned work, Seek Him, by Fredrik Sixten.
While Charis allows the human voice to take center stage in a cappella selections, the group enjoys collaborating with professional solo instrumentalists including their primary accompanist, Terence J. Flanagan, and guests like Oren Fader on classical guitar, guest soloists for special works like soprano Joanna Mongiardo in Schubert's Mirjams Siegesgesang, smaller ensembles and full baroque orchestras on period instruments such as the 2024 performance of Bach's St. John Passion with Ryland Angel as the Evangelist and Christopher Grundy as Jesus.
In addition to various benefits and special appearances, Charis typically prepares three annual programs, in early December, March and April/May, some with several performances.
Recent Song Samples.
(More can be found on our Recordings page)
from CV1738 -American Elegy, March 2023
from CV1737 -Ceremony of Carols, December 2022
from CV1729 - Dixit Dominus, March 2019
from CV1726 - Faure Requiem, March 2018
from CV1724 - Spring Concert, May 2017
from CV1722 - Candlelight Christmas: Through the Ages