History
The Choral Project, founded in 1996 by Artistic Director Daniel Hughes, has been hailed by The Mercury News as “a Bay Area jewel,” stating that “there is nothing subtle about why this is one of the best choirs you will ever hear.” This group of multi-talented singers has earned an outstanding reputation for performing high-level choral literature and bridging the gap between text and music, and singer and spectator. The ensemble has performed throughout the world in concert performances and choral festivals to great acclaim. They are widely recognized for presenting and preserving great works of choral literature from a wide range of traditions around the world that express the region’s diversity. The group is equally committed to innovative and dramatic presentations in concert and promoting choral art through the premieres of new works.
Bachtrack.com described The Choral Project’s 2016 concert with The King’s Singers as “…a rare opportunity to hear two internationally renowned vocal ensembles share a unique body of work. Those of us in the audience experienced the rather odd, “other-worldly” musical sensation of almost too much perfection, if that seems possible.”
San Francisco Classical Voice described The Choral Project’s January 2014 concert with Canadian Brass as “a concert that immediately jumps to some imaginary, personal list of all-time best concert experiences. For me, The Choral Project’s concert on Tuesday, performed to a packed audience at San José’s gorgeous Basilica of St Joseph, was one of those performances.” Earlier that season they were also invited to sing at the Bing Music Center in a multicultural concert presented by Stanford Live! And their recording of “Famine Song” was featured in the PBS documentary series Many Rivers to Cross.
In October 2011, The Choral Project toured Northern Spain for the International Choral Competition in Tolosa. They performed to standing-room-only crowds in Salamanca, Burgos, Polanco, and many surrounding towns in the Basque Region. In July 2007, The Choral Project placed in all three categories at the California International Choral Festival & Competition in San Luis Obispo, CA. They took home 1st place in the Choir’s Choice category, 2nd place in the Required Pieces category, and 3rd place in the Folk Music category. In July of 2004, The Choral Project took 2nd place in the Mixed Choir competition at the 58th annual International Eisteddfod in Wales. Their performance of Juris Karlsons’s “Neslēgtais gredzens” received the highest individual score of any performing group (95 out of 100) and was described by the international panel of judges as a “tour de force.” In June of 2001, The Choral Project received rave reviews and standing ovations at concert performances during their first international tour to Mexico and Costa Rica, which included highly acclaimed performances on Mexican National Radio, and a joint concert with the Café Chorale in Costa Rica.
The Choral Project has also performed world premieres by numerous composers including Stephen Schwartz, Nico Muhly, Eric William Barnum, Joshua Shank, Brent Heisinger, Brian Holmes, Mac Huff, Theodore Lucas, and Richard Burchard.
To date, The Choral Project has released ten albums, including The Cycle of Life, Of Christmastide, Americana, Water & Light, Winter, One is the All, Tell the World, Yuletide, Street Requiem, and 20: An Anniversary Compilation, featuring live performances of favorite songs from 20 seasons of singing. These recordings can be found on iTunes.