Cantus

About

Cantus is an eight-member low-voice a cappella ensemble founded in 1995 at St. Olaf College in Minnesota and now based in Minneapolis. Evolving from four student singers to a professional octet by 1999, the group performs without a conductor, rehearsing and presenting as chamber musicians who collectively shape the artistic process. Their programs interweave art songs, folk music, new commissions, modern masterworks, and popular songs around thematic narratives, aiming to give voice to shared human experiences. Cantus is one of only a few full-time professional male vocal ensembles in the United States, alongside Chanticleer. This performance on January 21, 2005 was presented by San Francisco Performances during its 25th Anniversary Season (2004–05), reflecting an ongoing relationship that saw the ensemble return in subsequent seasons.