Choral Stream

In a bittersweet announcement, the King's Singers have announced that Julian Gregory will be joining their ranks as tenor; Benedict Hymas, the previously-announced replacement for departing Paul Phoenix, has withdrawn from the position for personal reasons.

Benedict Hymas will be joining The King's Singers from September 2014, taking over from Paul Phoenix who has been with the group for almost 17 years.

Texas-based Conspirare, which St. Olaf Choir director Anton Armstrong has called "the finest professional choir in the United States today," is presenting a two-week comPassion Festival in Austin and other Texas cities this month. Conspirare's artistic director and conductor Craig Hella Johnson writes about the genesis of this unusual festival theme and the works being performed.

The Apollo Male Chorus knows how to swing! Joined by the George Maurer Group, the Apollo guys present "De-Lovely" this weekend. Steve Staruch welcomed both groups into the Maud Moon Weyerhauser Studio for a preview.

Men's vocal ensemble Six Appeal have a cheeky name, but they also have the goods to back it up. Two members of the group, Michael Brookens and Andrew Berkowitz, stopped in to talk to Alison Young before performing this Thursday at Harmony in the Park.

Tenors Gary Ruschman and David Walton as well as baritone Adam Reinwald, will depart Cantus to explore other endeavors after spending a collective 30 years with the singing ensemble. All three men joined Classical MPR's Alison Young for an interview on Friday, May 30.

Many lovers of classical music first hear it via their parents or other family members while growing up. They can't remember a time when it was not present in their life. Others, however, can point to a specific memory of when classical music entered their life. Scott Sandersfeld fits into the latter camp.

Director of the St Olaf Choir, Anton Armstrong, conducts Magnum Chorum this weekend. Tradition and beauty go hand-in-hand with a program titled 'Amazing Grace'. Armstrong speaks with Steve Staruch.

The Oratorio Society of Minnesota take their audience on a journey through the Underground Railroad this weekend with a concert-length oratorio by composer Donald McCullough that draws from African-American spiritual traditions.

We've celebrated choral music all month long during April, our Voices of Spring month. We asked you to nominate your choral favorites, then we asked you to vote. And today, we present the top 25 as voted by you. Listen 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.