GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
In 2023 Kantorei’s board of directors created the Global Engagement Committee to help reach strategic goals related to our mission and vision. Our current global engagement is focused on Vocalis, a choir in Guatemala.
Global Engagement Founding Principles
Grow Kantorei’s domestic visibility by having a positive impact on choirs outside of the U.S.
Provide musical education, board development tools, strategies and resources that drive lasting sustainability in developing choral communities.
Through its efforts, develop a network of global choirs that expand Kantorei’s artistic recognition and awareness around the world.
How does Global Engagement fit?
Kantorei’s Mission
We are innovators: we responsibly leverage our resources to commission work by living composers, perform music by underrepresented and emerging artists, encourage future talent through educational engagement, and nurture the choral community.
Kantorei’s Values
Community – We provide an opportunity for singers, artists, students, and audiences from many different backgrounds and identities to share in musical experiences that allow us to transcend the world we live in. Our singers show up for each other, both musically and personally. We are in community with the composers who partner with us. We create nurturing relationships with other choirs so we can collectively thrive. We show young and emerging artists what their musical future can look like.
Inclusion: We amplify voices that should be heard, and seek to bring our voices to new places. We connect diverse audiences through the power of music
Innovation: As an organization, we are never stagnant. We feel a responsibility to use our funding to to to to educate, delight, and amaze, which is evident through every aspect of our work: programming,
recordings, concerts, and community impact
![guatemala_2022.jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65c6976b102250268e8aae72/1384ba34-46ce-41ee-ab55-bbcadd4912e4/guatemala_2022.jpeg)
![278970225_384274693706134_8585282038619787596_n.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65c6976b102250268e8aae72/002aa568-484e-4b29-bfbe-1a6980a228ba/278970225_384274693706134_8585282038619787596_n.jpg)
![279240866_384276967039240_7010304810276967355_n.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65c6976b102250268e8aae72/84bbb075-b882-4132-8bbe-fae5d09e2976/279240866_384276967039240_7010304810276967355_n.jpg)
How did it all start?
In 2017 Kantorei formed a relationship with the Guatemalan choir Vocalis when both groups discovered that we were performing similar concerts half a world away. In the ensuing choral exchange, Vocalis members came to Denver to perform with Kantorei and several members of Kantorei traveled to Guatemala to perform with Vocalis. Building on this act of cultural diplomacy, the two choirs co-commissioned a new work from Grammy-nominated composer Jake Runestad based on the poetry of renowned Guatemalan and Mayan poet Humberto Akʼabal, and featuring English, Spanish and Ki’che languages.
![Vocalis.jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65c6976b102250268e8aae72/5978469d-3561-4539-9557-45b92b0d4f75/Vocalis.jpeg)
![Gualtemala_Joel Leading.jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65c6976b102250268e8aae72/c2f179bf-92e6-461d-99d6-5359bbf5bb2f/Gualtemala_Joel+Leading.jpeg)
Continued work and Impact
Joel continues to advise and assist Vocalis in their growth
Joel and Alicia visit Guatemala to assist Vocalis in running a retreat (similar to Kantorei’s Fall retreat)
Vocalis donations increase exponentially
They create two children’s choirs as well as two additional un-auditioned adult choruses.
A group of singers specifically trained and skilled in vocal pedagogy visited and instructed singers in choral singing, theory, conducting, etc. in April of 2024.
What’s next?
Members of Kantorei to visit Guatemala in the 2024/25 season.
Vocalis board is invited to attend Kantorei board retreat in August 2024
Interested in supporting this work? Click below and select Global Engagement in “Special Designations”