Our Mission
The Houston Chamber Choir is a professional ensemble dedicated to increasing the awareness, appreciation, and esteem of choral music and musicians through performance, outreach, and education.
“The Houston Chamber Choir is one of our city’s most outstanding professional ensembles.”
About Us
Winner of Best Choral Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy® Awards, winner of Chorus America's 2018 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, the Houston Chamber Choir has established itself as one of the premier professional choirs in the United States, serving Houston through concerts and educational initiatives that enlighten, entertain, and educate people of all ages.
Led by Artistic Director Robert Simpson, the Houston Chamber Choir has been described by The Tallis Scholars founder Peter Phillips as “one of this country’s leading ensembles." The Choir is comprised of 25 professional singers, most of whom have studied at the top music schools and conservatories in the United States including Juilliard, New England Conservatory, University of Houston, and University of Texas. These musicians are selected through rigorous auditions from the finest singers in our region and are compensated for all rehearsals and performances.
The ensemble's vocal training and talent allows it to perform a wide range of music with equal skill. It has brought Houston its first period instrument performance of Bach’s immortal Mass in B minor (a performance Moores School of Music Director, David Ashley White, credits with “setting a new standard in terms of how choral/orchestral music from the Baroque era should be performed in Houston”). The Choir has also presented the regional premieres of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 with Ars Lyrica and Vivaldi’s lost treasure, Dixit Dominus, which it performed with guest commentator Bill McGlaughlin, host of public radio’s “St. Paul Sunday” and “Exploring Music.” Following his guest appearance with the Chamber Choir in 2008, Joseph Flummerfelt, Musical America’s 2004 Conductor of the Year, wrote, “Robert Simpson’s Houston Chamber Choir is an ensemble of consummate artistry and it was a joy for me to have the opportunity to make music with them.” Performances with Dave Brubeck, Bill McGlaughlin, Peter Schickele, Jamie Bernstein, and rarely heard pieces like Vivaldi’s recently discovered Dixit Dominus and Giovanni Colonna’s Vespers from 1694 are occasions that enriched our city and have not been duplicated by others. In 2015, the Houston Chamber Choir received the American Prize for Choral Performance and Robert Simpson received the Prize in the Choral Conducting category.
The Chamber Choir’s travels have taken it on tour in this country and abroad. Its first national exposure came in 1999, three years after its founding, when it was invited to perform at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association before 6,000 choral directors from around the world in Chicago’s famed Orchestra Hall. The Chamber Choir was invited again to perform at the national convention in March 2013 in Dallas. The Chamber Choir has received similar invitations from Chorus America, The American Guild of Organists, The Association of Anglican Musicians, the Association of Lutheran Musicians, the Texas Choral Directors Association, and the Organization of American Kodály Educators. In April 2012, the Chamber Choir performed a concert and masterclass at Yale University sponsored by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. The Chamber Choir also received its New York City debut with a concert at Trinity Church Wall Street.
The choir’s recording of 19th and 20th century Russian secular choral music, Ravishingly Russian, was greeted with glowing reviews: “Ravishing is right” (Gramophone) and “The singing is top-of-the-line” (American Record Guide). In 2012, the ensemble released the world premiere recording of Psalmi ad Vesperas by late 17th century Italian composer Giovanni Paolo Colonna, and was hailed by Fanfare Magazine as “one recording that Baroque music lovers will need in their collection.” The Houston Chamber Choir released its third commercial album, Soft Blink of Amber Light, on the MSR label in 2015. Most recently, the Chamber Choir recorded the complete choral works of Maurice Duruflé in June 2017 in the Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall and Grand Organ at Rice University with organist Ken Cowan. This recording was released by Signum Classics in April 2019.
The Houston Chamber Choir feels a responsibility to commission and showcase Texas composers, particularly those from Houston. It has performed world premieres by Anthony Brandt, Dominick DiOrio, Jefferson Todd Frazier, Michael Horvit, Karim Al-Zand, David Ashley White and Rob Landes. In 2008 it commissioned and premiered Messages to Myself, a major addition to the choral repertoire by Houston native Chris Theofanidis. The Houston Grand Opera premiered his opera The Refuge. He currently serves as professor of composition at the Yale School of Music. In 2012 the Chamber Choir premiered former Houston Chamber Choir tenor Dominick DiOrio’s A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass to audiences in Houston, New York, and New Haven. DiOrio now is on the choral faculty at Indiana University. A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass has captured the attention of major music publishers and was performed in 2013 at the American Choral Directors Association national conference in front of thousands of choral directors from around the world. In June 2014, the Chamber Choir commissioned and premiered soft blink of amber light by McKnight award-winning composer Jocelyn Hagen.
Houston Chamber Choir is committed to launching young students on a life-long journey of music appreciation. In 2013 the Houston Chamber Choir, with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, initiated an in-school program entitled Rise Up Singing! The program brings weekly ear training, music history, and vocal instruction to students in grades 3-5 while introducing them to classic American folksongs. The program began with a residency at The Rusk School from 2013-2015, and is completed its residence at Davila Elementary at the end of the 2017 school year.
In addition to Rise Up Singing!, Houston Chamber Choir invites three outstanding school choirs from the Greater Houston area to participate in their annual invitational choral festival, Hear the Future. Now entering its 21st year, thousands of students from over 40 of the area’s finest choral programs have participated in this free community concert, giving audience members a chance to show their support and appreciation for the outstanding work being done by music educators and their talented singers.
Our History
1995
Robert Simpson founds the Houston Chamber Choir.
First performance in June 25, 1995
1999
The Chamber Choir is invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association national convention in Chicago.
Hear the Future, Houston Chamber Choir's Annual Invitational Choral Festival, launches.
2002
The Choir is awarded a medal at the International Choral Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales.
2005
Hosts Tallis at 500, marking the 500th birthday of English Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis, led by Peter Phillips, founder of The Tallis Scholars, and American scholar and conductor Alex Blachly.
2005
Tours Southern states, performing in Atlanta and at Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Charleston, South Carolina.
2006
Joins Jazz legend Dave Brubeck and his quartet for his first Houston appearance in over 20 years.
2007
Presents Houston’s first period instrument performance of J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor.
2008
National Endowment for the Arts selects Chamber Choir to host a national festival of American music with 2004 Musical America Conductor of the Year Joseph Flummerfelt and gospel music specialist Barbara Wesley Baker.
Noted Dutch conductor Reinbert De Leeuw directs the Houston Chamber Choir in a performance of Stravinsky’s Les Noces in its first collaboration with Da Camera of Houston.
Gives Southwestern premiere of Vivaldi’s recently discovered masterpiece Dixit Dominus with Bill McGlaughlin, host of Public Radio’s “Exploring Music” and “St. Paul Sunday.”
Appears as featured choir at the Texas Choral Directors Association in San Antonio.
2009
Stages Duke Ellington’s Third Sacred Concert, his last major work.
Releases "Ravishingly Russian" CD on MSR Classics Label to strong reviews.
2010
Hosts Chorus America’s national conducting Masterclass with Yale University professor Marguerite Brooks and renowned Swedish conductor Robert Sund.
Accepts invitation to perform in Dallas at the national convention of the Organization of American Kodály Educators.
Peter Schickele joins the Chamber Choir for “Bach in the Saddle, An Evening of P.D.Q. Bach”
Robert Simpson receives Chorus America’s Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art.
2011
Drama Desk nominee Judith Blazer appears with the Chamber Choir in a Broadway-inspired evening at Alley Theatre.
Gives first modern day performance of Giovanni Paolo Colonna’s Psalmi ad Vesperas.
2012
Tours Northeast with stops at Yale University and New York City’s Trinity Wall Street.
Jamie Bernstein, daughter of Leonard Bernstein, hosts an evening of personal reminiscences and music by her father.
Releases world-premiere recording of "Psalmi ad Vesperas" on MSR Classics Label with acclaim.
Rise Up Singing!, Houston Chamber Choir's educational initiative, launches.
2013
Accepts second invitation to perform at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association in Dallas.
Simon Carrington, founding member of The King’s Singers and Yale University professor emeritus, guest conducts the Houston Chamber Choir in an all British program.
2014
The Chamber Choir performs music of Gabrielis, Hassler, Schütz, and others with Canadian sackbut and string ensemble, ¡Sacabuche!
María Guinand, world-renowned Venezuelan conductor, leads the Houston Chamber Choir in a program of Latin-American music.
2015
Houston Chamber Choir celebrates its 20th anniversary season
Chamber Choir presents music of choral masters with guest conductor, Anton Armstrong.
Releases new album "Soft Blink of Amber Light" (MSR Classics), featuring contemporary choral music.
Releases an album collaboration with Da Camera of Houston, "Rothko Chapel - Morton Feldman / Erik Satie / John Cage" (ECM Records), featuring Kim Kashkashian, Houston Chamber Choir and Robert Simpson, Sarah Rothenberg & Steven Schick.
2016
The Chamber Choir presents Mexicantos, a concert that celebrates the choral music of Mexico.
Guest conductor Elena Sharkova leads the Chamber Choir in an evening of Russian choral music.
Houston Chamber Choir premieres a new work and performs with Grammy Award-winning jazz musician, Christian McBride and The Christian McBride Trio.
2017
A performance of Bach's Mass in B minor with period instruments.
The Chamber Choir performs Mexicantos II, a reiteration of the popular Mexicantos concert, highlighting the choral music of Mexico featuring mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte.
Houston Chamber Choir members perform in Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience.
Houston Chamber Choir members perform in Hans Zimmer Live on Tour.
The Chamber Choir records their fifth album comprised of the complete choral works of Maurice Duruflé with organist Ken Cowan.
The Chamber Choir presents an evening of Brahms and Barber, featuring guest pianist and Shepherd School of Music professor Brian Connelly.
2018
Guest conductor Alexander Blachly leads the Chamber Choir in a special concert exploring gamesmanship, eloquence, and surprise in the Renaissance.
Houston Chamber Choir is honored with Chorus America's 2018 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence.
Jamie Bernstein, daughter of Leonard Bernstein, hosts an evening of personal reminiscences and music by her father in celebration of his centennial year.
Signum Classics recording label signs Houston Chamber Choir.
2019
Houston Chamber Choir releases new album, “Duruflé: Complete Choral Works”, produced by Grammy® Award-winning producer Blanton Alspaugh.
The Chamber Choir is selected as one of 24 choirs to perform during the 12th World Symposium on Choral Music in Auckland, New Zealand, in July of 2020.
Houston Chamber Choir welcomes Dr. James Whitbourn and performs his work Annelies in collaboration with the Holocaust Museum Houston.
Houston Chamber Choir performs the world premiere of Pierre Jalbert’s Desert Places, along with other Houston-based composers’ works.
2020
“Duruflé: Complete Choral Works” won Best Choral Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Houston Chamber Choir welcomes renowned British composer Bob Chilcott for the world premiere of his newly revised Circlesong.
Houston Chamber Choir records their sixth album, joined by the Treble Choir of Houston and to be produced by Signum Classics.
With One Accord podcast season 1 launches with Music Mondays with Robert Simpson, Behind the Music with St. John Flynn, and Education Spotlight with April Harris.
Houston Chamber Choir Digital Stage launches.