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The Singers of Cantemus are dedicated to performing masterworks of choral music of all eras and cultures. As an organization, we are both a voluntary chorus and a club.

Founded in 1988, Cantemus has been a top-flight choir in the Valley of the Sun for almost 20 years. During this time, the conductors who led Cantemus were:

Daniel Durand, 1988-1990
Victor Weber, 1990-1995
Lindsay Lafford, Walter Harris, 1996
Scott Alan Youngs, 1997-1999
Darrell Rowader, 1999-2007

Mark S. Francis joins Cantemus this year as Music Director following a stellar career as founder and Executive Director of the Arizona School for the Arts (ASA), a Phoenix charter school started in 1995 and recognized as an academic and arts powerhouse. Francis obtained his D.M.A. in Choral Music at the University of Arizona and has received additional training in Europe as well as a residential followship at the Aspen Music School.

Our repertoire ranges from medieval to contemporary works. We specialize in the works of the great choral masters, including the 13th Century's Adam de la Halle and the 20th Century's Charles Ives and Carl Orff. Performances have included works by Bach, Brahms, Bruckner, FaurŽ, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Mozart, Pachelbel, Palestrina, Poulenc, Rossini, Rutter, Schubert, Victoria, and Vivialdi.

In 1996, we brought contemporary composer William Albright to Phoenix to participate in the Valley Premiere of Albright's "A Song To David". We performed James DeMars' "An American Requiem" twice over the last 3 years on September 11th and have performed concerts in the Arizona Vivaldi Festivals. In June of 2005, we sang Mozart's "Requiem" in Carnegie Hall.

Under Dr. Francis' direction we will continue to sing the works of great masters.
Mission Statement
"The Singers of Cantemus are devoted to providing Phoenix and the surrounding communities with professional performances of the works of the great choral masters, both sacred and secular."