About Voices of Ascension
Mission Statement
Voices of Ascension is a professional choral ensemble dedicated to the transformative impact of group singing. With an unwavering commitment to artistic excellence, Voices presents exceptional performances of choral masterpieces and expands the choral art form itself through commissioning new works for vocal ensemble and including a diverse roster of professional musicians, living composers, and ensembles of varying sizes to create enriching experiences for audiences.
Vision
Through the shared experience of singing and listening to choral music, Voices of Ascension is creating a vibrant, diverse musical community. We engage an ever-widening public, now and for generations to come, by encompassing both the extraordinary traditions and inspiring new iterations of choral music.
Voices of Ascension Chorus & Orchestra, founded in 1990 and directed by conductor Dennis Keene, presents exceptional performances of great works of music for chorus and orchestra. Over the course of its 30-year history, Voices of Ascension has produced an annual concert series, released Grammy-nominated recordings, and engaged in artistic collaborations with the San Francisco Symphony, Mostly Mozart Festival, José Limón Dance, the Mark Morris Dance Group, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and others. Recent performances have been described as 'richly colored, impressive, and beautifully balanced' (Wall Street Journal) and 'inspired' (NY Times).
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director and Conductor of Voices of Ascension, is an internationally renowned conductor. Through his concerts and Grammy-nominated recordings with Voices of Ascension, regular guest appearances as conductor and teacher, and his work as Artistic Director of the Dennis Keene Choral Festival and Voices of Ascension Conductor Academy, he has become one of the preeminent figures in choral music today. Recipient of awards for exceptional artistry from The Juilliard School and Chorus America, Dr. Keene has also served on grants panels for the NEA and NYSCA as well as the board of Chorus America.
“The chorus’s full-throated but unforced forte singing was thrilling, but even more impressive was its characterful handling of the quiet writing that forms the heart of the [Duruflé Requiem], mellow and radiant”