Photos by Dan Dry

The Group

Chicago Chorale, a 60-voice ensemble of volunteer singers, performs repertoire from the sixteenth century to the present day, from well-loved choral works to overlooked masterpieces--but always music that will stimulate its singers and audiences. Led by Artistic Director Bruce Tammen, Chorale takes as a guiding principle the concept of the amateur in the truest sense of the word: those who cultivate a craft out of genuine love and dedication. By day the members of Chorale work as teachers, students, lawyers, businesspeople, and music professionals, and take pride in continuing the tradition of great amateur choral institutions of the past. Through sensitive and thought-provoking performances, Chorale seeks to enrich the musical appreciation of its audiences as well as serve as an example of the highest choral ideals.

The Conductor, Bruce Tammen

Conductor and Artistic Director Bruce Tammen holds degrees from Luther College, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago; he has taught voice and directed choirs at Luther College, the University of Chicago, and the University of Virginia. Tammen studied extensively in France with Dalton Baldwin and Gerard Souzay, and for several years studied with Max Van Egmond at Oberlin's Baroque Performance Institute. He has performed several seasons under Helmuth Rilling at the Oregon Bach Festival, and with the Robert Shaw Choral Institute, in Souillac, France. Tammen is baritone soloist on the Telarc/Shaw compact discs Appear and Inspire and Liebeslieder Waltzes. He made his Carnegie Hall solo debut under Maestro Rilling in Bach's St. Matthew Passion in January 2007.

The Members

Heather Ahrenholz
Anne Arends
Alexandra Austin-Schmidt
Steve Baker
Michael Behnke
Mary Bellmar
Adam Berndt
Daniel Bertsche
Sammi Block
William Bouvel
Bob Bowers
Cynthia Breckenridge
Melodie Brummitt
Shane Caldwell
Abigail Coyne
Tom Crawford
Paul Erling
Justin Flosi
Jana French
Nancy Goede
Tim Graham
Sam Gralla
Bonnie Gunzenhauser
Sharon Harris
Kerstin Haßlöcher
Dan Herbst
Alicia Hidajat
Jessica Hockaday
Dave Houggy
Knut Hoversten
Zachary Johnson

Holly Kamberos
Jacob Karaca
Nicole Kish
Erich Kurschat
Vance Lauderdale
Cecilia Lo
Kirsten Mallik
Amy Mantrone
Sam Martin
Bill McDougall
Alex Meyer
Sarah Oaks
Meg Olson
Peter Olson
Anne Ouverson
Ben Patterson
Jason Ralph
Colin Rennert-May
Amy Ripepi
Julia Rosenthal
Crystal Schlieker
Peter Shultz
Rachel Skiffer
Patricia Spencer
Daniel Stearns
Jim Steichen
Michelle Urberg
Ginger Van Vliet
Derek Walvoord
Sarah Wenzel
Mark Yeary