Hello!
An exciting season is in the works for the Ames Chamber Artists! It is a year of change as the group
considers its vision and brings on a new artistic director. It is a year of return as musical groups have
carefully found our way back to singing together. It is a year of experiences, culminating in traveling to
NYC and performing in Carnegie Hall!
We would love to have you join us! Below you’ll find an overview of our season and membership. If it
piques your interest, please be in touch for more details and/or plan to attend our Open House and first
gathering on Thursday, August 25.
Our Season
Rehearsals are Thursdays from approximately 5:30- 7:15pm at the UU Fellowship of Ames. Three
retreats are held through the year on Saturday mornings.
Fall session: August 25 – December 17, 2022
KEEPING VIGIL – Concert on December 17 (run-outs and dress rehearsal prior)
A concert of watchfulness, wakefulness, and hope that spans time and tradition. Repertoire includes
works by Rachmaninoff, Gjeilo, Takach, Uusberg, Lauridsen, Gardner, and chants from the Gregorian,
Taize, Muslim, and Jewish traditions.
Fall Performances:
Dec. 1 – Reiman Gardens Winter Wonderscapes
Dec. 4 – Guest Choir, Good Company Concert, 7:00 p.m., St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 209 Colorado Ave.
Dec. 16 – Keeping Vigil, 7:30 p.m., Swede Valley Lutheran Church, Ogden
Dec. 17 – Keeping Vigil, 7:30 p.m., Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 Sheldon Ave, Ames
Spring session: January 12 – May 20, 2023
Collaboration with Ames High School Choirs on February 20.
The Song Continues – Concert on May 19 (7:30 pm) and May 20 (3:00 pm)
A concert centered on the Requiem of Clif Hardin which draws from poetry, scripture, and literature to
sing with the living through grief. We are also commissioning local composer, Jodi Goble, and singing
pieces by Lauridsen and Runestad.
Our Approach
The Ames Chamber Artists (ACA) is an auditioned ensemble which finds great joy in serious singing! Our repertoire spans from the Masterworks of the Western canon to contemporary choral works, including commissions from today’s composers. We commit to the nuances of text and sound – pencils out and eyes up. However, we also foster an environment that grows voices and makes connections.
Our Members
Our members represent many ages, educational levels, vocational areas, and musical backgrounds.
There are no requirements, except that each member must audition, both to maintain a standard of ability and to help select an equally balanced group of voices for each program. The $75 membership fee includes concert music.
Did You Say Carnegie Hall?
Yes! Our Interim Artistic Director is also a guest conductor on the 40th Season of MidAmerica Productions (MAP). She will conduct the Hardin Requiem at Carnegie Hall on May 29, 2023. Ames Chamber Artists is the host choir for others in the Midwest and many of us will travel with her to sing in that performance! All members of the ACA are welcome, and please know that participating in this extra experience is optional and does not preclude fully taking part in the ACA season. The cost to participate is $999 per person, plus travel and lodging. This is typical for concert organizations who bring choirs to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and includes a 3-day residency, a professional orchestra and soloists, and post-concert cruise on the Hudson River.
We are looking for all voice parts and especially tenors! Our members and our atmosphere are COVID-
conscious. If you have not sung since before the pandemic – you are not alone! We are ready to grow and set our vision for the future. Help us spread the word in Central Iowa. Hope that you will come and be with us!
Dr. Jennifer Rodgers
Interim Artistic Director
Ames Chamber Artists