
San Francisco Chronicle“They are, to put it directly, one of the world’s best.”
New York Times“These men are phenomenal: as fresh as a blade of grass, tightly focused and keenly expressive.”
Los Angeles Times“Chanticleer fascinates and enthralls for much the same reason a fine chocolate or a Rolls Royce does: through luxurious perfection.”
Chicago Tribune“I can’t think of another ‘orchestra of voices’ that can shuttle with such proficiency from Renaissance polyphony to gospel, contemporary classical to jazz.”
San Diego Story“The twelve men on this team of spectacular vocalists handily fill the pews of the church sanctuary every visit because of their stellar artistry and their impressive repertoire of pieces commissioned by Chanticleer or specifically arranged for the capabilities of this elite ensemble….they sing with an incomparable urban—and urbane—joie de vivre.”
Dallas Morning News“Among the most versatile and virtuoso singers anywhere. They have style, and they have class. They also have an infallible sense of pitch, a very flexible ensemble and a deeply ingratiating sound.”
BachTrack“Chanticleer’s stage presence was eye-catching in its precision and its elegance … However, it was the mellifluous singing with its seamless blending of voices and effortless polyphony in Palestrina’s Gaude gloriosa that was more astounding still.”
Classics Today“America’s a cappella pride and joy.”
Boston Globe“The singing of Chanticleer is breathtaking in its accuracy of intonation, purity of blend, variety of color and swagger of style.”
San Jose Mercury News“Chanticleer could sing the Turtles’ greatest hits and make them sound like heavenly hosannas. That’s how extraordinary it is, this 12-voice male choir. It produces a sound of sheer beauty. It’s an oasis in a noisy and disturbing world.”
Known around the world for its eclectic repertoire and dazzling virtuosity, the GRAMMY Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer – under the leadership of Music Director Tim Keeler – has been hailed by the Boston Globe as “breathtaking in its accuracy of intonation, purity of blend, of color and swagger of style.” Founded in San Francisco in 1978 by singer and musicologist Louis Botto, Chanticleer quickly took its place as one of the most prolific recording and touring ensembles in the world, an “orchestra of voices” performing thousands of live concerts and selling more than one million recordings.
Rooted in the Renaissance, Chanticleer’s repertoire has expanded to include a wide range of classical, gospel, jazz and popular music. With a deep commitment to the commissioning of new compositions and arrangements, Chanticleer foregrounds American repertoire and a distinctively American sound, complementing the group’s signature diversity in terms of membership and genre. The ensemble has dedicated much of its vast recording catalogue to these commissions, garnering GRAMMY Awards for its recordings of Sir John Tavener’s Lamentations & Praises and the ambitious collection of commissioned works entitled Colors of Love. Chanticleer is the recipient of Chorus America’s Dale Warland Commission Award and the Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. The group’s Music Director Emeritus, Joseph H. Jennings, received the Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award for his contribution to the African American choral tradition during his 25-year tenure as both singer and Music Director.
Chanticleer – named for the “clear-singing” rooster in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales – was named Ensemble of the Year by Musical America in 2008 and inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. The group’s award-winning education programs were recognized with the 2010 Chorus America Education Outreach Award, and have engaged tens of thousands of students since the ensemble began.