History and Mission

Cantabile Mission Statement

Cantabile cultivates and promotes an appreciation of the choral arts through commissioning new works, high quality performances of a culturally diverse and eclectic repertoire and by engaging the community through outreach and audience education.

History

Now celebrating two decades of artistic excellence, Cantabile Chamber Chorale continues to seek opportunities to share the gift and joy of choral music, to lift the human spirit and to show the commonalities of humanity through musical expression, enlightening programming, and supportive friendships. We’ve demonstrated that new music and eclectic programming provides opportunities to speak to the diverse communities of Central New Jersey. We do this because it is our mission, and because it is the responsibility of the arts to unite the common thread of humanity that is achievable only through musical expression.

The idea for Cantabile was formed over 20 years ago when a group of singers who had performed together in the Rutgers Musica Sacra Oratorio Chorus asked Rebecca Scott to lead their small chamber ensemble for a summer season. After performing together for three summers, the ensemble and Ms. Scott expanded their schedule to a year round schedule. On December 6, 1987, a group of 18 singers performed its first concert as the Cantabile Chamber Chorale under the direction of Rebecca Scott with the late David Shilleto as piano accompanist. The vision stated 20 years ago continues today–“Cantabile will provide the challenge of singing the repertoire for small ensemble with all its difficulties, nuances and special performing problems, while providing the love and good fellowship of joining with close friends in an artistic endeavor.”

Cantabile and Ms. Scott have received the ASCAP-Chorus America Award for Adventuresome Programming, which is granted to choruses demonstrating a commitment to performances of choral music written in the last 25 years. Cantabile has also been honored with the Excellence in Achievement Award from the Middlesex County (NJ) Cultural and Heritage Commission. This award is given to arts organizations in recognition for exceptional accomplishment, which is exemplary in programming, or which achieves great strides in development and outreach.

Cantabile Vision Statement

Cantabile is building a legacy of creative and adventuresome programming through…

• Artistic Excellence: striving to meet the highest standards for its repertoire, performances and community outreach.
• Education and Learning: committing to on-going education and learning to meet highest artistic standards, and sharing our work through community outreach.
• Teamwork: building a community of singers who are dedicated to Cantabile’s mission and committed to achieving excellence through diligence and camaraderie.
• Eclectic Programming: celebrating the diversity of artistic forms, performers and audiences, particularly in the commissioning of new works.
• Integrity: operating an effective, reliable organization that fulfills its commitments and provides appropriate stewardship of resources.
• Service to community: striving to meet the artistic needs of the entire community, providing stewardship of choral music for everyone.