Cantabile of Skagit Valley, conducted by co-founder and Music Director David Cross, is an auditioned non-professional ensemble of 20 balanced voices.  Founded in the fall of 2006, the choir is in its inaugural year.  “Cantabile” is an adjective, meaning songlike, or in a smooth, flowing, lyrical style. It is usually used as a musical direction for musicians to play or sing in a “cantabile” style.  Cantabile performs with warmth and flexibility, and an added extra element of energy and dynamism.

Concert repertoire is drawn from choral literature which spans the centuries, from Renaissance motets through 18th century Baroque and Classical works, and Romantic-era part-songs; to masterworks of the 20th century, and new pieces featuring living composers that are culturally diverse and international in scope. Our seasonal concerts feature a balance of sacred and secular works, including time-honored classics, as well as contemporary selections.  It is hoped that the choir will be noted for its interpretive skills; and for devising innovative and fascinating programs, unearthing hidden choral treasures side-by-side with the time-honored and traditional choral literature.

 During its inaugural year, Cantabile collaborated and performed with the following: the 11^th Annual Skagit Habitat for Humanity Christmas concert in La Conner (December 3), Skagit Opera’s Christmas production of Amahl and the Night Visitors (December 22 & 23), and Skagit Opera’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro.” They will be featured at the United Methodist Church of Anacortes’ 4^th Annual Concert Series ( May 20, 2007 ). On June 1, Cantabile will present a Requiem for Darfur , an “eclectic mass” comprised of favorite selections from Requiem Masses written by Mozart, Durufle, Brahms, and Rutter. The program will also include lovely classic and contemporary sacred music. Proceeds from the concert, which will be held at the historic Lincoln Theatre in downtown Mt. Vernon , will be donated to survivors of the civil war in Darfur , Sudan .

 The choir's mission is to promote the joy of choral music by offering seasonal concerts, and participating in charitable performances that educate and entertain children and adults in the greater Pacific Northwest .

 For more information about Cantabile, please write to cantabileofskagitvalley@msn.com