About the Chorale

In 2008 Dr. Robert Parrish, a recently retired music professor, drew a band of singers together under the name Musica Sacra Cantorum to perform sacred masterworks. The choir developed a distinguished repertoire, including the Requiems of Brahms and Fauré, Carisimi’s Jepthah, Rutter’s Magnificat, Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater, and many others. Adventurous programming led them to perform Avodath Hakodesh by Bloch, Chichester Psalms by Bernstein, and the US premier of Tsunami Requiem by Chris Williams.

In the summer of 2014 Musica Sacra was selected for a new adventure – to serve as Choir in Residence at Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire, England. The residency in England was repeated two more times. 
In 2023 Steven Phillips was appointed Artistic Director, bringing a wider focus – from purely sacred music to exploring all that is sacred in life. While still performing music from the Christian tradition, our 14th season drew repertoire from many cultures, time periods, and spiritual traditions, garnering enthusiastic approval from audiences and chorus members alike. With a repertoire ranging from sacred classics to spirituals to Gregorian chant to jazz, the group tripled both its audience size and its donor base. 
Now in our 15th season, and with deep gratitude for all that has come before, the group feels the need to re-brand. After much brainstorming, visioning, and seeking advice, the Board of Directors and Artistic Director are excited to re-brand as the Via Nova Chorale. While keeping some of the ethos of our former name, the new name expresses our vision to find new ways to be together as a human family on our shared planet. 
We invite you expand your vision with us. We believe a sustainable future depends on all of us finding new ways together. Music is our medium, and a deepening connection to the earth and to one another is our dream.
You’re a stake holder with us in this new way.
Welcome to the Via Nova family!

Via Nova Chorale is Supported by

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