Kantorei

Background Statement

Kantorei is a Denver-based, choral ensemble comprised of volunteer singers under the direction of Artistic Director Joel M. Rinsema.

Formed in 1997 under the leadership of six friends and artistic director Richard Larson, Kantorei has established itself as one of the nation’s premier choral ensembles. Our choral artists have studied at schools with strong music programs across the United States such as Baylor University, Brigham Young University, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, St. Olaf College, Wartburg College, and Westminster Choir College. Kantorei’s singers reside throughout the greater Denver area. Some serve as choral music educators, church choir conductors, and vocal instructors. Others are doctors, social workers, optometrists, counselors, clinical psychologists, accountants, realtors – all brought together in weekly rehearsals for shared artistic excellence and community.

Kantorei is the official choir in residence for the Aspen Music Festival and has performed for major choral conventions across the U.S., toured the world, and has commissioned and premiered new choral works from such renowned composers as Kim André Arnesen, Eric William Barnum, Abbie Betinis, René Clausen, Ola Gjeilo, Jocelyn Hagen, Sarah Quartel, Jake Runestad, Joshua Shank, Christopher Tin and Eric Whitacre. In the summer of 2022, Kantorei performed the Central American premiere of Jake Runestad’s “El Último Hilo” in Guatemala City and Antigua, Guatemala, along with Guatemelan choir Vocalis.

Kantorei has established a strong presence in the choral recording industry, with acclaimed releases showcasing the work of contemporary composers. In October 2025, Kantorei released Song Offerings: The Choral Works of Christopher Tin on the prestigious Decca Gold label. The album expands Kantorei’s recording legacy and brings the ensemble’s artistry to an international audience.

In January 2027, Kantorei will release Two Roads, featuring Randall Thompson’s Frostiana and Sarah Quartel’s A Winter Day. The recording continues Kantorei’s commitment to preserving and sharing significant choral repertoire while championing contemporary composers.

Previous releases include Sing, Wearing the Sky (2020), featuring the choral music of Jake Runestad, which reached #3 among best-selling classical albums on iTunes, #4 on the Traditional Classical Billboard Charts, and the top ten in both the Best-Selling Classical Album and New Classical Release categories on Amazon. Infinity: Choral Works of Kim André Arnesen (2018) reached #2 among best-selling classical albums on iTunes, #6 on the Traditional Classical Billboard Charts, and #19 on the overall Classical Billboard charts.

Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc. publishes the Kantorei Choral Series, further extending the ensemble’s impact through the distribution and performance of its repertoire.