30 Years at a Glance

By The Numbers 1984 – Year founded as the Arizona Recital Choir

1986 – Year incorporated as a 501(c)3 called Arizona Repertory Singers

45 – Number of members mid 20s and late 70s – Ages of youngest and oldest ARS members

3 – Hours of rehearsal each week August through May

350+ – Number of pieces in ARS’ performing choral repertory

9 – Number of original choral compositions commissioned

65+ – Venues performed at in the past 30 years

7 – Nations in which ARS has performed: France, Germany, Austria, Canada, Hungary and Yugoslavia

40+ – Number of pieces ARS learns each season

Professional-quality choral ensemble

  • 45 members ranging in age from mid 20s to late 70s
  • Rigorous singing and sight-reading audition required
  • Weekly 3-hour rehearsals August through May
  • Has one of the largest performing choral repertories in the nation

Performed at over 65 venues in Southern Arizona and around the world

  • UA Poetry Center dedication of Helen S. Schaefer Building
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum dedication of Harris hawk sculpture honoring Space Shuttle Columbia astronaut Laurel Clark
  • Pima Council on Aging headquarters opening reception
  • Educational Enrichment Foundation awards luncheon
  • Interfaith Community Services’ Music for the Soul
  • Carondelet Hospice Holiday Tree of Memories gathering
  • UA Stevie Eller Dance Theatre for the ARS 25th Anniversary Gala Concert

Performed with major musical organizations and performers

  • The Tucson Symphony Orchestra
  • Tucson Pops Orchestra
  • Tucson Masterworks Chorale
  • The Sonoran Bells
  • Music Professors at the UA Faculty Artist Series • Barry Manilow

Supports many original choral compositions written specially for ARS

  • Knave of Cups by Paul Richards
  • Desert Songs by G. Bradley Bodine & Byrd Baylor
  • Songs for Braithwaite by Vijay Singh for ARS’ 25th anniversary
  • Beauty has the Coldest Heart by Anthony Constantino
  • O magnum mysterium by Grant Jahn
  • 30th anniversary concerts featured four original commissioned compositions

Raises public understanding and appreciation of the choral art

  • Collaborative concerts with high school choirs educates and excites students about life-long music participation.
  • AZPM Classical 90.5 broadcasts ARS concerts in its Community Concert Series

Contributes a portion of concert proceeds to community organizations

  • The San Xavier Mission Restoration Fund
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters Children’s Concert
  • Churches in which ARS performs during the annual concert season