our Mission

  • We endeavor to enrich our community by performing a variety of choral literature and musical traditions.
  • We endeavor to increase musical appreciation of our audiences by presenting choral works of art for individuals from diverse backgrounds, ages and underserved populations.
  • We endeavor to be a community of professional level singers by encouraging individuals who demonstrate a desire to sing at the highest level of choral artistry to perform with our choral ensemble.

Highlights

1984

ARS was founded as the Arizona Recital Choir by Dennis Bonner while he was a doctoral student in Choral Conducting at the University of Arizona. The name was changed to the Arizona Repertory Singers in 1986.

25th

Anniversary – ARS performed a gala concert at University of Arizona’s Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, including the piece “Sure on this Shining Night” by the internationally-known composer, Morten Lauridsen.
Jeffry Jahn

25

years ARS flourished under the guidance of our widely respected Music Director
Dr. Jeffry A. Jahn. Dr. Jahn was inducted into the Tucson Musicians Museum in 2014.

30th

Anniversary – ARS performs Bach’s festive Magnificat in D Major at holiday concert, Lift Up Your Voice, December 2013.

Fox

ARS performed at benefit concerts for Interfaith Community Services in the Fox Theatre as part of our mission to share our choral arts ‘for worthy organizations that benefit the community at large.’

2014

30th Anniversary – Spring concert Voices at an Exhibition featured commissioned compositions and original works of art by ARS singers.
Thomas Lerew

2015-16

Dr. Tom Lerew

2018

ARS presented Arthur Honegger’s unique oratorio King David. The range of musical styles in this work is extraordinary – Gregorian chant, early 20th century modernist dissonance, and jazz.

Elliot Jones

2017-19

Dr. Elliot Jones

Art!

March 2018 – ARS performs at Tucson Museum of Art “SundAZe Family Day.”

13

years of performances at the beautiful Benedictine Monastery.

2019-

Ryan Phillips, M.M.
All the Beauty: ARS 40th Gala, April 2024

40

All the Beauty 40th Anniversary Gala held April 28, 2024 at Catalina Foothills High School. Special honorees were Dr. Julian Ackerley of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, and Dr. Marcela Molina of the Tucson Girls Chorus.

We share the belief that there is nothing more transformative than the human voice lifted in song.

From the Renaissance to Americana and jazz, to contemporary pieces and original commissions,
we have one of the largest performing choral repertoires in the nation!