Lutheran Summer Music is honored to welcome back Cantus as a featured Guest Artist for Lutheran Summer Music’s 2026 season. Please join us for a free, public concert on Friday, July 10 at 7:30 pm in Boe Memorial Chapel at St. Olaf College, featuring one of the nation’s premier vocal ensembles. Cantus will also work closely with LSM students throughout the day in workshops and educational sessions, culminating in an evening of extraordinary musical artistry.

About Cantus

Now in its 31st season, Cantus stands among the nation’s premier vocal ensembles, celebrated for its signature warmth, impeccable blend, and powerful musical storytelling. Renowned for innovative programming and compelling performances, the ensemble connects audiences to a wide range of repertoire, spanning centuries from the Renaissance to contemporary works. 

Performing without a conductor, Cantus functions as a true chamber ensemble in which every singer contributes equally to shaping each program. This collaborative process fosters performances rooted in human connection, empathy, and shared experience. As The Washington Post writes, Cantus sings with “exalting finesse” and “spontaneous grace.”

Based in Minneapolis, the ensemble tours extensively throughout the United States and abroad. Cantus has appeared at major venues including Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Tanglewood, and has brought its music to audiences across Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. In addition to live touring, Cantus offers all of its home concerts via streaming, reaching listeners in all 50 states and more than 16 countries.

Cantus records with the UK-based Signum Classics label. Recent releases—Into the Light, Alone Together, and Fields of Wonder—highlight the ensemble’s versatility and commitment to musical excellence.

A leading advocate for new and underrepresented music for low voices, Cantus frequently commissions composers and publishes its work through the Cantus Choral Series in partnership with Graphite Publishing. In recognition of its dedication to inclusive and authentic programming, Cantus received Chorus America’s 2023 Alice Parker Fund Award.

Cantus also fosters community through its Collaborative Concerts, which unite local choirs onstage to share artistry and build lasting musical relationships. As a presenter, the ensemble has welcomed celebrated groups such as Chanticleer, The King’s Singers, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Canadian Brass, offering Minnesota audiences opportunities to experience world-class performers alongside Cantus’ own work.

Education is central to the ensemble’s mission. Each year, Cantus engages more than 5,000 students through workshops, residencies, and festivals. Signature initiatives include the High School Mentorship Program, the annual Tenor Bass Festival, and the Cantus Composer Competition, all designed to inspire young musicians and nurture the next generation of composers and performers.