History

Angelica Cantanti began in 1980 as a class at the Bloomington Art Center. The director and accompanist was Semyon Rosin, a Russian immigrant. A Bloomington resident, Jeanne Mortenson, developed the choir. During Mr. Rosin's four years, Angelica had one choir with 30-50 singers.

Currently, Angelica boast five excellent choirs and approximately 240 singers in grades 2-12. Musical staff this season includes Rita Docter, directory of Prep and Ensemble Choirs, Ann Schrooten, director of Varsity Choir, Nancy Grundahl, directory of Concert Choir, and James Hawthorne, director of Cantanti Singers.

Performing highlights over Angelica's past seasons have included joint ventures with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Bloomington Symphony with Tony Sandler, and the Minnesota Chorale. We have performed for the American Choral Directors Association State and Regional Conferences and have sung on "A Prairie Home Companion," Garrison Keillor's radio show, most recently in June 2001.

Touring highlights in recent years have included the Concert Choir's 2001 tour with performances at the von Trapp family lodge in Stowe, Vermont and at Carnegie Hall in New York City and their 2004 tour to San Francisco. Cantanti Singers has toured in Australia and in Europe several times. In 2000, they toured in England where they had the opportunity to work with composer John Rutter. In 2004, they toured Italy and had the honor of performing in Spoletto and working with composer Gian Carlo Menotti.