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Singing with a group of friends is not only a fun, creative and rewarding way to spend some time but more and more studies are showing the various health, social and general well being of group harmony singing. Here are some places in your community where you can sing.

Choruses in San Francisco


Musaic

Men's voices. Life through music.

Musaic is an auditioned all-volunteer men's a cappella vocal ensemble based in San Francisco, CA. Our mission is to share beautiful men's a cappella singing with our Bay Area community. Our music is rooted in classical choral traditions, and performed through a variety of genres. The members of Musaic are passionate about men's ensemble singing, enjoy the artistic balance and musical fellowship it brings to our lives

Musaic began in 2000 as a few friends gathering to sing for their own pleasure. We soon grew to eight members, performed our first concert, and took the name Musaic to represent a mosaic of song and voice. Today Musaic is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. In 2015, we completed our 80th Bay Area concert and released our 5th recording titled "Oh, What a Kick!": a collection of classic songs of the American and English songbooks and Rock and Roll era.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Lesbian / Gay Chorus of San Francisco

Celebrating all sexual orientations and gender identities, LGCSF provides an open and artistic environment for singers committed to musical excellence. Our performances entertain, educate, and inspire audiences with the spirit of inclusion and harmony.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Bach Choir

The San Francisco Bach Choir is an auditioned volunteer choir providing the Bay Area with exceptional concerts, singing music of all periods but focused particularly on the music of J.S. Bach, his contemporaries, and predecessors. Founded in 1937, it is one of the oldest continuously performing community choirs in the western United States. The Choir uses a historically informed approach, period instruments, and professional instrumentalists and soloists.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Lyric Opera Chorus

Opera is one of the oldest entertainment arts. It's an art form that involves a dramatic work in which singers and musicians perform a performance with the combination of texts and musical score, usually in a theatre. The art includes many of the regular contemporary theatrical works, including acting, scenery, costumes, and even including dance sometimes. Opera exhibitions and performances usually take place in a large, covered arena called an opera house. An orchestra accompanies performances.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco City Chorus

The San Francisco City Chorus is a self-supported, non-profit community arts and education organization that reflects the wonderful diversity of the Bay Area. We are an intergenerational group of 50-60 singers from various ethnic, economic and musical backgrounds that share a love for music, for singing and for our community. We are led by esteemed Bay Area musician Larry Marietta and accompanied by acclaimed organist John R. S. Walko.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Volti

Volti's professional vocalists, under the direction of founder and Artistic Director Robert Geary, are dedicated to the discovery, creation, and performance of new vocal music. The ensemble's mission is to encourage, foster and showcase contemporary American music and composers, and to introduce contemporary vocal music from around the world to local audiences.

>In the fall of 1979, Robert Geary established The San Francisco Chamber Singers, opening that first season with an all-Bach program. Quickly favoring the music of Benjamin Britten, the choir soon began to sharpen its focus on today's music, and by the 1990s was focusing almost exclusively on premieres and commissions by living composers from the U.S. and abroad.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Resound Ensemble

Resound Ensemble is a community of singers sharing intimate, engaging performances with audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are committed in an eclectic repertoire that connects today's audience to the human experience through song.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Chamber Singers

Established in 1989, the San Francisco Choral Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the performance of beautiful, inspiring choral music. To date, we have shared our joy and enthusiasm for choral music with more than 60,000 concertgoers.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

International Orange Chorale

Recipient of the 2011 Chorus America / ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, the International Orange Chorale of San Francisco (IOCSF), led by Artistic Director Zane Fiala, was founded in 2003. Named after the color of the Golden Gate Bridge, the International Orange Chorale of San Francisco is an auditioned all-volunteer chamber choir devoted to performing established repertoire of all periods, with particular attention to contemporary music, including newly commissioned works by promising composers.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

National Children's Chorus

The GRAMMY Award-winning National Children's Chorus Academy based in San Francisco provides children ages 5 to 17 the opportunity to learn and grow in an extraordinary musical environment. The country's leading music educators work with students in small groups weekly to develop their vocal and musicianship skills from the most basic concepts through the college level. Tone quality, breath support and musical expression are cultivated within the individual singers, while working together as an ensemble culminates in an exciting array of performances, presenting world premieres and collaborating with an exceptional roster of professional artists from around the world.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Slavyanka

Slavyanka is a mixed voice a cappella chorus based in San Francisco, California, and made up of amateur musicians from varied professions, including computer programmers, scientists, lawyers, and businessmen. The musical demands placed on the Chorus are quite high both because of technical content of the music and the nearly four octave range often required to sing it. We perform most of our music in Russian, though most of us do not speak Russian. Our chorus consists of 25 singers united by a common interest in the choral music of the peoples of Russia and Eastern Europe. Over the years we have compiled an enviable record of achievement.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Musae San Francisco

Musae is a women's vocal ensemble based in San Francisco. The group takes its name from the original "ladies of song," the classic nine muses of Greek mythology. Since its founding in 2004, Musae has performed diverse and accessible music throughout the Bay Area, and continues to stretch the boundaries of traditional repertoire for women's voices.

Musae functions as a musical collective in which each singer identifies as a leader and soloist contributing actively to the artistic process. The group's fourteen singers are trained in the choral tradition, but not bound by it. Each singer may sing a range of voice parts based on the aesthetic demands of the music, and the group performs largely without conductor.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Saringhimig Singers

Founded by Artistic Director George Hernandez, the group started as a chamber choir at the University of the Philippines and rapidly gained recognition as one of the best choirs in the country. Soon after, the choir trained primarily for competitions and embarked on several European concert tours participating in choral festivals, winning in distinguished choral competitions against many of the best choirs in the world, and reaping critical reviews from European critics thereby establishing an undisputable international reputation.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Golden Gate Men's Chorus

The Golden Gate Men's Chorus (GGMC) was formed in 1982 by Dick Kramer, one of the founding fathers of the American gay choral movement. Under the direction of Joseph Piazza, the GGMC is a select group of 50 men representing the ethnic and social diversity of San Francisco who share a common appreciation of choral music. The GGMC presents high quality performances of men's choral music in annual spring, summer and winter programs, in addition to guest and community benefit performances throughout the year.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Choral Artists

San Francisco Choral Artists (SFCA) are a Bay Area chamber choir with a mission to foster new American choral music and to present eclectic, imaginative programs consisting of both new works and repertoire spanning 600 years in performances of uncompromisingly high quality.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Choral Society

Inspired by the joy of singing and hearing choral music, the San Francisco Choral Society strives to be a premier symphonic chorus through the outstanding performance of choral masterpieces and new commissioned works. Infused with a commitment to excellence and education, our professional artistic and administrative staff, soloists, and orchestras work collaboratively with our all-volunteer auditioned singers to foster a vibrant, diverse, and interactive choral community, educate our singers and audiences, and extend our reach to youth.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Chanticleer

Called "the world's reigning male chorus," by the New Yorker magazine, and named Ensemble of the Year by Musical America in 2008, Chanticleer will perform more than 100 concerts in 2010-11, the GRAMMY Award-winning ensemble's 33rd Season. Praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for their "tonal luxuriance and crisply etched clarity," Chanticleer will tour to Canada and 22 of the United States, including appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National American Choral Directors Association Conference in Chicago. In early 2010, Chanticleer gave 14 concerts in 11 European countries, appearing at many of Europe's legendary concert halls.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Loose Interpretations San Francisco

We've been performing all over the Bay Area since 2004. We mostly sing original arrangements of pop covers, though our repertoire spans several decades and musical genres, including songs by: Gershwin, Annie Lennox, Simon & Garfunkel, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, The Postal Service, and even a little Bon Jovi. (Yep, Bon Jovi. May he forgive us.) We currently have 13 active members.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Renaissance Voices

San Francisco Renaissance Voices made their debut in 2004 with a "standing room only" performance of Victoria's Requiem and quickly became a favorite of Bay Area Early Music audiences. We have consistently earned praise for our "gossamer sound ... a sound something akin to spiritual levitation" as well as recognition for our imaginative programming and christened the Bay Area's "hipper than thou" Early Music ensemble by San Francisco Classical Voice. We are dedicated to performing and exploring the a cappella choral music of the Renaissance particularly lesser-known and rarely-performed works, as well as exploring music from this period outside of the traditional European canon.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus

During the fall of 1978, a call went out to men in and around the Castro who liked to sing inviting them to a gathering with the purpose of possibly creating a chorus. The driving force was Jon Sims, the conductor of the Freedom Band. October 30 was chosen as the date of the first "rehearsal" to be held at Everett Middle School. The word went out, flyers posted around the neighborhood. Interest mounted leading up to that first gathering held at Everett Middle School. Around 100 men showed up on the first night. The atmosphere of excitement was described as palpable. The men sang "If They Could See Me Now" and "Stouthearted Men"! Little did the men who gathered those 35 years ago know they were actually giving birth to a world-wide LGBT Choral phenomenon that now boasts hundreds of choruses around the globe.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Capella SF

The mission of Cappella SF is to perform and record a cappella choral repertoire of all periods, to bring to life the vast riches of a cappella choral literature through fine artistry, to contribute to the cultural life of the Bay Area community, and to cultivate the musical education of the chorus and its audience, including educational outreach to students and young people to help them discover the joy of singing and hearing a cappella choral music.

Singing is the oldest and most natural form of making music and has been important to humankind for millennia. Furthermore, choral music has played a major role in Western civilization for at least 1,000 years. Worldwide interest in choral music and a cappella singing continues to grow, and Cappella SF---an elite professional ensemble---will present high quality choral music and serve as a major inspiration to other choral groups in the greater Bay Area and beyond.

Cappella SF was also created to provide a community where professional singers come together to create music of high artistic standards with their peers. We believe that the quality of life not only of our audiences, but also of our singers, is enhanced by a mutual appreciation of music.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Conspiracy of Beards

San Francisco's Conspiracy of Beards is a 30 member male choir started in 2003 that performs dynamic, original, a cappella arrangements of the poetic songs of Leonard Cohen.

Well dressed in suits, ties, and the occasional fedora, the choir brings an energized live choral music experience out of churches and tabernacles and into the taverns, art houses, and theaters of the Bay Area and beyond. Transforming Cohen's lyrics and simple melodies into complex 4- and 5-part harmonies, and with a wide variety of small ensemble and full choir pieces, Conspiracy of Beards achieves a sound that is both robust and tender. Drawing on influences ranging from jazz and gospel to barbershop and doo-wop, the unique arrangements that choir members create capture all of the emotion and humor of Leonard Cohen's original music and inspire audiences to ponder common human experiences like romance, heartbreak, politics, sex, longing, and spirituality.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Fog City Singers

The Fog City Singers were founded by six members of the Bay Area choral and barbershop communities. They had a simple question: what would happen if barbershop music were infused with influences from San Francisco's rich musical tapestry? Specifically, what might Barbershop have to gain from the diverse music singing all around the city? Likewise, what might others learn from the techniques and traditions that barbershoppers cultivate in that unique American art form?

To explore these ideas, our founders invited 25 of the best singers they knew to memorize four songs at home, attend three rehearsals, then perform a friends-and-family concert immediately following the third meeting. In the end, we were pleased to discover that this was a winning strategy. The music gelled instantly, and the sound we produced was one that none of us had expected. For some of us, we were moved to unabashed squeals of excitement.

Nearly 100 people attended our debut concert on November 7th, and thousands more have watched our concert video on social media since then

Our mission is to create a close fraternity of musicians; to apply diverse, world-class resources; and to revolutionize how barbershop music is performed and appreciated.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Lyric Chorus

San Francisco Lyric Chorus is an auditioned, medium-sized, mixed-voice chorus that performs a diverse repertoire with an emphasis on classical choral music and rarely performed works. We are an inclusive and welcoming community of singers, committed to excellent musicianship and creative programming.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Boys Chorus

The Grammy award winning San Francisco Boys Chorus (SFBC) was founded by Gaetano Merola and Madi Bacon in 1948 to provide trained boy singers for the San Francisco Opera, and is today led by Artistic Director, Ian Robertson.

Maestro Robertson, who also serves as Chorus Director for the San Francisco Opera, has since 1996 built SFBC to over 220 singers from 50 Bay Area cities and more than 120 schools at campuses in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Rafael in California.

The SFBC recently performed at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., and has performed for His Majesty King Gustav of Sweden; HRH Queen Elizabeth II of England; HRH Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the former Soviet Union; the late Pope John Paul II; General Colin Powell; Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi; Senator Dianne Feinstein; Senator Barbara Boxer; Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.\

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Pitch Please

Pitch Please! is a San Francisco a cappella group. We are a diverse group of individuals who love to sing. Formed in 2017, we're young, scrappy, and hungry for more talented singers, vocal percussionists, and arrangers who are committed to joining and growing a fun new a cappella group!

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Cable Car Chorus

For over 65 years, the San Francisco Cable Car Chorus has delighted audiences with men's four-part a capella harmony in the traditional Barbershop Style. We sing at public events, private parties, concerts, and deliver Singing Valentines during that special time of year.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Sound Wave Chorus

We are a dynamic chorus comprised of fabulous women of diverse ages and backgrounds who sing barbershop style a cappella harmony. SF Sound Wave is dedicated to continuous vocal improvement while creating great friendships and having fun! We welcome women who love to sing and are striving for excellence.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Girls Chorus

For more than 30 years, the San Francisco Girls Chorus has been recognized as one of the world's most respected vocal ensembles. Its level of training, performance, quality, range, and leadership in commissioning music for treble voices are lauded by musicians, critics, and audiences. San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas says, "The San Francisco Girls Chorus is a treasure. Their training, musicality, and vibrant spirit are evident whenever they perform. I have enjoyed our long association and look forward to many years of collaboration."

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Scales of the City

We're Scales of the City, a San Francisco co-ed a cappella group that performs all around the Bay Area. Based on the model of a collegiate glee club, we're a group of performers who love singing pop music from our childhoods and today, with a sprinkling of showtunes just for kicks. We're all about making great music to share, and having a great time doing it.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Fog City Harmonia

Women's vocal ensemble, rooted in barbershop while exploring diverse musical repertoire with professional-quality musicality and performance. Harmonia believes that cultivating a diverse and inclusive chorus is a beautiful opportunity, not a final destination. We strive not just to include, but to showcase our members' unique voices and stories in our music, and we commit to seeking a wide range of collaborators, chorus members, and audiences. When we fall short, we commit to improving. Whatever your background, experience, or perspective, Harmonia welcomes you.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Conspiracy of Venus

Conspiracy of Venus is a 30-woman vocal ensemble started in 2007 and based in San Francisco that explores the creative frontiers of music under the artistic direction of Joyce Todd McBride. We interpret Joyce's daring and inventive covers of beloved songs, ranging from popular classics (Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" and David Bowie's "Life On Mars") to edgy contemporary pieces (Bjork's "Possibly Maybe" and The Pixie's "Monkey Gone To Heaven), as well as the music of Tome Waits, Leonard Cohen, Stevie Wonder, and original compositions by McBride, with dazzling technical verve and tons of personality. Drawing inspiration from medieval music, jazz, funk, and new music, Conspiracy of Venus takes vocal music into territories not often explored by more traditional choirs or college-style a cappella groups (though we are inspired by them too!).

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Young Women’s Chorus of San Francisco

The Young Women's Choral Projects provides talented young women from across the San Francisco Bay Area with exceptional interpersonal and musical experiences. Through the Young Women's Choral Projects, participants from diverse cultural, educational and socio-economic backgrounds find their voices as singers, artists and women in a nurturing musical environment that empowers them to artistic and personal excellence. The collaborative experience of learning and creating high-quality choral music will foster the development of each young woman both musically and individually, as well as teach them important life skills like dedication, commitment to themselves and to one another, and working in community.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Clerestory

Founded in 2006, Clerestory is the Bay Area's acclaimed 9-man vocal ensemble. Clerestory's singers, from countertenor to bass, are veterans of San Francisco's finest professional vocal groups, including Chanticleer, Philharmonia Baroque, American Bach Soloists and others. The ensemble has been featured on National Public Radio and on San Francisco's KDFC.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

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