2023 – 2024 Season
Two Rivers Chorale ushers in the Christmas season with two iconic and contrasting works – one in Middle English by Benjamin Britten, the other with a Spanish flair by Conrad Susa, accompanied by harp, guitar and marimba. Adding to the Yuletide “dessert buffet” are exquisite carol and sacred settings by Sir John Rutter, Sergei Rachmaninov, Dan Forrest, Brian Holmes, and Stephen Main – all accompanied by TRC singer/pianists. A musical banquet of Christmas delicacies!
2023 – 2024 Season
TRC’s 25th Season began with an invitation by ACDA of Minnesota (American Choral Directors Association) to present an encore performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.
Eternal Light A partnership with exceptional Twin Cities chamber choir, From Age To Age, Artistic Director Peter J. Durow, performing the sweeping work by Maurice Duruflé, Requiem, Opus 9.
A celebration of our 25th Season with This is Why We Sing! Two concerts honoring Mentors, Memories and Memorials in sacred choral music resounding with life, spirit, hope, beauty, truth and joy.
2022 – 2023 Season
I was Glad Grand anthems and motets from the British sacred choral tradition. Rescheduled from April 2020, this concert featured guest artist Bill Chouinard on the majestic organ. This sweeping and grand offering delighted our audiences with an exciting and powerful concert showcasing TRC’s mission of bringing ever changing new musical experiences.
Psalms of Life and Love Beautiful settings of many psalms featuring Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms.
2021 – 2022 Season
We Love to Sing Two Rivers Chorale returned to the stage with a collection of some of our favorite songs from concerts past!
Luminescence: Can We Sing the Darkness to Light? In the midst of war, turmoil and darkness, Two Rivers Chorale presented a concert full of light, love and hope, featuring the MN premiere performance of Illuminare by Elaine Hagenberg.
2020 – 2021 Season
Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 – 2020 Season
My Soul’s Refuge with cellist Benjamin Osterhouse featured music to calm, inspire, and stir the soul in a turbulent world.
TRC’s April 2020 I Was Glad concerts were canceled due to COVID-19. The music, however, was only delayed as TRC was able to perform this wonderful concert in our 2022-2023 season.
2018 – 2019 Season
Turn the World Around featured the world premiere performance of Only You by Craig Courtney, the inaugural commission from the John Kadlec Commissioning Fund, established in 2018 by TRC alto Jane Kadlec and family in John’s memory.
Grant Us Peace Conductor Marlene Pauley and the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra along with Two Rivers Chorale and Edina Chorale performed Ralph Vaughn Williams’ magnificent World War I inspired Dona Nobis Pacem, it featured soprano Tracey Engleman and baritone Gerard Sundberg.
A Place Called Home A reprise of music from the historic “Blizzard of April 2018,” this concert was a richly layered celebration of people working and singing together, and sharing the gift of music from our diverse communities and lives. Belonging, finding a “home” and a safe place described in multiple ways through music and spoken word.
2017 – 2018 Season
A Christmas Portrait with Mack Wilberg. Invited by ACDA-MN (American Choral Directors of MN), TRC performed with five other outstanding Minnesota community choruses in a concert conducted by Mack Wilberg, director of the internationally renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Break Forth Into Singing! 20 Years of Glorious song. Celebrating our 20th Anniversary in a concert featuring piano, organ and trumpet followed by a dessert reception.
Viva Verdi! Favorite opera choruses and arias. Collaboration with Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Yuri Ivan, conductor. Featuring Karin Wolverton and Joseph Okell, soloists.
Generations: A Place Called Home TRC planned to join in concert with Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota, however because of the infamous April of 2018 snowstorm, the Youth Chorale could not travel to the concert and the snow limited our audience to 58 hardy souls!
2016 – 2017 Season
The Road Home opening our nineteenth season, this heartwarming fall concert celebrated our beautiful world, the glory of music, the journey of life, and the blessing of home and belonging.
Brahms German Requiem with Wayzata Symphony Orchestra and Edina Chorale. Marlene Pauley, conductor. TRC’s second appearance at Orchestra Hall!
Swing into Spring! A lively performance with KCGO Big Band and the great music of the swing era at the Mermaid Entertainment and Event Center in Mounds View.
2015 – 2016 Season
A Timeless Christmas Christmas concert featuring sacred music of Christmas through the Ages plus our popular audience sing-along.
Release of Christmas Garlands CD!
Great Masters: Brahms! Brahms German Requiem with guest artists soprano Cathy McCord Larsen and baritone Gerard Sundberg. Performed first in the Twin Cities featuring two pianos with collaborative pianists Charles Kemper and Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell, then in Virginia, MN with the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, Voices of Reason and Sergey Bogza, conductor.
2014 – 2015 Season
Celebrating Timothy Sawyer’s 10 Year Anniversary with TRC
Christmas Garlands Another popular Christmas concert featuring sacred and beautiful music plus an audience sing-along.
Viva Verdi! Verdi’s Requiem performed with Wayzata Symphony Orchestra and Edina Chorale. Marlene Pauley, conductor.
TRC’s debut performance at Orchestra Hall!
Milestones – Two Friends, One Ocean with the University of Northwestern Choir performing music by composers Knut Nystedt and Leland Sateren with guest narrator Pauline Sateren.
2013 – 2014 Season
Yuletide Treasures A very popular concert filled with inspiring holiday choir music and featuring guest artist Jeffrey Van on guitar.
Rehearsals begin in the choir room at University of Northwestern – St. Paul.
Honor, Adulation, Praise with Mississippi Valley Orchestra and Chorus Polaris. Henry Charles Smith, conductor.
Release of Yuletide Treasures CD.
Generations – The Music of Life! An exchange concert in Cambridge and Roseville with East Central Minnesota Chorale and Unum Vox.
2012 – 2013 Season
Retrospective: A Choral Legacy Celebrating TRC’s 15th Anniversary and featuring choral favorites from the first 15 years. TRC held its first silent auction followed by a dessert reception.
Songs of Fate with Mississippi Valley Orchestra and Chorus Polaris. Christina Yi-Ping Chen-Beyers, conductor.
Aaron, Lenny and the Fabulous 4 Music of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and the Beatles creating a delightful immersion experience into distinctively American musical culture.
2011 – 2012 Season
Transfiguration: From Death To Life Performance of Requiem, Opus 9 by Maurice Duruflé in collaboration with the Northwestern College Choir and organist Leonard Danek.
Premiere of I Lift Up My Eyes by Linda Tutas Haugen, commissioned by TRC in loving memory of Tom Johnson, TRC member and featuring Keith Bear playing the Native American Flute.
Veteran’s Day Tribute concert at Benson Great Hall, Bethel University, Arden Hills, hosted by Island Lake Elementary School.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness A celebration of the American way of life featuring American composers.
2010 – 2011 Season
Release of My Soul’s Been Anchored In The Lord CD.
King of Instruments with St. Anthony Brass Quintet and Leonard Danek on organ featuring Gloria by John Rutter.
What A Wonderful World! Songs of spring, earth and joy.
Summer concert at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
2009 – 2010 Season
East Meets West Concert with the St. Paul Central High School Choir.
Where Waters Meet Concert in St. Cloud with Great River Chorale and Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota.
My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord Premiere of O Crux Splendidior by John Orfe, a joint commission with the Northwestern College Choir.
2008 – 2009 Season
Land of 10,000 Lakes Celebrating Minnesota’s 150th Birthday.
Life Is A Circus! Music about Animals, Birds, Parades and the Circus with the newly-formed Twin Cities Youth Chorale.
2007 – 2008 Season
TRC selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota (ACDA-MN) in Duluth.
Made In America The fall concert begins TRC’s 10thAnniversary Season.
New rehearsal home becomes Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Shoreview.
Made in America Two Rivers Chorale celebrates 10 Year Anniversary with a spring celebration concert welcoming TRC founder Bruce Phelps as Guest Conductor followed by an alumni banquet.
Summer concerts at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and the Lake Harriet Band Shell.
2006 – 2007 Season
Let All the World in Every Corner Sing! Fall and Spring concerts both with special guests The Rainbow Kids, Son-Sheim Music School.
2005 – 2006 Season
A Choral Banquet If Music Be The Food of Love, Sing On!
Invited to participate in Fine Arts Series at First Presbyterian Church, Rochester and Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina.
A Choral Banquet The feast continues with more songs of love and laughter.
2004 – 2005 Season
Timothy Sawyer named new Artistic Director and Conductor. Rehearsals now held at Faith Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids.
Traditions and Beyond Timothy Sawyer’s TRC concert premiere in a joint concert with Andover High School.
All Nature Sings! Spring songs of Nature, Life and Love.
2003 – 2004 Season
TRC in concert with District 279 Children’s Chorus, Brooklyn Center.
Alleluia concert featuring guest artist Herb Reinke, guitar.
Gloria! concert with Anoka, Fridley and Maple Grove High Schools featuring Gloria by John Rutter.
A fond farewell given to Bruce Phelps and a search for a new conductor launched.
2002 – 2003 Season
Fall concerts in East Bethel and Arden Hills.
Sing a Mighty Song! Spring concert of contemporary sacred composers, poetry and humor.
Summer 2003 International Performance Tour to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
2001 – 2002 Season
Invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota (ACDA-MN) in St. Cloud.
Let the World Sing Beautiful fall concert featuring favorites, both sacred and secular.
Spring Sing 2002 Annual spring concert of sacred music, classics and spirituals.
2000 -2001 Season
Bridging the Gap with Kantorei.
Songs for the Seasons Music of the People, the Spirit and the Season.
Spring Concert At AAAA Theatre, Alexandria, MN.
Sing into Spring Music of the Spirit, Music of the Heart and Music from the British Isles.
1999 – 2000 Season
A Jubilant Song! TRC’s 2nd Annual Fall Choral Concert.
Music of the Church Concerts in Arden Hills and Ramsey celebrating music of the people.
Zion Fine Arts Series Concert with Son-Sheim Choirs.
1998 – 1999 Premier Season
Two Rivers Chorale founded by Bruce Phelps. Rehearsals begin at Anoka United Methodist Church, Anoka MN.
Premiere Performance in November at Benson Great Hall, Bethel College, Arden Hills.
Spring 1999 concerts feature sacred and contemporary music, including the Beatles.
