Bel Canto Chorus Announces 95th Season, Cathedrals of Sound
Monumental choral works fill some of Milwaukee’s most beautiful sacred spaces in a season exploring light, hope, and faith
MILWAUKEE— Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee announces its 95th season, Cathedrals of Sound, a four-concert season that invites audiences to experience monumental choral music in some of Milwaukee’s most magnificent sacred spaces.
From Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil to the grandeur of Christmas classics and American hymns and spirituals, the 2026–27 season explores the ways music can transform uncertainty into hope, connect generations and cultures, and create a sense of transcendence within spaces designed to inspire the human spirit.
“Most of these magnificent works were written for the types of spaces in which we will be performing them,” says Artistic Director Jonathan Laabs. “In many ways, the acoustics and architecture become just as much a part of the music and experience as the notes on the page.”
The series runs October through April with performances in Milwaukee’s most beautiful churches, including St. Sebastian Catholic Church, the Basilica of St. Josaphat, St. Joseph Chape, and Church of the Gesu.
The Oct. 18, concert at St. Sebastian Church, From Darkness, Light, bridges centuries of sacred music and reflects on the human search for hope and renewal. Joseph Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis, better known as the Nelson Mass, was composed in 1798 amid political uncertainty and the turmoil of war. The title translates as “Mass for Troubled Times,” yet the work ultimately transforms anxiety and conflict into music of extraordinary vitality, faith, and triumph. Paired with Haydn is contemporary composer Ola Gjeilo’s Luminous Night of the Soul, a vibrant meditation on light, spiritual union, and the divine spirit of art. For this performance, Bel Canto Chorus is joined by the Baptist College of Ministry Chamber Strings. Together, these works create a musical journey from darkness toward light, demonstrating the enduring ability of sacred music to speak across centuries.
Dec. 4-7, the chorus returns to the magnificent Basilica of St. Josaphat for four performances of Christmas at the Basilica: Uplifted, a Christmas celebration featuring choir, organ, brass, and beloved holiday sing-alongs of familiar carols. The centerpiece is British composer Paul Patterson’s Magnificat, a thrilling contemporary setting that combines soaring choral writing with brilliant brass and organ. The program will be a festive celebration of the mystery, majesty, and hope of Christmas, and will transform one of Milwaukee’s most iconic sacred spaces into a true cathedral of sound.
On March 7, the chorus will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, in the newly renovated St. Joseph Chapel. Composed in 1915 amid profound uncertainty and upheaval in Russia and across Europe, All-Night Vigil represents one of the final great achievements of the Russian choral tradition before a world on the brink of transformation. Drawing upon centuries of Orthodox chant while incorporating Rachmaninoff’s unmistakable harmonic language, the work is an extraordinary testament to the expressive possibilities of the human voice. Its solemn beauty, dramatic intensity, and moments of profound stillness reveal a composer deeply connected to his cultural heritage.
On April 25, the Bel Canto Senior Singers will join the chorus at St. Joseph Chapel for An American Hymnbook, a celebration of the rich musical traditions that have shaped American choral singing. The program will draw from American hymns, folksongs, and spirituals that express the country’s diverse traditions of faith, community, struggle, resilience, and joy. The concert will feature performances by the individual choirs , collaborations, and opportunities for the audience to join in a communal celebration of the music we carry with us and the voices that carry it forward.
Cathedrals of Sound celebrates what happens when great music meets great spaces and when voices come together to express something larger than any one individual.
For tickets, concert information, and updates about Bel Canto Chorus’s 95th season, visit belcanto.org.
About Bel Canto Chorus
Founded in 1931, Bel Canto Chorus has served the Milwaukee community for 95 years through the presentation of fine choral music. Bel Canto Chorus’s mission is to connect singers, audiences, and the community through experiences with diverse choral music. With approximately 100 singers, Bel Canto performs choral-orchestral repertoire, collaborates with local arts organizations, and represents Milwaukee through performances at home and abroad. Bel Canto also serves over 150 singers through its Senior Singers program, extending opportunities for choral participation and lifelong learning in the community.
From Darkness, Light
Sunday, October 18, 2026, 3:00 pm | St. Sebastian Catholic Church
Christmas at the Basilica: Uplifted
Friday, December 4, 2026, 7:30 pm | Basilica of St. Josaphat
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 12:00 pm | Basilica of St. Josaphat
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 7:30 pm | Basilica of St. Josaphat
Sunday, December 6, 2026, 4:00 pm | Basilica of St. Josaphat
Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil
Sunday, March 7, 2027, 3:00 pm | St. Joseph Chapel
An American Hymnbook
Saturday, April 25, 2027, 3:00 pm | Church of the Gesu
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Bel Canto Chorus
