Sunday August 9, 2026 at 5 PM will feature the Cantus Vocal Ensemble, an eight-member low-voice a cappella ensemble based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, renowned for its warm blend, innovative programming, and riveting performances spanning Renaissance to 21st-century music.

Founded in 1995 by four undergraduates at St. Olaf College, the group began as a student ensemble. After a successful 1998 tour, it transitioned into a full-time professional organization by 1999, one of the few in the nation. Cantus operates without a conductor; members collaborate as chamber musicians to shape every artistic decision and program.

Now in its 32nd season, Cantus excels in expanding the low-voice repertoire through commissions and rediscoveries, supported by grants from New Music USA, NEA, and others. It has received multiple Chorus America awards, including the 2023 Alice Parker Fund Award for authentic presentation of Black and Latinx traditions. The ensemble maintains a strong recording catalog and collaborates with orchestras, choirs, and artists like Chanticleer and the Minnesota Orchestra.