What Phoenix Chorale does

Phoenix Chorale is a private nonprofit professional choral organization founded in 1958 (originally as the Bach & Madrigal Society of Phoenix; renamed Phoenix Chorale in 2008), fully professional since 1992, and ensemble-in-residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix. It fields a 24-voice ensemble of trained singers resident in Arizona, typically presenting four concert programs each season (Fall through Spring), plus community-outreach events such as Beer Choir sing-alongs, Valley Sing showcases, open rehearsals, and student access initiatives. Its products and services span live performances (Draw on Sweet Night, A Chorale Christmas, Transcendence, Chant and Polyphony, BLOOM at MIM), album recordings on Signum Records and Chandos (three Grammy wins across ten nominations, including Best Choral Performance for Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil), season subscriptions, the annual Harmony Gala, and choral education / audition offerings.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid contributed-and-earned model: ticket sales and season subscriptions (single tickets $20–$61.50; subscriptions from $89), individual donations including a monthly Giving Circle from $10 and Legacy Society planned gifts, corporate and concert sponsorships starting at $6,000, gala table and ticket revenue ($150–$2,000), streaming and recording royalties via Signum Records, and institutional grants (a $283,000 Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust ATLAS capacity grant was awarded recently, alongside ongoing support from the City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture, Arizona State Commission on the Arts, and Virginia B. Piper Foundation). Distribution spans direct ticket sales via website and box office, venue partnerships across the Phoenix metro area (Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Camelback Bible Church, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Musical Instrument Museum), Spotify (50,000+ monthly listeners), YouTube, Arizona PBS broadcasts (reaching over one million listeners annually), and participation in international festivals such as LIVE From London.

Artistic direction is led by Christopher Gabbitas (Artistic Director since 2019; former member of The King's Singers), with Nicole Belmont as Executive Director (since 2021), Tom Peterson as Associate Conductor and Outreach Coordinator, and Jennifer Lucy Cook recently installed as Composer-in-Residence for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons. The organization runs a lean administrative operation (1-10 employees) supplemented by contracted singers and a small contracted administrative support team.

Name

Phoenix Chorale

Legal name

Phoenix Chorale

Website

https://phoenixchorale.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Phoenix Chorale is a private nonprofit professional 24-voice choral ensemble founded in 1958 in Phoenix, Arizona. It delivers four seasonal concert programs, Grammy-recognized recordings on Signum Records, community outreach events, and educational programs for ticket buyers, donors, and broadcast/streaming audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Choral Music Performance

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Professional choral ensemble
• Live concert performances
• Choral music recordings
• Community music outreach
• Classical vocal music

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Concert ticket sales: Single tickets and season subscriptions for live concert performances at various price points ($20-$61.50 per ticket). Subscriptions for 2, 3, and 4 concert packages starting at $89.
2. Individual donations and giving programs: One-time gifts, monthly recurring Giving Circle donations (minimum $10/month), Legacy Society planned giving, employer matching gifts, and Donor Advised Fund contributions.
3. Institutional grants: Support from City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture, Arizona State Commission on the Arts, Virginia B. Piper Foundation, and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust grant of $283,000.
4. Concert sponsorship and underwriting: Concert sponsorship opportunities starting at $6,000 for individual donors and corporations, including single concert, series, and full season support with benefits like front-row seats and marketing recognition.
5. Album recordings and streaming: Album releases on Signum Records, including The Christmas Album (2023) and Sun Moon Stars Rain (2025). Revenue from streaming platforms and physical/digital album sales.
6. Gala events: Annual Harmony Gala with single tickets at $150 and table sponsorships at $2,000, including corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Phoenix Chorale is a Grammy-winning 24-voice professional choral ensemble that delivers a seasonal concert series (typically four programs from Fall through Spring) at venues across the Phoenix metropolitan area. The ensemble also produces commercial album recordings on Signum Records and Chandos, engages in community outreach (Beer Choir, Valley Sing, student access programs), and operates a development program supported by ticket sales, subscriptions, donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Phoenix Chorale offers a portfolio of professional choral music products and services centered around its Grammy Award-winning 24-voice professional ensemble. The core offerings include live concert performances (typically four programs per season), album recordings (primarily on Signum Records), and community engagement programs. The ensemble's products span seasonal concert series (Draw on Sweet Night, A Chorale Christmas, Transcendence, Chant and Polyphony), special performances (BLOOM at MIM), album recordings (Sun Moon Stars Rain, The Christmas Album, with forthcoming Promised Land), and fundraising events (Harmony Gala). Supporting services include season subscriptions, donations/fundraising programs, community outreach initiatives, free open rehearsals, and professional audition opportunities for singers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seasonal Concert Performances Professional choral concert series presenting four programs per season (Fall, Christmas, Spring, Finale), featuring performances both a cappella and with instrumental accompaniment. Venues include Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Camelback Bible Church, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, and other Valley locations.
• Album Recordings Professional choral recordings released on Signum Records and Chandos Records, including Sun Moon Stars Rain, The Christmas Album, Northern Lights, Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil, and more, with 10 Grammy nominations and 3 wins.
• Season Subscriptions Subscription packages for 2, 3, and 4 concert series providing access to the ensemble's seasonal programming with loyalty benefits and priority seating.
• Harmony Gala Annual fundraising gala event featuring performances by Phoenix Chorale singers, dinner, auction, and community celebration.
• BLOOM Concert at MIM Intimate one-night-only concert program featuring 10 singers from the ensemble, debuting at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) Music Theater, with diverse repertoire from Shakespeare to Italian madrigals.
• Transcendence Concert Program Choral-orchestral program at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts featuring works by Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Ola Gjeilo, Arvo Pärt, Rachmaninoff, and the US Premiere of Rebecca Dale's 'When Music Sounds'.
• Chant and Polyphony Concert Series Contemplative concert series performed with guest ensemble Floriani, featuring Gregorian chant, spoken meditations, and sacred choral works spanning five centuries.
• Draw on Sweet Night Concert Program A cappella program celebrating milestone anniversaries including John Rutter's 80th, Palestrina's 500th, Ravel's 150th, and Saint-Saëns' 190th, featuring Rutter's Birthday Madrigals and French chanson.
• Professional Singer Auditions Professional singing opportunities for exceptional musicians in the Greater Phoenix metro area. Audition process includes submitting three contrasting solo recordings, choral CV, and personal statement, followed by a quartet audition session.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million annual listeners through video and audio recordings
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MusicaNova OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2025Joint choral-orchestral collaboration for TALES OF LOVE AND MAJESTY featuring Handel Coronation Anthems and Coleridge-Taylor's 'A Tale of Old Japan', with dual conducting by Christopher Gabbitas and Warren Cohen.
• True Concord Voices & OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2024Arizona's premier professional choirs united for DURUFLÉ REQUIEM / MARTIN MASS FOR DOUBLE CHOIR concerts, combining 48 professional singers from both Grammy-winning ensembles for performances in Phoenix and Tucson.
• ASU Gammage / Beth Morrison ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2023Phoenix Chorale performed as chorus for the world premiere of contemporary opera 'The Old Man and the Sea' at ASU Gammage, composed by Paola Prestini with libretto by Royce Vavrek.
• VOCES8 Foundation / LIVE From LondonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 July 2022Featured ensemble in prestigious international online choral festival, broadcasting 'Unclouded Day' concert film to global audience.
• Kronos Quartet / ASU GammageminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2022Phoenix Chorale members joined Kronos Quartet and vocal ensemble Tonality for 'At War With Ourselves - 400 Years of You' oratorio by Michael Abels at ASU Gammage.
• Scottsdale Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Transcendence program (January 2026) featuring choral-orchestral works including US premiere of Rebecca Dale's 'When Music Sounds'. First collaboration with Scottsdale Arts.
• Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhoenix Chorale debut at MIM Music Theater with BLOOM concert featuring 10 singers in exclusive one-night-only program curated by Assistant Conductor Tom Peterson.
• Signum RecordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecord label partnership for album releases including The Christmas Album (2023) and Sun Moon Stars Rain (2025), with worldwide distribution through streaming platforms.
• Trinity Episcopal CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnsemble-in-residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix, providing home venue for regular performances and sacred music programming.
• Guest conductor Dr. Edith CopleyminorOthersRegents' Professor Emerita from Northern Arizona University and current National President of ACDA, guest conducting A Chorale Christmas 2025.
• Guest ensemble FlorianiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhoenix-based male vocal quartet specializing in Gregorian chant and sacred liturgical music, joining for Chant and Polyphony March 2026 performances.
• Jennifer Lucy CookcoreOthersComposer-in-Residence for 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, developing first long work for SATB chorus with original libretto, and arranging works by early American women composers for upcoming album.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Los Angeles Master Chorale: Professional choral ensemble based in Southern California with a similar repertoire spanning classical to contemporary, comparable subscription and concert-ticket model, and a Grammy-recognized recording catalog. Most directly comparable peer given similar ensemble size, professional model, and West Coast U.S. positioning.
• Conspirare: Austin-based professional choral ensemble known for innovative programming, multiple Grammy nominations, and a similar recording-and-touring nonprofit structure. Comparable on artistic profile, regional rather than national positioning, and contemporary-plus-classical repertoire mix.
• Chanticleer: San Francisco-based professional male vocal ensemble with multiple Grammy wins, renowned for a cappella performances and choral-orchestral repertoire. Direct comparison on ensemble size, professional structure, touring model, and Grammy-recognized recording catalog.
• Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble: Mid-size professional choral ensemble with subscription concert series, commissioned works, and recording history. Comparable in scale and nonprofit performance model to Phoenix Chorale's four-concert seasonal programming.
• Cantus: Minnesota-based professional male vocal ensemble with touring model, education outreach programming, and acclaimed recording catalog. Comparable on small professional ensemble scale, nonprofit structure, and combined performance-plus-outreach mission.
• True Concord Voices & Orchestra: Arizona's other Grammy-winning professional choir, which has partnered with Phoenix Chorale for combined 48-voice performances (Duruflé Requiem, 2024). Closest geographic and categorical peer; direct comparison on ensemble scale, professional model, and Southwest market positioning.
• The King's Singers: British a cappella vocal ensemble where Phoenix Chorale's Artistic Director Christopher Gabbitas spent 15 years; two Grammy wins and Gramophone Hall of Fame status. Highly relevant given direct artistic lineage and shared professional a cappella vocal performance model.

Broad incumbents

• Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra: Cleveland-based Grammy-winning period-instrument ensemble with touring, recording, and subscription programming. Comparable on Grammy recognition, professional ensemble scale, and subscription-plus-recording revenue model, though focused on baroque repertoire rather than choral works.
• San Francisco Symphony Chorus: Larger choral ensemble embedded within a major symphony institution, performing choral-orchestral masterworks at higher scale. Comparable in repertoire and choral-orchestral programming but operates as part of a broader institutional portfolio with greater resources.

Regional players

• Phoenix Symphony: Phoenix-based professional orchestra that shares the same metro market, venue ecosystem (including Scottsdale Center), and institutional funders (City of Phoenix, Arizona Commission on the Arts). Important regional peer for shared audience, donor base, and partnership opportunities rather than direct choral competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/phoenixchorale
• Facebookfacebook.com/phoenixchorale
• Xx.com/phoenixchorale
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phoenix-chorale

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Phoenix Chorale