Canterbury Voices, Inc.

What Canterbury Voices, Inc. does

Canterbury Voices, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral arts organization headquartered in Oklahoma City and founded in 1969. The organization operates three distinct choral programs: an adult chorus of 150 volunteer singers described as Oklahoma's largest volunteer symphonic chorus; Canterbury Youth Voices (CYV), with more than 200 students across five choirs spanning grades 2-12; and Canterbury Chamber Voices, a select auditioned ensemble launched in 2020. Combined programming serves approximately 350 active singers and a broader audience of concertgoers, donors, and community participants in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

The business model blends contributed and earned revenue. Contributed revenue flows primarily from individual donations and the Forte Society donor program, with annual giving tiers ranging from $100 to $10,000. Earned revenue is generated through youth program tuition ($300-$375 per student per year), concert ticket sales and season subscriptions, and merchandise. Institutional and corporate funding comes from partners including Oklahoma City University, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Oklahoma City Ballet, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Nation, Love's, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Allied Arts. The organization also generates artistic value through commissions and premieres of new choral works and large-scale collaborative performances.

Leadership consists of Artistic Director Julie Yu (appointed 2023), CYV Artistic Director Karsten Longhurst (appointed 2024), and Executive Director Pam Mowry (in role since 2016). The organization received The American Prize in 2022 for Choral Performance in the Community Division. Distribution of programming is in-person, season-based, and venue-dependent, with no evidence of digital product lines or remote delivery channels.

Name

Canterbury Voices, Inc.

Legal name

Canterbury Voices, Inc.

Website

https://canterburyokc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Canterbury Voices, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral arts organization in Oklahoma City operating a 150-voice adult symphonic chorus, a 200+ student youth choir program (grades 2-12), and a select chamber ensemble, funded by individual donations, tuition, ticket sales, and institutional partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Choral Arts & Music Education

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Symphonic chorus performances
• Youth choral education
• Community choral music
• Vocal arts education
• Choral performance arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Tax-deductible donations through Forte Society membership program with tiers from $100 (Patron) to $10,000 (Impresario). Includes VIP benefits, complimentary tickets, and Legacy Society planned giving options.
2. Youth Program Tuition: Annual tuition for Canterbury Youth Voices: $375/year for Bel Canto, Cantabile, Chorale, and Gravitas; $300/year for Prelude. Need-based scholarships available.
3. Concert Tickets and Season Subscriptions: Season subscriptions with savings up to 35% off single ticket prices. Priority seating benefits for subscribers. Individual concert tickets also available.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling Canterbury Voices merchandise through Bonfire platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Canterbury Voices, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral arts organization that operates an adult volunteer symphony chorus (150 members) presenting three main concerts per season at the Civic Center Music Hall and partners with arts organizations including the OKC Philharmonic, OKC Ballet, and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. The organization also runs Canterbury Youth Voices (CYV), a 200-voice educational program with five grade-differentiated choirs (Prelude, Bel Canto, Cantabile, Chorale, Gravitas) for students in grades 2-12 using the Kodály Method, plus a select Canterbury Chamber Voices ensemble and community events such as Camp Canterbury, CRESCENDO!, and The BIG Sing. Revenue is generated through season ticket subscriptions, youth program tuition, donations via the Forte Society membership program, corporate sponsorships, grants, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Canterbury Voices, Inc. is a nonprofit choral arts organization offering a portfolio of interconnected musical programs and performance experiences. The core offerings include the adult Canterbury Voices chorus (150-member symphony chorus, the largest of its kind in Oklahoma), the select Canterbury Chamber Voices ensemble, and the Canterbury Youth Voices (CYV) program with five differentiated choirs for grades 2-12. Supporting offerings include Camp Canterbury (summer day camp), the CYV Internship Program (in partnership with OCU's Wanda L. Bass School of Music), season subscriptions, Forte Society donor benefits, and community events including CRESCENDO! and The BIG Sing. The organization operates as a unified artistic program where adult and youth ensembles share rehearsal facilities, artistic leadership, and collaborative performance opportunities with regional arts partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canterbury Voices (Adult Chorus) The main adult choral ensemble of Canterbury Voices, comprised of volunteer singers from the Oklahoma City Metro area. Performs 3 concerts per season, rehearses on Monday evenings 7:00-9:15 PM at OCU, and frequently collaborates with arts organizations including the OKC Philharmonic, OKC Ballet, Lyric Theatre, and OKC Jazz Orchestra. Premier symphony chorus of Oklahoma with 150 volunteer members.
• Canterbury Chamber Voices A select, auditioned adult ensemble drawn from the larger Canterbury Voices chorus. Known for versatility in performances including holiday events, private gatherings, and civic occasions. Presented a concert at the Oklahoma Choral Directors Summer Conference in July 2026.
• Canterbury Youth Voices (CYV) An extracurricular choral program for students in grades 2-12, featuring five age-differentiated choirs (Prelude for grades 2-3, Bel Canto for grades 4-6, Cantabile for grades 7-12 unchanged voices, Chorale for grades 8-12 unchanged voices, and Gravitas for grades 8-12 changed voices). Provides musical skill development and performance opportunities, using the Kodály Method for music literacy. Need-based scholarships available.
• Camp Canterbury A week-long music day camp for children entering grades 2-8. Staff leads children in developing vocal artistry, good choral techniques, and music literacy through a dynamic choral setting. Includes optional classes in folk dancing, ukulele, drumming, and music theatre.
• Season Subscription Season ticket packages for Canterbury Voices' three main concerts at Civic Center Music Hall, offering priority seating, savings up to 35% compared to single tickets, and additional discounts on single tickets throughout the season.
• Forte Society Membership Donor recognition program for contributions of $100 or more, providing tax-deductible donations, VIP lounge access, complimentary tickets, parking benefits, and Legacy Society planned-giving options at tiered contribution levels ($100 Patron to $10,000 Impresario).
• CRESCENDO! One-night-only intimate event featuring the Canterbury Chamber Voices performing at the Oklahoma History Museum, with food and cash bar.
• The BIG Sing Free community singing event where the audience becomes the choir, led by Artistic Director Julie Yu. Open to all Oklahoma City community members at Civic Center Music Hall.
• Merchandise Shop Online store offering Canterbury Voices branded merchandise through the Bonfire platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• The American Prize winner 2022 in Choral Performance, Community Division
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Oklahoma City University (Wanda L. Bass School of Music)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Unique partnership providing an internship program for choral music education students, giving practical teaching experience with children and youth choirs grades 2-12. Created joint artistic position shared between Canterbury Voices and OCU, continuing the innovative collaboration to create a national center for choral excellence in Oklahoma City.
• OKC PhilharmoniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular collaboration on concerts including Symphony of Psalms, holiday performances, and major events. The OKC Philharmonic performs with Canterbury Voices at Civic Center Music Hall.
• Oklahoma City BalletcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on performances including The Nutcracker and other ballet productions featuring Canterbury Voices chorus.
• Lyric Theatre of OklahomacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint theatrical productions including Sweeney Todd and Sister Act at Civic Center Music Hall.
• Oklahoma City Jazz OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular artistic collaboration on performances in Oklahoma City.
• Andrea BocelliflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanterbury Voices performed with Andrea Bocelli and OKC Philharmonic as part of the Believe North American Tour on June 23, 2022 at the Paycom Center.
• Chickasaw NationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Season Sponsor for Adult Chorus. Major cultural partner supporting Oklahoma arts.
• Love'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason Sponsor providing support for Adult Chorus programming.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal arts funding supporting both Adult Chorus and CYV education programs.
• Allied ArtscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOklahoma arts advocacy organization supporting Canterbury Voices season.
• Oklahoma Arts CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState arts agency providing grant support for programming.
• American Fidelity FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation Season Sponsor for Canterbury Youth Voices program.
• Gaylord FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation Season Sponsor for CYV programming.
• Kerr FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation Season Sponsor supporting youth choral education.
• Robert Glenn Rapp FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation Season Sponsor for CYV programming.
• Oklahoma City Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for planned giving and Legacy Society estate planning, providing professional advisors and resources for donors.
• Painted Sky OperaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on opera productions including Carmen and other performances.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Indianapolis Symphonic Choir: Volunteer symphonic chorus with a complementary youth education program. Closest structural analog to Canterbury in terms of community-volunteer model, youth pipeline, and partnership with a major metro arts ecosystem.
• Houston Symphony Chorus: Volunteer chorus performing with the Houston Symphony. Comparable Central/Southern U.S. regional symphonic chorus with overlapping orchestral collaboration and community performance model.
• Kansas City Symphony Chorus: Volunteer chorus performing with the Kansas City Symphony. Comparable mid-size Central U.S. metro volunteer symphonic chorus with similar operational scale.
• Atlanta Master Chorale: Symphony chorus of a major U.S. metropolitan area performing with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and running educational outreach. Directly comparable volunteer/community model with regional arts collaborations.
• Dallas Symphony Chorus: Volunteer chorus performing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Central U.S. regional peer with similar volunteer model and orchestral collaboration pattern.
• Nashville Symphony Chorus: Volunteer chorus performing regularly with the Nashville Symphony. Comparable scale (~150-member volunteer ensemble) and similar regional U.S. metro footprint with symphony orchestra collaboration.

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati May Festival: One of the oldest choral festivals in the Western hemisphere, presenting large-scale choral-orchestral masterworks. Comparable choral-orchestral presentation model but at a larger historic and professional scale.
• Los Angeles Master Chorale: Grammy-winning professional chorus based in Los Angeles and resident at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. A larger, more established choral organization with overlapping artistic ambitions but a professional (not volunteer) model.
• Chicago Symphony Chorus: Volunteer chorus performing regularly with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Larger and more established than Canterbury but directly comparable in volunteer symphonic chorus structure and choral-orchestral programming.

Others

• Oklahoma City Philharmonic: Primary orchestra collaborator with Canterbury Voices, co-presenting Symphony of Psalms, holiday concerts, and the Andrea Bocelli engagement. Not a direct competitor — an institutional partner occupying the orchestra role in Canterbury's choral-orchestral programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/canterburyvoices
• Facebookfacebook.com/canterburyokc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canterburyvoices
• Instagraminstagram.com/canterburyokc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Canterbury Voices, Inc.