The critically-acclaimed Saint Louis Chamber Chorus is one of the world’s largest annual commissioners of new choral music. The impressive list of names illustrates the strong associations the Chamber Chorus has made with both well-established and younger emerging contemporary composers from around the globe.

This latest release, Saint Louis Reflections – the Chorus’s eighth recording on the Regent label – showcases a selection of eleven commissions from the last fifteen years. All of the works are receiving their premiere recording.

The works featured cover a wide range of diverse musical and textual styles from the earliest works on the recording by David Matthews and Carl Rütti to the recent commissions from Dobrinka Tabakova, Sasha Johnson Manning, Kerensa Briggs, and Melissa Dunphy.

Another recent work is Judith Bingham’s ‘I lift up mine eyes unto the hills’ – commissioned in memory of Sarah Bryan Miller, the long-time and much-loved classical music critic of the St Louis Post-Dispatch who died in 2020.

Some reviews of previous recordings by the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus:

‘A most beguiling collection of works commissioned by this superb choir…The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus sing with polish and a full, well balanced tone throughout, caught in splendid sound.’ – Gramophone

‘The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus stand out for many reasons, among them a mellifluous approach to ensemble-singing that benefits everything their collective voices touch.’ – Gramophone

‘A fascinating anthology tracing the development of a distinctive voice in American choral music. Half the items are first recordings, and the performances are consistently outstanding.’ – BBC Music Magazine *****

‘The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus is a group of beautifully blended, very talented singers who perform under the inspired direction of Philip Barnes. Of the eleven works here, ten are SLCC commissions. Inventive and diverse, these pieces require technical ability and sensitive musicianship, and this group never falters.’ – Choir & Organ

‘As always, Barnes coaxes a warm, clear, flexible sound from his singers; clarity of text is prioritized, but not at the expense of expression. This disc will be a welcome addition for those interested in great poetry, thoughtfully set,
and exceedingly well sung.’ – Choral Journal of the American Choral Directors Association

‘This disc is a musical exploration, beautifully sung, inviting the listener to share the enthusiasm of the singers and the inspiration of the composers. Here are beauty and variety, both well worth pursuing.’ – Organists’ Review

‘I also tip my cap to this expressive, high-energy Friede auf Erden….the dominant impression is of an able choir giving its best in a varied and valuable program…’ – American Record Guide