In 1998, retired voice professor Dan Nelson gathered a group of Front Range singers to form the Laudamus Chamber Chorale. He felt that the community would enjoy a small group, 24-32 voices, that would regularly perform works with chamber orchestra as well as a cappella works. Dan conducted Laudamus (it means, “Praise God”) for three seasons, two concerts each season. In those three seasons the group sang such works as the Faure Requiem, the Bach Magnificat, and the Bernstein Chichester Psalms.
Dr. James McCray served as the Music Director of the Laudamus Chamber Chorale from 2001 to 2008. For ten years he was the Chairman of the Music, Theatre, and Dance Department at CSU. Prior to that he served as chair of music departments in Virginia and Indiana. His compositions have been performed and recorded by many of today’s leading choral conductors. Dr. McCray has authored over 25 major periodical articles, 100 choral works, and three books. He was the head editor of THE CHORAL JOURNAL, the publication of the American Choral Director’s Association. Laudamus was honored to have Dr. James McCray serve as our Music Director, and we wish him a long and happy retirement.
In 2008 Phillip Barnett became our new Music Director. Phil is an outstanding musician with twenty years experience in choral conducting. He is the Director of Choirs at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Collins. We were delighted to have Phil at the helm of Laudamus for four seasons!
