About CorVoce

We are an auditioned Twin Cities community chamber choir rooted in the belief that every voice matters.

We were originally formed in 2003 as Saint Paul Vocal Forum and directed by David Ryan Moberg. Karin Barrett has been our director since 2010. We engage audiences with programs of eclectic music paired with other forms of art that reflect on the breadth of the human experience.

We hail from every corner of the Metropolitan area, come from all walks of life, volunteer our talents to build community and make a difference through the choral experience.

To that end, we do not charge admission. We do accept donations, which are tax deductible. We also seek to direct the fruits of our effort to other charitable organizations whenever possible.


Karin Barrett

Artistic Director and Conductor

Karin is in her 12th season artistic director and conductor with CorVoce.

She holds BA degrees in piano and voice performance and music education from St. Catherine University, a Masters Degree in Conducting from the University of Minnesota, an MDIV and Masters in Theology from St. John’s University and is a Board Certified Chaplain.

She is the founder and director of New Day Community Voice in St. Paul and serves as music and liturgy director for the Benedictine Sisters at St. Paul’s Monastery.

Karin has been married to David, her best friend, for more than 30 years. She is the grateful mom of 4 beautiful children and a golden retriever. When not working on music, she is practicing yoga, gardening and spending time with her 2-year old grandson!


Collaborations

CorVoce collaborates with musicians, artists, poets and others as an expression of our belief that every voice matters. Audience members, too, are sometimes invited to raise their voices along with us. 

In 2019, an opportunity presented itself for CorVoce to commission an original composition by Catherine Dalton based on the poem "Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye. "Only Kindness" was the result. COVID forced us to cancel plans to premiere the piece in March, 2020. Then George Floyd's murder by a police officer sparked worldwide protests to long-ignored systemic racism.

The relevance of the need for kindness was so urgent that CorVoce, taking due precautions, pressed ahead. Collaborating with video storyteller, Barbara Wiener, we chronicled the creation and preparation of this important work. Efforts culminated with the live-stream premiere of "Only Kindness" on April 25, 2020, as seen here.  

Catherine not only composed the work, but also now shares her voice as a singer with CorVoce.

Responses

"I finally got a chance to sit down and listen to  your beautiful concert. I can't even imagine how much work it was to get all of those parts down.... Hauntingly beautiful. Such a dichotomy of mourning and joy. Thank you for such an excellent offering!
Blessings and I look forward to the next one!"   -- Nancy S.

"Thanks for your invitation. What a poem and a song for our time." -- Jan M.

 


CorVoce Board 2022-23

Mary Jo Lewis, Chair and Treasurer

Phil Soucheray, Secretary

Linda Zelig

Karin Barrett. Artistic Director