The Choral Society of Pensacola returns with a new season later this month. This year’s performances explore the human experience in a variety of ways, said Artistic Director Peter Steenblik.
“I strive to ruminate on our mission statement, which is ‘to strengthen and enrich our community through a variety of engaging choral experiences,’” he said. “So, I'm asking myself, ‘How can we, as choral musicians, strengthen the Pensacola community?’ ‘What will engage our singers and audience in a stimulating way?’ And ‘How can we do that in a variety of ways?’”
The 2026-2027 season kicks off Oct. 16 with a nod to Pensacola’s naval history with “Voices of the Sea and Sky.” Continuing the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the performance includes works such as “Beyond the Sea” by Charles Trenet, “Oceans and Stars” by Amy Bernon, “Viking Song” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, “The Golden Vanity”, a traditional sea chantey, and more.
LISTEN: Choral Society of Pensacola program, Still Rising, dramatizes women’s struggle for the right to vote
In December, the choir will perform Handel’s Messiah — but with a historical twist — by singing the Christmas portion in Spanish. The show pays tribute to Spain’s contribution to America’s history, according to the website.
“We got our start singing Messiah 91 years ago, but we're always excited to look at it through a new lens — this time in Spanish,” said Steenblik. “In 1741, when Handel wrote the famous oratorio, we spoke Spanish here. So, we are among the first choirs in the country to present this new translation for Pensacola's Spanish-speaking community. Variety, engaging, and strengthening.”
In March, the choir will present “Alzheimer’s Stories,” a piece that was composed by Robert S. Cohen to honor the parents of a chorus member who passed away from Alzheimer’s disease. The chorus premiered in 2009 in Pennsylvania.
The piece is an example of how music can uplift from dark times.
“While choral music enables us to vicariously explore the human experience in a variety of ways, it would be difficult to find a family that has not been touched by dementia,” said Steenblik.
The piece will share facts and figures. For example, in 2020, an estimated 5.8 million Americans aged 65 or older were living with Alzheimer’s. That number is projected to quadruple by 2050 — one in 85 people.
“The work ends by celebrating the caregivers,” said Steenblik, sharing a quote from the piece: “Find those you love in the dark and light. Help them through the days and nights. Keep faith. They sense what they cannot show.”
“If an audience member, or choral singer, walks away from this concert with a little nugget of understanding, we've achieved our goal,” he added. “Certainly, we also aim to lift and strengthen those facing the struggle as well.”
Mass in Blue finishes the season with some jazz. The choir will be joined by a local jazz quartet, Dharma Beat, and guest conductor Dr. Alicia Walker.
With a variety to choose from, Steenblik advises any choral first-timers to choose a show that most excites or intrigues them. There is something for everyone in each performance.
“I choose to select the music through a method called collage,” said Steenblik. “Remember creating an art piece by clipping out pictures and words from magazines? It's the same approach — finding the right combination that may give every listener an entry point to the program. For example, alongside El Mesías (the Messiah, sung in Spanish), we're also singing El Burrito Sabañero, a popular carol. The Alzheimer's Stories will also feature an inspiring piece by Dolly Parton.”
Steenblik points out that choral singing is one of the most popular art forms, at least from a participation standpoint. More than one in six Americans over the age of 18 sing in a chorus, according to data from chorusamerica.org.
If you’d rather listen to choral music than sing it, you can do that, too. You’ll not only be entertained, but you’ll be supporting people in your community.
“My favorite thing about Chorus is the ‘us’ of it,” said Steenblik. “Some have been in the group since the early 70s, and there are others experiencing choir for the first time. It's what I love about this group — the everybody-ness. Come meet and support your neighbors in a way that is uplifting and joyous.”
For tickets and information about the Choral Society of Pensacola, visit choralsocietyofpensacola.org.
