Having experienced a plethora of successful and inspiring performances both locally and abroad during our previous "Take Flight!" season, it is now time to return to our roots, our community, our home. Our upcoming season "Stream of Song" will do just that, with waves of music which will settle us into the waterways of the spirit of the West, just as we enter into the 150th (sesquicentennial) year celebration of this place that we call home.

Beginning with our October 17th concert, featuring the Durango Women's Choir and special guests, we will perform a selection of folk songs and ballads in the Western/pioneer spirit. The crown jewel of the program will be "Rivers, Rails and Roots: A Sesquicentennial Suite" for string quartet, percussion, piano and women's voices, composed by our own Carol Thurman. This composition is a collage of music grown in our local soil, complete with Native melodies, hymns and the sounds of the railroad and old mining days---you might even hear the train whistle!

Meanwhile, on November 8th-9th , the Durango Choral Society mixed choir will collaborate with the San Juan Symphony in celebration of its 40th year anniversary. "The Music Makers" by Edward Elgar will be the highlight of the program. Based on a poem by Arthur O'Shaughnessy, the opening words say, "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dream," setting the stage for a transformative experience for all.

Of course, the holidays would not be complete without our annual Christmas Holiday concert at the Community Concert Hall on Sunday, December 7th . This special concert features all of the DCS ensembles, including the Durango Children's Chorale, Durango Youth Chorus, Durango Choral Society and Durango Women's Choir, with opening, festive music by Adam Swanson. We will bring to you the best of seasonal favorites and classical music which evoke the magic of the season---love, peace and joy!

After a brief holiday hiatus, DCS returns in 2026 with our March 27th-28th spring concerts. Within our "Stream of Song" theme, the mixed choir and women's choir, along with special guests from the Telluride Choral Society, will join forces in "A River Runs Through It: Songs of the American Waters". This program includes songs that embody the spirit of water, with a nod to contemporary American composers such as Eric Whitacre, Eric William Barnum and Joan Szymko. You will find yourself immersed in the beauty and warmth of our American waters.

In April, the children's choirs will cap off their year with a joint concert with our adult mixed choir, guaranteed to entertain, captivate and delight you with the pure sweetness of children's voices and repertoire. And our final concert of the year will, of course, be our annual Cabaret fundraising event in May, featuring the Durango Women's Choir, special guests and Adam Swanson. In this performance we will go "all out" to entertain and bring the joy as only DCS can.

We in the Durango Choral Society know that none of what we do would be possible without the generous support of our donors, sponsors, and audience members. Your generosity is fundamental towards fulfilling our mission of bringing high-quality concerts and music education to our region. The opportunity to thank you, through song, is our greatest joy. Join us this season, whether as a singer, donor, corporate sponsor or audience member, as we present "Stream of Song".

Sincerely,

Rhonda L Muckerman
Artistic Director
Durango Choral Society