The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix will bring their sense of musical camaraderie and joy to the community Sunday, Dec. 15, as they present “Holidays with Orpheus” at Camelback Bible Church (submitted photo).
The story of the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix is one of longevity and one of dedication – to musical excellence, to one another, to the community and to audiences near and far. And as they tell it, “Like the mythical Orpheus, whose music could charm even the underworld, the chorus moves hearts and uplifts spirits.”
“The Orpheus started in November of 1929, right after the stock market crashed,” recalled executive director Mitra Khazai. “They started rehearsals at the YMCA downtown and held their first public performance on Christmas Day 1929, debuting on Phoenix radio station KTAR.
“The country was hard hit and one has to believe that the sounds of their voices had a healing impact on our community,” she added.
Since its modest beginnings, performance venues have spanned the range from supermarket openings to Carnegie Hall and the great Concert Hall of Vienna, Austria, and more than a thousand choristers have joined Orpheus. Over the years, membership has fluctuated, from as few as 21 members during World War II, when many men, including the young director, Ralph Hess, served in the military, to as many as 100 members. The chorus has long been strengthened by its diversity, with members from various backgrounds and professions – teachers, students, businesspeople, ministers, artists, attorneys, postal workers, doctors, salespeople, law enforcement officers and construction workers. And there was a community focus from the outset.
“I think it had a social aspect to it, but from the very beginning, it’s clear that what the first director envisioned was a civic component,” Khazai said. “We give back to our community in some capacity – that’s always been a part of the Orpheus DNA.”
One way that they have invested in the community was serving as the financial supporter of Phoenix Boys Choir.
“It’s safe to say that there would not be a Phoenix Boys Choir if there wasn’t an Orpheus,” Khazai added. “In those early years, Orpheus was quite critical in providing the kind of infrastructure that was the basis of what the Boys Choir was able to grow into today.”
Members range in age from 20s to 80s, but large percentage of the members are retired, and the chorus provides an outlet for creative aging.
“I think research is demonstrating that music can support us throughout our entire lives, cognitively, mentally and physically improve our health,” Khazai said, “but it is especially important as we age as it also provides those critical community connections.
“It’s a community where maybe we all come from different backgrounds but they can connect with one another in a real way. When you sing music with people, you are sharing your emotional life…it’s a pretty intense connection.”
That connection extends to the audience as well.
“When you talk to our patrons after a concert, what they’ll share is, maybe they came in stressed because it’s the holiday season, or they’re having a rough time at their job, but it’s a moment where they are lifted up. I really believe that choral music provides a healing power. When ideas are sung to you, people embrace them in much more powerful ways. And it transports them… people leave our concerts feeling uplifted, happy, joyful and positive, and I think we really need that right now.”
As the chorus enters its 96th season, they continue to rehearse weekly at Cross Roads United Methodist Church at Northern and Central. An open rehearsal will be held at the church, 7901 N. Central Ave., Tuesday, Dec. 3, for prospective singers and community members, and auditions for the second half of the season will occur in January.
Orpheus Male Chorus will perform “Holidays with Orpheus” Sunday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m., at Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Dr. Tickets range from $10 to $25 and are available at www.orpheus.org or by calling the box office, 602-699-4556.
