Critically regarded as “Tucson’s crown jewel of choral groups,” the Arizona Repertory Singers is a 50-voice choral ensemble performing under the direction of Dr. Jeffry Jahn. The group performs a vast and diverse repertoire spanning Renaissance and Baroque works, spirituals, Americana, modern music and new compositions it has commissioned. Now in its 29th season, the volunteer group rehearses Tuesday evenings from August to May.
ARS was founded in 1984 as the Arizona Recital Choir by Dennis M. Bonner. Since 1990, when Dr. Jahn assumed the directorship, ARS has concentrated on performance and local recognition, while continuing to tour on a more limited basis. ARS toured the Four Corners area of the southwestern U.S. in 1994, presented one of the concerts on the statewide Vivaldi Festival in 2001, and traveled to Durango, Colorado, in 2001 to premiere “Desert Songs” at the Animas Music Festival.
Over the years ARS has taken its music to new audiences and rural Southern Arizona venues. Local collaborations have included a performance on a University of Arizona faculty recital and shared concerts with other local musical ensembles. In keeping with our delightfully eclectic repertoire, ARS provided back-up vocals for Barry Manilow in his last Tucson appearance at the Tucson Convention Center. ARS has often performed with the Tucson Pops Orchestra and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. In December 2000, Dr. Jahn conducted the Tucson Symphony Chamber Orchestra and the Arizona Repertory Singers in three performances of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. In 2001, ARS performed three sold-out performances of Messiah with the TSO under the direction of Maestro George Hanson.
During the past ten years ARS has either premiered or commissioned a new piece of music approximately every other year. ARS has produced and released several CDs since 1995, and in 1998 was awarded a recording grant from Tucson’s local National Public Radio affiliate, KUAT, for the recording of several works especially intended for local broadcast. The standing-room-only holiday concerts at the Benedictine Monastery, “What Sweeter Music” (2007) “A Silver Christmas Celebration” (2008) and “Sing We Joy!” (2009) were recorded and broadcast on KUAT-FM as part of its Christmas Eve and Christmas Day programming.
The Arizona Repertory Singers has contributed to local organizations almost since its inception. For 16 years ARS donated half the proceeds from their Christmas concerts at historic Mission San Xavier del Bac to the mission’s restoration fund. ARS now performs regularly at the Benedictine Monastery in midtown Tucson and donates part of its concert proceeds to the upkeep of that facility.
The Arizona Repertory Singers is a participating member of Chorus America and was pictured on the cover of the organization’s 2001-2002 Membership Directory.
Our Mission:
- We enrich the life of our community by giving frequent live performances of choral literature from a variety of periods and musical traditions.
- We increase music appreciation by performing in as many venues as possible, and by taking concerts to audiences of great diversity in background, age and exposure to the arts.
- We contribute to local charities by presenting benefit concerts for worthy organizations.
Our Vision:
The Arizona Repertory Singers strive to be the Southwest’s premier repertory choral group. By performing and recording music of the highest caliber, members also aim to be the best singers they can be.
About Our Music Director
Jeffry Jahn. Photo by Lyn Sims.
“Part entertainer, part musical storyteller, and always the consummate musician.”
— The Tucson Citizen
Since 1990, Dr. Jeffry A. Jahn has guided the Arizona Repertory Singers to become the premier vocal ensemble of its type in the Southwest — known not just for its quality programming but for having one of the largest choral performance repertories in the United States.
Jahn holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona, a Master of Music from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Bethany College. His diverse career includes featured soloist for His Majesty King Carl Gustav of Sweden, ensemble singer, choral teacher, operatic lead, musical director, conductor of opera, and conductor of the annual Tucson community Messiah Sing-In. In December of 2000, he made his Tucson Symphony Orchestra conducting debut in performances of Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.” He has served as choral clinician for high school choirs for the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) Southeast and South Central Region Festival of Music.
Jahn maintains an active private voice studio and is Director of Worship Arts at Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, where he is responsible for music, drama, visual/electronic media and art. Jahn is an inspiration to his singers, a consummate vocal teacher and choral director, an accomplished tenor soloist, music arranger, composer, and chef.
The Arizona Repertory Singers
P.O. Box 41601
Tucson, AZ 85717
(520) 792-8141
For concert and booking information, please email info@arsingers.org.
