Sonus Chamber Choir Announces 2026-27 Season Highlights, New Music Call, and International Collaboration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Kolby Van Camp Artistic Director, Sonus Chamber Choir
director@sonusks.org | +1 (785) 806-0882 | https://sonusks.org
TOPEKA, Kan. (November 1, 2025) — Sonus Chamber Choir, a professional choral ensemble based in Topeka, Kansas, is proud to announce a dynamic new season of performances and initiatives designed to elevate and inspire through the art of choral music. Following its acclaimed debut with Eric Whitacre’s The Sacred Veil, Sonus Chamber Choir enters its next phase of growth with international collaborations, new music initiatives, and a commitment to performing and recording world-class choral works that spotlight both emerging and established composers.
World Premiere Recording: Missa Cappella by Bragi Þór Valsson
Sonus Chamber Choir is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of Valsson: Missa Cappella by Icelandic composer Bragi Þór Valsson, recorded at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka during the summer of 2025. The work, scored for SATB choir and soloists, showcases Valsson’s signature fusion of Nordic harmonies and early polyphony. This marks the world-premiere recording of the piece and inaugurates Sonus Chamber Choir as a serious recording ensemble with international reach and aspirations.
“Bragi’s Missa Cappella embodies everything Sonus Chamber Choir stands for, beauty, authenticity, and the championing of new music,” said Kolby Van Camp, Founder and Artistic Director. “It’s a privilege to bring this extraordinary work to life and to introduce it to a wider, international audience.”
Valsson: Missa Cappella will be available for streaming and digital download beginning Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Call for Scores: Emerging Voices of Kansas and Beyond
Continuing its dedication to new music, Sonus Chamber Choir invited composers nationwide with ties to Kansas to submit works for its 2026 call for scores, Voices of the Prairie. Selected compositions will be professionally recorded and performed during the upcoming season.
The call required each composer to maintain a personal connection to Kansas, whether by birth, education, or residence, and to write works inspired by the state’s heritage, history, and cultural identity. From the inaugural submission round, Sonus Chamber Choir selected Aiden Levendofsky’s Horizon, Sam Kauffman’s The Wind in the Wheat, and James Keller’s Red Maples for performance and recording.
“Our call for scores initiative is about more than just programming new music, it’s about building relationships with composers and creating space for their voices to be heard,” said Jesse Kaiser, Composer in Residence. “We want to make Kansas a creative hub for choral innovation and continue the extraordinary tradition of choral excellence from and about the Sunflower State.”
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Season
The ensemble’s 2026 season will feature a diverse range of concerts exploring sacred, secular, and regional themes, resulting in new recordings and commissions that highlight Sonus Chamber Choir’s distinct sound: rich, resonant, and deeply human.
Concert Schedule:
Spring Concert: Voices of the Prairie – Sunday, April 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m. (Topeka, KS)
Summer Concert I: Give Me Your Stars to Hold – Saturday, August 1, 2026, 7:00 p.m. (Topeka, KS)
Summer Concert II: Give Me Your Stars to Hold – Sunday, August 2, 2026, 7:00 p.m. (Manhattan, KS)
Winter Concert: Where the Light Lingers – Sunday, January 10, 2027, 7:00 p.m. (Topeka, KS)
Venues will be announced in early 2026. The season will culminate in the recording of two major projects, featuring sacred and secular works alongside contemporary compositions from Composer in Residence Jesse Kaiser and the Sonus Chamber Choir commissioning network.
About Sonus Chamber Choir
Based in Topeka, Kansas, Sonus Chamber Choir is a professional choral ensemble and registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the commissioning, recording, performance, and education of exceptional choral music. Through collaborations with living composers and a focus on artistic innovation, Sonus Chamber Choir seeks to enrich the cultural landscape and foster a deeper appreciation for the choral tradition.
The ensemble is led by Artistic Director Kolby Van Camp, Executive Director Oliver Hutchison, and Logistics Director Ryan Hernandez, supported by a board of experienced professionals in music, education, and nonprofit leadership.