Sonus Chamber Choir selected to represent Kansas, United States at the Montana International Choral Festival in 2027
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. (September 9, 2026) — Sonus Chamber Choir has been selected through audition to represent Kansas and the United States at the 14th Montana International Choral Festival in Missoula, Montana, July 28–31, 2027.
Festival organizers described the ensemble as “one of the United States’ finest choirs” in their invitation. Sonus Chamber Choir will join ensembles representing choral traditions from around the world for concerts, artistic collaboration, and cultural exchange throughout Missoula and the surrounding region.
The appearance will be a centerpiece of Sunflowers Under the Big Sky, Sonus Chamber Choir’s 2027 concert season. Kansas performances ahead of the tour will give local audiences the opportunity to hear the music the ensemble will bring to Montana.
“Being selected to represent Kansas and the United States is an extraordinary opportunity for Sonus Chamber Choir,” said Kolby Van Camp, Artistic Director and Founder. “We are proud of the music being made here in Topeka and of the artists who make it possible. This invitation gives us the chance to share that work and our mission with an international audience and to learn from exceptional ensembles bringing their own traditions to Montana.”
Kansas roots on an international stage
Sunflowers Under the Big Sky connects Sonus Chamber Choir’s Kansas identity with its Montana destination. The season will carry the ensemble’s commitment to new and contemporary choral music into a setting where artists from different countries can encounter one another’s work. The festival centers on group performances, intentional artistic collaboration, educational opportunities, and a finale concert that brings every participating singer together in a “massed choir.”
Kansas performances are planned ahead of the festival, giving local audiences across Kansas the opportunity to experience the music the ensemble will take to Missoula.
“The sunflowers in this title are a reminder of where we come from,” said Ryan Hernandez, Executive Director. “We want the people who hear Sonus Chamber Choir in Montana to encounter something of Kansas through our music. Similarly, we want our audiences here at home to feel that they are part of this journey through Big Sky country, because without their generous support, attending this festival would not be possible.”
As part of its preparations for the 2027 season, Sonus Chamber Choir seeks to expand to 26 singers. Interested vocalists are encouraged to review audition materials when they become available October 1, ahead of auditions in November. Additional audition information will be announced later in September.
A return to Missoula
Sonus Chamber Choir’s invitation continues a tradition of Midwestern participation at the festival. Past ensembles include Missouri’s Vox Nova in 2025, Iowa’s Heartland Youth Choir in 2016, and Kansas’ Lawrence Children’s Choir in 2006 and 2013.
For Van Camp, the invitation also carries a personal connection. In 2013, he performed at the Montana International Choral Festival as a member of the renowned Lawrence Children’s Choir. Fourteen years later, he will return as the founder and artistic director of Sonus Chamber Choir.
“I first experienced this festival as a young singer representing Kansas,” Van Camp said. “To return in 2027 on the other side of the podium is an exhilarating and humbling full-circle moment. I am excited for our talented artists to experience that exchange for themselves and to bring what they learn back to the communities we serve and represent.”
Supporting the 2027 season and Montana tour
Sonus Chamber Choir is inviting individuals, businesses, and community partners to support a $75,000 campaign for the 2027 concert season and Montana tour. Members of Sonus Chamber Choir have already pledged approximately $20,000 toward the campaign.
“Doing our part before asking our neighbors to lend a hand is a distinctly Kansan value,” said Van Camp. “We know every dollar matters to our patrons, so we’ve made our own financial commitment first. I can think of no better way to inspire belief in what we’re building than to demonstrate that belief ourselves.”
Contributions will support travel and festival participation alongside artist compensation and the artistic work that makes the season possible. Supporters may make one-time or recurring gifts, with opportunities to help sustain the ensemble’s work throughout the season.
To learn more about Sunflowers Under the Big Sky and support the campaign, visit sonusks.org/montana. Additional repertoire and Kansas concert details will be announced as the season approaches.
About Sonus Chamber Choir
Sonus Chamber Choir is a professional vocal ensemble and 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization based in Topeka, Kansas. The ensemble focuses on recording and performing contemporary choral works, with particular attention to clarity of sound, structural integrity, and thoughtful engagement with the choral tradition. Through professional recordings and live performance, Sonus Chamber Choir contributes to the ongoing development and preservation of modern choral literature.