Kansas City Chorale Grabs 2 GRAMMY Nominations

Nominations for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards were announced on December 5, 2012 and the Kansas City Chorale, under the direction of Artistic Director Charles Bruffy, has been nominated for 2 GRAMMY Awards for their recording: Life & Breath: Choral Works by René Clausen. Released on Chandos Records, this is the first recording dedicated entirely to the music of René Clausen by a professional choir.

“I am delighted, honored, and humbled to learn that the Kansas City Chorale's new CD of my choral works Life and Breath has been nominated for two Grammy Awards,” said composer René Clausen. “I am grateful to Artistic Director Charles Bruffy for his sensitive and inspired interpretation of the music in its variety of styles, and to the singers of the Chorale for their willingness to give of themselves, vocally, musically, and spiritually, to create such pristine and truly beautiful ensemble singing.”

Released in June 2012, Life & Breath: Choral Works by René Clausen is the first recording by a professional choir to feature Clausen’s works. The album also includes the world premiere recording of Clausen’s Mass for Double Choir.

“René’s music is intimately beautiful and stirring. His Mass for Double Choir will in time join the ranks of favorite choral masterpieces. It was a honor and pleasure to dive into the pages and I’m thrilled with the response we’ve had from people who’ve heard it,” said Charles Bruffy, Artistic Director of the Kansas City Chorale. “Even though this level of recognition is never our goal, we find this signal of support and approval from the Academy particularly gratifying.”

One of the most prolific choral composers of his time, René Clausen’s music is known by American choirs across the country – anyone that has sung in an American college, high school, community or church choir across the United States has performed his music.

“As Executive Director of the Kansas City Chorale, it’s very rewarding to work with this talented ensemble – and to have the support from our generous community. Only with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and generous support from the Stern Foundation and the Kansas City community were we able to make this recording possible,” said Don Loncasty, Executive Director of the Kansas City Chorale.

Life and Breath: Choral Works by René Clausen is the first solo recording for the Kansas City Chorale on Chandos Records. In 2009, the Kansas City Chorale’s recording Rheinberger: Sacred Choral Works was nominated for two GRAMMY Awards including “Best Choral Performance” and “Best Surround Sound Album.” In 2008, the Kansas City Chorale’s recording Grechaninov: Passion Week, was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including “Best Classical Album,” “Best Choral Performance,” “Best Surround Sound Album,” and won a Grammy for “Best Engineered Album, Classical.” Both recordings were part of a series of joint-recordings on the Chandos Record label with the Phoenix Chorale, also led by Artistic Director Charles Bruffy.

“This is a true honor for the singers, Charles Bruffy, our organization, and for our city,” said Scott Boswell, President of the Kansas City Chorale Board of Directors. “We’re proud of our vibrant arts community and the individuals that support the arts. This is a win for Kansas City – and we are incredibly excited!”

Life and Breath: Choral Works by René Clausen was made possible with the generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank, Trustee.