Key Chorale kicks off its 41st season with music fit for a king

Nearly 250 years after a ragtag band of colonists threw off the yoke of their imperial masters and declared the right to rule for and by the people, the trappings of royalty still gleam brightly.

Perhaps the idea that the crown is bestowed by divine right is comforting in a world that threatens to spin off its axis. Or maybe the long-running Netflix series “The Crown” has inspired a longing for pageantry and palaces. In any event, music composed for regal occasions continues to draw appreciative audiences.

There’s no disputing that popes, kings and a few wealthy merchants were responsible for the creation of many of the world’s great works of art and music. Why? Because they could afford to pay artists.

In the 20th century, industrialists and government helped foot the bill. As the old order is upended, who will underwrite the arts? Time will tell, but in the meantime popular appeal is more important than ever.

With this in mind, Key Chorale Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins is leaning into majestic programs this season for the symphonic chorus. He’s taking his cues from last season, the group’s 40th anniversary.

“We programmed a lot of big works for our Ruby Anniversary,” Caulkins says. “The orchestral masterworks attracted the biggest audiences. There seems to be an appetite for these pieces. We’re blessed to be in a community that appreciates great art, whatever the facet.”

In February, the pews were packed at Church of the Palms for Key Chorale’s concert of Verdi’s Requiem. Maestro Caulkins led 150 performers, including four opera soloists, in the composition for a Catholic mass often called an opera in disguise.

Photo by Cliff Roles

Key Chorale will kick off its 41st season on Sept. 27 with a concert called “Coronation: Music Inspired by Royalty.” 

The program features the Key Chorale Chamber Singers performing Handel’s “The King Shall Rejoice.” The composition has been played at every investiture of Britain’s monarch from King George II in 1727 to King Charles III in 2023.

The centerpiece of the program is Mozart’s Coronation Mass, a 30-minute piece featuring festive brass, timpani and a memorable soprano aria.

On hand to sing it will be Mary Wilson, a visiting soloist who will join the 100 voices of Key Chorale and a professional orchestra. Look at the musicians closely and you’ll see some familiar faces from the Sarasota Orchestra. 

An acclaimed classical vocalist, Wilson is a professor of voice at the University of Memphis. Her soprano voice will be accompanied by tenor John Grau, mezzo-soprano Amy Jo Connours and baritone Jesse Martin.

Mixing the classics with Netflix music

Followers of Britain’s royal family will no doubt recognize John Tavener’s “Song for Athene.” It became Tavener’s most celebrated choral work after it was sung at the Westminster Abbey funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.

Key Chorale’s regal program moves into popular culture with Hans Zimmer’s theme from “The Crown” and music from the 2010 Oscar-winning film “The King’s Speech,” which will feature Key Chorale principal keyboardist Glenn Priest.

In addition to audience appeal, another reason that Caulkins is leaning into masterworks such as Mendelssohn’s Elijah (Feb. 7, 2026) in the current season is that he believes Key Chorale has the artistic chops to do so. “The ensemble is at the height of its abilities in the 18 years that I’ve been here,” he says.

Of the dozen events Caulkins has programmed for the latest season, eight will include all 100 singers from Key Chorale and a full orchestra. In some cases, the orchestra performing is Venice Symphony, from Sarasota’s neighbor to the south.

Since his arrival at Key Chorale in 2007, Caulkins has made collaboration with other arts groups a hallmark of his organization. Over the years some of these co-productions have become cherished traditions.

The 2025-26 season will see the return of Key Chorale’s annual holiday celebration featuring Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company with a Nov. 30 program called “Joy & Wonder” as well as the yuletide concert featuring the Venice Symphony, “Sounds of the Season,” from Dec. 18-21.

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One of the most anticipated events of season is the annual Cirque des Voix, a collaboration with both the Circus Arts Conservatory and Venice Symphony. You haven’t seen circus until you’ve seen acrobats, aerialists and other circus performers accompanied by a symphony chorus and a full orchestra.

Caulkins and his Cirque des Voix partner, CAC co-founder and production and artistry strategist Pedro Reis, are masters at blending high- and low-brow culture. It’s a tradition that dates back to circus magnate John Ringling, who once had elephants in tutus perform a ballet choreographed by George Balanchine to the music of Stravinsky.

There are no animals at the Cirque des Voix (Circus of Voices), but there are pop culture hooks such as music from comic book-inspired franchises that have become Hollywood staples. The theme of this year’s Cirque des Voix (March 13-15) will be “Super Heroes vs. Super Villains.”

“We’ll start with the Superman March,” Caulkins says. “The music will be powerful and dramatic. We’ll be celebrating athleticism with the circus artists. When you add the chorus, it becomes not just a concert, but an experience.”

Last year’s Cirque des Voix celebrated music found in science fiction films and other media and attendees of all ages were invited to dress as their favorite sci-fi character for a costume contest. This season’s event will once again encourage cosplay. One can imagine the audience as a sea of Supermans, Batmans and Fantastic Four members as well as their enemies Lex Luthor, the Joker and Dr. Doom.

In 2026, Key Chorale will once presents  its annual student scholar soirée, at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Donelly Theatre on March 2.

No October events this year

After being forced to cancel last year’s Baroquetoberfest because of Hurricane Milton, Caulkins says he’s steering clear of October events this year. (Evidently, September isn’t as frightening, even though that’s when Hurricane Helene hit.) 

This season, Caulkins and his October musical co-conspirator Sam Nelson are turning their attention to the month of January.

That’s when they will present twin Opus 1700 concerts featuring the works of Handel and Bach. Nelson is organist and choirmaster at Church of the Redeemer, where both events will be held Jan. 23-24, 2026.

The first Opus 1700 concert is called “Handel — The Rest of the Story” because it features Parts 2 and 3 of the Messiah, which are heard less frequently than Part 1, a holiday staple at churches and music groups. Nelson will conduct the Handel concert and Caulkins takes the baton the next day for Bach’s Mass in B Minor.

With his track record of innovative collaborations, Caulkins has established a strong presence for Key Chorale in Sarasota’s arts scene.

He is only the second artistic director in the history of the group. Key Chorale was founded in 1985 by Ann Stephenson-Moe, organist and choirmaster of the Church of the Redeemer, and Don B. Ryno, minister of music at St. Boniface Church. Its first artistic director was Daniel Moe, who served for 21 years.

Earlier this year, Caulkins received a vote of confidence when Key Chorale extended his contract by 10 years. In addition to collaborating with other arts groups, Caulkins has increased Key Chorale’s community presence through outreach programs aimed at youth and seniors.

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In addition to its traditional student scholar soirée, Key Chorale is adding a new youth program inspired by the wildly successful closing event at Sarasota’s inaugural Living Arts Festival in 2024. Key Chorale’s concert, “GenSRQ: Celebrating Our Youth,” will take place March 29 at the Sailor Circus Arena.

 Caulkins and Reis gave Living Arts Festival founder Jeffery Kin crucial support last year in staging the Celebration of Youth program, which took place in the wake of Hurricane Milton. 

Another addition to Key Chorale’s schedule is a candlelight concert called “Radiance,” to be held at the First Congregational Church on April 18. Mark your calendar because the concert is free for students 18 and under, and just $10 at the door for college students. For adults, it’s $47.

Hundreds of candles will light up the room as chamber singers perform what is billed as “some of the most sublime, divine and heavenly music ever written.” Let’s hope the audience understands that there are no cellphones in heaven.