Opera
  • Home
  • CHQ Assembly
  • 2025 Season
        • La bohème
        • Lincoln in the Bardo
        • Ida by Lamplight | Sitcom
  • About
        • History
        • Past Productions
        • Leadership
        • Performance Venues & Accessibility
        • Opera in the Schools
  • Young Artists
        • Young Artist Program
        • Audition FAQs
  • Alumni
  • Opera Conservatory
  • Media
  • Opera Guild
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets
Theater
  • Home
  • CHQ Assembly
  • 2025 Season
        • The Real James Bond…Was Dominican
        • Execution of Justice
        • The Witnesses
  • About
        • Past Productions
  • Conservatory
        • Acting Conservatory
        • FutureNow Stage Directing Fellowships
        • Design Fellowships
        • FAQ
  • New Play Development
        • New Plays at CTC
        • Young Playwrights Project
  • Your Visit
  • Get Involved
  • News
        • Blog Posts
        • In The News
        • The Chautauquan Daily
        • Alumni in the News
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets
Give
  • Home
  • CHQ Assembly
  • Make a Donation
        • Chautauqua Fund
        • Boundless
        • Endowment
        • Monthly Giving
  • Ways to Give
        • Appreciated Securities
        • Capital Support
        • Chautauqua Fund
        • Endowment/Naming
        • Gift Planning
        • Honor Your Host
        • Honorary/Memorial
        • Matching Gifts
        • Monthly Giving
        • Program Sponsor
        • Scholarships
  • Donor Recognition
        • 1874 Society
        • Bell Tower Society
        • Bestor Society
        • Daugherty Society
        • Lewis Miller Circle
        • NOW Generation
        • Foundation Membership
        • Honorary and Memorial Tree Program
  • Foundation
        • History & Mission
        • Board of Directors
        • Foundation Staff
        • Foundation Publications
        • Contact
  • Advancement
        • Institution Board of Trustees
        • Advancement Staff
        • Advancement Publications
        • Contact
        • Foundation Membership
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets
Foundation
  • Home
  • CHQ Assembly
  • Mission
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Publications
  • Membership
  • Endowment/Naming
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets
  • About Us
    • News & Announcements
    • 150 Forward Strategic Plan
    • Boundless
    • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) at Chautauqua
    • Media Resources
    • Staff Directory
    • Washington, D.C. Office
  • Employment
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • CHQ FAQ Google Group
    • Safety & Security Department
    • Shared Promise
    • The Smith Memorial Library
    • Post Office
    • Services & Amenities
    • Business Center
    • Chautauqua Institution Policies
    • AED Locations on Grounds
    • The Chautauquan Daily
    • Chautauqua Lake Conservation
    • Chautauqua Institution Archives
  • CHQ Assembly
  • Community Portal
  • Giving
    • Donate Securely Online
    • Boundless
    • Donor Recognition
    • Ways to Give
    • Chautauqua Foundation
    • Advancement
  • Visit
        • Plan Your Visit
          • 2025 Season
          • Visit Must-Dos
          • Experience Planner
          • Accessibility at Chautauqua
        • Eat, Drink & Shop
          • Dining
          • Heirloom Restaurant
          • Shopping & Services
          • Chautauqua Bookstore
        • Places To Stay
          • Athenaeum Hotel
          • Private Accommodations
          • Denominations and Religious Organizations
          • Nearby Accommodations
        • Explore the Grounds and Gardens
          • Maps and Directions
          • Bus and Tram Tracker
          • Plaza Cam
          • Chautauqua Lake Conservation
        • Group Travel
          • Chautauqua Travels
          • Book a Group Visit
          • Tour Operators
          • Road Scholar
          • Chautauqua on a Budget
          • Tour Chautauqua County
  • Things to Do
        • Events
          • All Events
          • Event Calendar
          • Weekly Themes
          • Experience Planner
          • Grid Calendar
        • Classes
        • Performing & Visual Arts
        • Education
        • Recreation
        • Chautauqua Cinema
        • Religion
        • Youth & Family
        • Experience Community
        • Discover CHQ
  • Gate Passes, Tickets & Registrations
        • Buy Gate Passes and Parking
          • Long-term Gate Passes & Parking
        • Buy Single Event Tickets
          • Concert Tickets
          • Lecture & Afternoon Tickets
        • Register for a Youth Program
        • Register for Special Studies Classes
  • Festival Schools
        • School of Music
          • Conducting Fellowship
          • Instrumental Program
          • Opera Conservatory
          • Piano Program
        • School of Dance
        • School of Art
        • Theater Conservatory
        • Alumni
        • Chautauqua Connections
  • Buy Tickets
  • Give
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets

looking for something?

  • Things to Do
  • Discover CHQ
    • Attend a Concert
    • New to Chautauqua
    • Plan Your Day Trip
    • Bring the Famliy
  • Events
    • Weekly Themes
      • Week One 2025
      • Week Two 2025
      • Week Three 2025
      • Week Four 2025
      • Week Five 2025
      • Week Six 2025
      • Week Seven 2025
      • Week Eight 2025
      • Week Nine 2025
    • Event Calendar
    • All Events
    • Experience Planner
    • Grid Calendar
  • Performing & Visual Arts
    • Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
      • Musicians
      • Fellowship Program
      • Support CSO
      • CSO Openings
    • CHQ Artists in Residence
    • Arts Access Program
  • Education
    • Chautauqua Lecture Series
    • Literary Arts
      • Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
      • Chautauqua Writers’ Center
      • Kwame Alexander Writers’ Lab & Conference
      • The Chautauqua Prize
      • Chautauqua Anthology
      • The Chautauqua Janus Prize
      • Poetry Makerspace
      • Battle of the Books
      • Friends of the Chautauqua Writers’ Center
    • Chautauqua Climate Change Initiative
  • Religion
    • Interfaith Lecture Series
    • Sacred Music
    • Abrahamic Program for Young Adults
    • CHQ Mystic Heart Meditation Program
    • Denominations and Religious Organizations
    • CHQ Dialogues
      • The Red Bench Project
    • Chautauqua Memorials
  • Recreation
    • Chautauqua Health & Fitness Center
    • Sports Club
    • Swimming
    • Golf Club
      • Golf Course
      • Golf Instruction
      • Events & Banquets
      • Corporate Membership Packages
      • The Double Eagle Patio on the Green
      • Group Outings
    • Tennis Center
    • Sailing
  • Special Studies Classes at Chautauqua
  • Youth & Family
    • Day Camps
      • Children’s School
      • Group One
      • Boys’ and Girls’ Club
      • Youth and Family Programs Covid-19 Protocols
    • Family Scholarship Program
  • Chautauqua Cinema
  • Experience Community

Sacred Music

For nine generations Chautauquans have been gathering in the Amphitheater on Sunday mornings and evenings to join the Chautauqua Community Choir for Sunday Morning Worship at 10:45 a.m. and the evening Sacred Song Services.

Cast in a vesper format at the close of the day and bookended by the beloved hymns “Day Is Dying in the West” and “Now the Day Is Over,” the Sacred Song Services combine the musical gifts of Chautauqua’s large singing congregation with the voices of Chautauqua Choir, supported by the famous 5,640 pipe Massey Memorial Organ.

Since 1907, every Sacred Song Service has closed with the playing of “Largo” from George Frederick Handel’s opera Xerxes, a beloved custom which has been a vital part of the Chautauqua Experience for many, many people over the years. Services begin at 8 p.m. and last approximately one hour.

Contact Information

Melissa Spas
Vice President for Religion
716-357-6242
mspas@chq.org

Choir

The Chautauqua Sunday Community Choir has been a part of the Institution’s life for many generations, providing a musical and spiritual dimension to the worship services each Sunday morning and evening in the Amphitheater. Approximately 80 individuals participate in the choir each Sunday throughout the Season, singing the finest quality of sacred music from the past as well as a diversity of styles from the present. Joshua Stafford is the Director of Sacred Music and Jared Jacobsen Organist for Chautauqua Institution. 

While no audition is required for this choir, it is expected that an individual will be able to read music and have previous experience singing in a choral group. In order to participate in the choir, singers must attend at least one of the three rehearsals on Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings from 6:15–7:45 p.m, though two or more rehearsals are preferred, prior to that respective Sunday, as well as the pre-service warmups on Sundays. A gate pass for those who live off the grounds is issued to attend rehearsals. The gate pass is then valid for admission to events in the Amphitheater that evening. There is no fee charged to sing in the choir, and music is provided. 

Motet Choir

The Motet Choir is comprised of experienced auditioned singers who rehearse and perform a variety of works from the rich heritage of sacred choral music of the past and a diversity of styles from the present. Singers must have a background of choral singing experience with excellent vocal quality and sight-reading ability. Weekday rehearsals and religious services are 8:15–10 a.m. An additional rehearsal is scheduled for Motet Choir. Motet singers are expected to fully participate in the Chautauqua Sunday Community Choir (see Chautauqua Choir, above), which requires attendance at two of three rehearsals on Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings from 6–7:45 p.m., and singing for both the Sunday morning and evening services. 

Qualified singers are compensated in the form of a gate pass for the weeks that they sing in the Motet Choir. Interested singers should call the Chautauqua Choir office (716-357-6321) or email choir@chq.org during the summer season to learn more about Motet Choir and to schedule an audition for the 2025 summer season. 

For more information, contact:

Carolyn Snider
Administrative Assistant, Department of Religion
716.357.6274
csnider@chq.org

Save Your Trip

Fill out the form below to save your trip. You will receive a link to your saved list via email.

  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Save Your Favorites

Fill out the form below to save your favorites. You will receive a link to your favorites list via email.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Hidden

Notice!

You have now entered the season. Some website content may differ depending on the current season we are in: Summer or Fall/Winter/Spring. You can toggle between the two season options at any time.

Okay

Subscribe to Chautauqua Institution’s email newsletter

  • About
  • Resources
  • Sustainability
  • Contact
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Employment
  • Ethics Point
  • Labor Law Notices
  • Privacy Policy
  • ADA Compliance
Chautauqua Institution
P.O. Box 28
One Ames Ave.
Chautauqua, N.Y. 14722

1.800.836.ARTS
Washington, DC Office
1150 Connecticut, Avenue NW | Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
202.480.2244
  • CHQ Assembly logo
  • Privacy Policy
  • ADA Compliance

© 2022 Chautauqua Institution. Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit organization, dependent upon your gifts to fulfill its mission. Gate tickets and other revenue cover only a portion of the cost of your Chautauqua experience.