Cantilena Chorale welcomes its  new artistic director, Elinor (Ellie) A. Armsby, a Newton native who has been active as a choral conductor and clinician in Massachusetts and the Philadelphia area for more than 20 years.

In addition, she serves as music director at First Church in Marlborough UCC. When she is not conducting or composing, Ellie is the owner and president of Hildegard Publishing Co., expanding the catalog of music written by women across the centuries.

Read more about Ellie here >>

The spring concert program is evolving. Armsby has chosen a selection of songs that focus on the strengthening of our communities, an apt theme as we hope to come back together and hear an ensemble of blended voices singing in harmony. Cantilena plans to bring you a live, in-person performance on May 15, but “flexibility” remains the watchword as we go forward, remaining cautious and vigilant for the safety and health of our singers and our audience.

Ellie Armsby conducts the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware. / Photo: Daniel Sato, The News Journal (2014)

As Cantilena transitions to the spring semester, members say farewell to 2020-2021 Board President Isun Malekghassemi, under whose leadership the chorus remained active, despite the ever-changing challenges imposed by the continuing constraints of the Covid pandemic.

Cantilena will be holding a special election for the successor board president Feb. 14. to serve in the role until the annual meeting this May. Nominations are open.

To bolster its reserves, Cantilena continues to seek funds through grants as it recovers from a period with little income and mounting expenses. As an all-volunteer run organization, it values your contributions of time and talent, and thank you for your ongoing monetary support and in-kind donations.

Consider making a gift to Cantilena this semester. For example, $50 to $100 helps us purchase a piece of music for the spring concert, and $150 to $200 enables us to offer members a workshop for a nominal fee. Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss what you would like to sponsor.

The groups thanks those who made the fall 2021 semester a success, including past Music Director Jennifer Kane, Interim Music Director Allegra Martin, Live-stream Coordinator + Webmaster + Graphic Designer Carol Tong, members of both Collaborative Pianist and Permanent Music Director Search Committees, and the Cantilena Board of Directors.

To see more about the group, go to www.cantilena.org. 

This news announcement was published Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022.