The Zia Singers, led by Artistic Director John Tiranno, is a nonprofit community chorus
in Santa Fe, New Mexico, whose mission is to promote the joy of women’s choral
singing through public performance, education, and outreach. Membership includes a
diverse group of women of all ages (currently 20s through 80s) with a wide range of
prior musical experience.

History

The Zia Singers originated as a group of voice students, singers, and esteemed voice teacher Marilyn Barnes. Founded in 1993, the first group of women met in Marilyn’s living room to sing just for the love of making music. The choir continued under the
direction of Kenneth Knight from 2003 through 2011, when conductor Dr. Karen Marrolli took the baton. After her departure in 2015, Interim director Cora Harms led the women’s chorale ensemble until Aaron Howe was hired in 2016. Following Howe’s innovative artistic direction, the baton was turned over in 2024 to John Tiranno, marking him as the Zia Singers’ sixth Artistic Director. Over the years, the group has grown into a unique hometown performing ensemble comprised of up to and over 60 voices, which offers performances twice a year to the public.

• fosters creative expression through singing

• strives for musical excellence through the process of continued learning

• inspires interest in the choral arts through performance

• builds bridges and camaraderie among its members, its audiences, and the public

• fosters creative expression through singing

Community Outreach

Annually, the Zia Singers welcome the public to a free concert at the Roundhouse during the legislative session. The Zia Singers regularly partner with local nonprofits whose missions align with our concert themes and are led by a volunteer board of directors.

Singing for the Love of Music

Each January, the Zia Singers present a winter program of traditional and/or contemporary classical choral music. Spring brings a performance of 20th and 21 st -century popular music, typically of a more lighthearted nature. In the spirit of collaboration, The Zia Singers have sung with the Men’s Camerata, Canticum Novum, New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus & the Rio Rancho Youth Chorus. The Zia Singers regularly hire local professional soloists and instrumentalists to perform with them.

Become a Zia Singer

Zia Singers is an all-women chorus that rehearses every Tuesday afternoon from 3:45 pm to 5:45 pm at Cristo Rey Church in Santa Fe. We perform two annual concert series, one in January and one in May or June. Auditions are held twice a year, in August and in January with rehearsals starting in September.  Audition dates are posted online and singers are asked to come prepared with a 3 -minute musical piece preferably chosen to showcase one’s vocal range.
 

In 2016, the Zia Singers applied for and were granted 501c3 non-profit status. We are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations!