Executive Overview
The St. Charles Singers, one of North America’s premier mixed-voice chamber choirs, has officially announced the release of its latest studio recording project, Dancing Tree: Choral Landscapes. Released on August 21, 2026, under the prestigious Navona Records imprint (NV6876), the album marks a significant milestone in the ensemble’s four-decade history. Conducted by founder and artistic director Jeffrey Hunt, the compilation presents a curated collection of live-in-concert recordings centered around themes of nature, poetry, and the pastoral environment.
At the heart of the album is the world-premiere recording of John Rutter’s eight-movement suite Dancing Tree (2024), commissioned specifically for the St. Charles Singers. The album also highlights landmark world-premiere recordings of works commissioned from prominent American Midwest composers Jake Runestad and Charles Forsberg, set alongside masterworks of the 20th-century choral canon by Claude Debussy, Benjamin Britten, and Sir Charles Villiers Stanford.
Recorded over several performance cycles inside the acoustically acclaimed nave of Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, Illinois, the album highlights the ensemble’s long-standing dedication to expanding the choral repertoire through institutional commissions and historical preservation. Dancing Tree: Choral Landscapes is distributed internationally on physical compact disc via stcharlessingers.com and across all major digital streaming and download platforms.
Detailed Chronology
The compilation of Dancing Tree: Choral Landscapes represents the culmination of an seven-year archival capture project, documenting key live concert performances and major commissioning initiatives undertaken by the St. Charles Singers between 2018 and 2025.
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| PROJECT TIMELINE |
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| April 2018 | Initial live multi-track tracking sessions under the |
| | direction of audio engineer Hudson Fair at Baker Memorial |
| | United Methodist Church. |
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| May 2019 | Second archival recording cycle, capturing foundational |
| | late-Romantic and early 20th-century impressionist works. |
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| 2020 | Formal commissioning of Jake Runestad’s "Cello Songs", |
| | expanding the choir's collaborative chamber catalogue. |
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| April 2024 | Tracking of contemporary American commissioned repertoire and |
| | expanded instrumental ensemble configurations. |
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| 2024 | English composer John Rutter completes the score for |
| | "Dancing Tree", written expressly for the St. Charles Singers. |
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| April 2025 | World-premiere concert performances and definitive recording |
| | capture of Rutter's "Dancing Tree" at Baker Memorial Church. |
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| Late 2025–Early | Final mixing, mastering, and audio post-production by Hudson |
| 2026 | Fair; cataloguing under Navona Records (NV6876). |
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| August 21, 2026 | Worldwide physical and digital album commercial launch. |
+-------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------+Supporting Context & Metrics
Musicological Deep Dive and Repertoire Structure
Dancing Tree: Choral Landscapes features an intricate tapestry of vocal literature that bridges historical European impressionism with contemporary American choral practice. The repertoire emphasizes the synthesis of poetry, instrumental accompaniment, and vocal polyphony.
1. The Rutter-Causley Cycle: Dancing Tree (2024)
Composed by John Rutter, Dancing Tree is scored for mixed choir and concert harp (performed on the recording by Erin Freund). The eight-movement suite sets the poetry of Charles Causley (1917–2003), a British poet renowned for his folk-infused, deeply humanistic verse. The score merges Rutter’s signature melodic sensibility with Causley’s reflective nature imagery.
- I. Stone in the water: A contemplative opening establishing thematic motifs.
- II. Foxglove: Lush harmonic structures mirroring botanical landscapes.
- III. In my garden: Expansive vocal lines paired with delicate harp arpeggios.
- IV. Dandelion: Rhythmic agility showcasing light, spring-like textures.
- V. Daniel Brent: Narrative balladry drawn from English folk idioms.
- VI. Spin me a web, spider: Intricate polyphonic weaving across voice parts.
- VII. At Candlemas: Sacred pastoral solemnity bridging winter and spring.
- VIII. I am the song: A triumphant, synthesis-driven finale celebrating art and nature.
2. Contemporary Midwest Commissions
- Jake Runestad – Cello Songs (2020): Scored for choir, cello (Jean Hatmaker), and piano (Steven Uhl), with original texts by poet/librettist Todd Boss. The four-movement work traces an autumnal-to-vernal arc, culminating in a rhythmic, bebop-jazz-infused depiction of spring rain.
- Charles Forsberg – Buttercup Days: Originating as a 1988 St. Charles Singers commission, this work adapts the opening movement of Forsberg’s In Christopher’s Time: Jazz Suite for Choir. Based on A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh poetry, the arrangement incorporates double bass (Joe Policastro) and piano (Steven Uhl) to create a playful, jazz-influenced chamber setting.
3. Classical Canon and European Masterpieces
- Sir Charles Villiers Stanford – The Blue Bird, Op. 119, No. 3: A cornerstone of English late-Romantic choral music setting Mary Elizabeth Coleridge’s poetry, featuring a floating soprano solo over quiet, sustained choral textures.
- Benjamin Britten – Hymn to St. Cecilia, Op. 27: A complex, three-movement setting of W.H. Auden’s tribute to the patron saint of music, written while Britten returned across the Atlantic in 1942.
- Claude Debussy – Trois Chansons: Debussy’s only work for unaccompanied mixed choir, combining Renaissance chanson forms with early 20th-century impressionist harmonies based on medieval texts by Charles d’Orléans.
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| ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY METRICS |
+-----+----------------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Track | Title | Composer | Duration |
+-----+----------------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| 01 | Dancing Tree: I. Stone in... | John Rutter | 1:49 |
| 02 | Dancing Tree: II. Foxglove | John Rutter | 2:19 |
| 03 | Dancing Tree: III. In my garden | John Rutter | 4:00 |
| 04 | Dancing Tree: IV. Dandelion | John Rutter | 2:30 |
| 05 | Dancing Tree: V. Daniel Brent | John Rutter | 1:06 |
| 06 | Dancing Tree: VI. Spin me a web | John Rutter | 2:06 |
| 07 | Dancing Tree: VII. At Candlemas | John Rutter | 2:59 |
| 08 | Dancing Tree: VIII. I am the... | John Rutter | 2:49 |
| 09 | The Blue Bird, Op. 119, No. 3 | C. Villiers Stanford | 3:04 |
| 10 | Buttercup Days | Charles Forsberg | 2:35 |
| 11 | Trois Chansons: I. Dieu! qu'il.. | Claude Debussy | 1:53 |
| 12 | Trois Chansons: II. Quant j'ai.. | Claude Debussy | 1:45 |
| 13 | Trois Chansons: III. Yver, vous..| Claude Debussy | 1:59 |
+-----+----------------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+Technical Production & Engineering
The production was overseen by veteran audio engineer and classical producer Hudson Fair. Recorded directly in the acoustics of Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, the production utilized custom multi-microphone arrays designed to preserve the natural reverberation of the hall while maintaining clear articulation across all vocal registers.
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| PRODUCTION SPECIFICATIONS |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| Recording Location | Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, St. Charles, IL |
| Producer / Engineer | Hudson Fair |
| Tracking Dates | April 2018, May 2019, April 2024, April 2025 |
| Label / Catalog | Navona Records / PARMA Recordings (NV6876) |
| Primary Guest Artists | Erin Freund (Harp), Jean Hatmaker (Cello), |
| | Joe Policastro (Double Bass), Steven Uhl (Piano) |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+Official Statements
Reflecting on the album’s release and the choir’s long history of commissioning new works, artistic leaders and collaborators offered insights into the vision driving Dancing Tree: Choral Landscapes.
Jeffrey Hunt, Founder and Music Director of St. Charles Singers:
"The music on Dancing Tree is quintessential John Rutter. It reflects his own heartfelt connection to nature and admiration for English folk music. You’ll hear intensely beautiful melodies that are very singable, amid a pleasing array of harmonies. Listeners who enjoy Rutter’s Christmas carols will love this piece.
Our mission has always been to bring literature of the highest artistic caliber to our audiences. To commission and record world-premiere works alongside undisputed masterworks of the past allows us to showcase the full expressive range of our ensemble."
John Rutter, Composer and Choirmaster:
"I have enjoyed guest conducting this excellent choir on a number of occasions and Jeff Hunt, their founder-director, is a good friend. He shares my love of poetry, and was happy to accept my suggestion of a cycle of Charles Causley settings. Causley’s poetry carries a rare mixture of warmth, humor, and profound humanity, which felt uniquely suited to the sound and spirit of the St. Charles Singers."
Jake Runestad, Composer:
"In Cello Songs, the work moves through the seasons—from the gentle breezes of summer, to the fiery colors of autumn, to a soulful melancholy in winter, and ending with a rousing, bebop jazz finale of raindrops in spring! Partnering with the St. Charles Singers allows a composer to explore rich coloristic possibilities, knowing every nuance of tone and text will be honored."
Institutional Critical Acclaim
The release builds upon decades of critical praise for the St. Charles Singers across the global classical music landscape:
- American Record Guide: Hailed the ensemble as "a national treasure."
- Classics Today: Designated the group as "one of North America’s outstanding choirs."
- Choral Journal: Commended their "versatile musicality, vibrant tone, and impeccable diction."
- Choir and Organ (UK): Noted, "With a well-balanced and beautifully blended choral sound, the St. Charles Singers are totally committed to what they perform."
Future Outlook
The release of Dancing Tree: Choral Landscapes on Navona Records positions the St. Charles Singers for expanded international distribution and digital audience growth through PARMA Recordings’ global networks.
As the choir moves forward in its fourth decade, the project serves as a model for regional professional ensembles seeking to make lasting contributions to the global choral canon. By pairing established midwestern talent with international figures like John Rutter, the St. Charles Singers continue to build an enduring legacy of performance, education, and artistic commissioning.
The choir plans to integrate selections from Dancing Tree into their upcoming regional performance seasons, alongside continued educational outreach programs and collaborative performances throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area and the American Midwest.
