The Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus is a volunteer ensemble under the direction of Dr. Marcela Molina.

The Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus was founded by Bruce Chamberlain in 2003. Since then, the Chorus has given critically acclaimed performances of Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Missa Solemnis, Mozart and Brahm’s Requiems, Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3, “Kaddish” and Orff’s Carmina Burana.

The Chorus returned to the stage in the 2022-23 season with two interim co-directors, Drs. Marcela Molina and Ben Hansen, and performed the much-anticipated Beethoven’s Ninth and Mahler’s “Resurrection,” as well as Handel’s Messiah and holiday selections.

The Chorus performs annually with the TSO on multiple performances, ranging from small to large scale. For the 2023-24 Season, the Chorus will perform Messiah, Verdi’s Requiem and Holst’s Planets.

 

Audition for the 23-24 chorus!

Please email the TSO Chorus to schedule an audition. Rehearsals will be held Monday evenings starting after Labor Day weekend.

 

Meet Our Chorus Directors

Dr. Marcela Molina, Director

Dr. Marcela Molina has been affiliated with the Tucson Girls Chorus since 2006, first serving as Artistic Director and taking the helm as Executive Director in 2011. Under Dr. Molina’s guidance, the Tucson Girls Chorus has grown significantly in program and community engagement.

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Molina holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and the University of Arizona. She has contributed articles to Antiphon, Teaching through Performance in Choir, Volume 2, and was a contributor for the book Choral Reflections: Insights from American Choral Conductor-Teachers. She was named 2019 Choral Director of the Year by AzACDA, and often serves as a clinician and guest conductor for choral festivals. Dr. Molina has served on the AzACDA board and standing committees for the ACDA Western Division. She currently serves on the board of Chorus America.

 

Dr. Benjamin Hansen, Assistant Director and Manager

Dr. Benjamin Hansen is the founder and Artistic Director of The Helios Ensemble, an award-winning SATB choral group, Interim Co-director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Director of Music at Catalina United Methodist Church. Hansen received his BA from Yale, singing in the Yale Whiffenpoofs; his MM in voice from the Catholic University of America; and his MM in conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He received a DMA in choral conducting at the University of Arizona. Dr. Hansen has conducted such works as Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Duruflé’s Requiem, Howell’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Poulenc’s Mass in G and Vaughan Williams’ Three Shakespeare Songs. He has studied conducting with Bruce Chamberlain, Elizabeth Schauer, Leo Nestor, Jerry Blackstone, Mark Gibson, Earl Rivers, Fiora Contino and Robert Sund. Dr. Hansen was the Director of Choral Activities at Cincinnati State College, and a 2010 Conducting Fellow at the Chorus America Conducting Symposium in Houston, Texas.