It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Sons of Orpheus has a special present for Tucsonans.
Tucson’s male choir will give the gift of song at two concerts: The 19th Annual Holiday Benefit Concert and Food Drive for the Community Food Bank and the 20th Annual “Christmas at San Xavier” to benefit the restoration and preservation of the Mission San Xavier del Bac.
The chorus was founded “to fill a void” 26 years ago by tenor Grayson Hirst, a recently retired professor of voice at the University of Arizona whose career included more than 70 major roles and performances throughout the United States and abroad.
“The Orpheon movement began in the 19th century in Europe when millworkers and factory workers and coal miners all came together to sing and enjoy brotherhood and friendship. There was no male voice choir in Tucson when we began and I thought it was something that was important for the musical life in our community,” said Hirst.
Since then, the choir has thrived. It has completed five European tours and a tour of Mexico and has performed at the White House and the Vatican. Comprised of 45 active members, it presents more than 20 concerts each season and collaborates with groups such as the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, the Tucson Girls Chorus and many UA soloists and musicians.
Over the years, Hirst said it has earned a reputation as “the chorus that cares” for its gratis work to benefit local nonprofits and music scholarships.
“We think it is important to reach out to the community. There is a lot of taking going on and there can always be more giving back, especially at this time of year. It is a way of saying thanks for our blessings, which are manifold,” said Hirst.
