True Concord Voices & Orchestra: Two Decades of Harmony and Impact

True Concord Voices & Orchestra, founded in 2004 as the Tucson Chamber Artists by music director Eric Holtan, has risen from a local chamber ensemble to an internationally acclaimed choral-orchestral organization. Based in Tucson, Arizona – where it remains rooted – True Concord has built a reputation for innovative programming and performances of both timeless masterworks and new compositions. It is the only ensemble in Southern Arizona to have earned both GRAMMY and EMMY honors, a testament to its artistic excellence and cultural impact. Over two decades, True Concord has moved, enriched, and inspired audiences through “the true concord of well-tuned sounds,” as Shakespeare wrote, bringing together voices, instruments, and community in harmonious unity. This article chronicles the ensemble’s journey from its origins through April 22, 2025, highlighting its key milestones, performances, collaborations, and contributions to the arts.

Founding Origins: Eric Holtan and Tucson Chamber Artists (2004)

True Concord’s story begins in 2004, when Eric Holtan – then a doctoral student at the University of Arizona – envisioned creating a professional chorus and orchestra in Tucson. At the time, Tucson had a symphony, an opera, and theater companies, but no professional chamber choir and orchestra. Inspired by European models like John Eliot Gardiner’s Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, Holtan and a group of his musically trained friends launched a new ensemble. They initially adopted the name Tucson Chamber Artists (TCA), reflecting their local roots and chamber music focus.

The very first TCA concerts took place in November 2004 on a shoestring budget. Holtan famously paid his fellow musicians out-of-pocket, initially promising $100 for a few rehearsals and two performances – only to realize after the concerts that he could afford just $50 each. Despite these humble beginnings, the debut concerts were well received, and the musicians returned for another series later that season, joined by growing audiences. This early success demonstrated a real appetite in Tucson for professional choral-orchestral performances, validating Holtan’s vision.

In the ensuing years, Tucson Chamber Artists steadily built its reputation for artistic quality. The ensemble tackled ambitious repertoire usually reserved for larger, more established groups. A breakthrough came in 2006 with Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor, which TCA performed in critically acclaimed, sold-out concerts. Four years later, in 2010, they achieved another milestone with J.S. Bach’s monumental Mass in B minor, again to full houses and strong reviews. These performances proved that a Tucson-based chamber chorus and orchestra could deliver the masterworks of choral literature at a high professional level, and they helped expand the ensemble’s following. By their 10th anniversary season, TCA was drawing on top-tier choral and instrumental talent from across Arizona and beyond, and it had firmly established itself as a leading arts organization in Southern Arizona.

A New Voice: Commissioning Stephen Paulus and Inspiring Hope (2011)

As the ensemble’s profile grew, Tucson Chamber Artists also began to commission new works that spoke to contemporary audiences. In 2011, marking the tenth anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, Holtan and TCA presented a commemorative concert that included a newly commissioned piece by renowned American composer Stephen Paulus. Paulus composed Prayers and Remembrances for TCA, intending the work to “suggest hope, light and a future… going at least some distance towards repair and healing” in the wake of 9/11. The premiere of Prayers and Remembrances in Tucson on September 11, 2011 was a profound experience for performers and audience alike. The music’s emotional power and message of hope deeply resonated, revealing how choral music could draw people together around common needs and aspirations – in this case, grief and the desire for renewal.

This collaboration with Stephen Paulus proved to be a pivotal moment. It not only added a meaningful American oratorio to the repertoire, but also forged a close relationship between the composer and the ensemble. Paulus would later say that TCA had a special understanding of his music. The success of Prayers and Remembrances reinforced True Concord’s mission to enrich lives through the transformational power of music, using both classic and new works to engage with the human spirit. It was an early indicator of the ensemble’s future as a champion of new compositions that speak to contemporary issues.

Evolving into True Concord Voices & Orchestra (2014–2015)

By 2014, after a decade of growth, Tucson Chamber Artists was poised to step onto a national stage. The ensemble’s name, however, was creating unintended confusion. Many casual observers weren’t sure what “Tucson Chamber Artists” meant – some mistook them for a visual arts group or another chamber ensemble – and the name did not clearly convey the choir-and-orchestra identity or the scope of music they performed. As Holtan later explained, “the name… caused confusion with those who don’t know who we are or what kind of music we perform,” and the board had periodically discussed a change. The catalyst for rebranding came in 2014 when the group secured its first national recording contract, offering an opportunity to reach classical music lovers far beyond Tucson. It became obvious that a new name and brand were needed to resonate nationally and encapsulate the ensemble’s artistic ideals.

After careful consideration, the ensemble adopted the name True Concord Voices & Orchestra in mid-2015. The inspiration came from William Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 8, which praises “the true concord of well-tuned sounds.” Holtan was struck by the phrase “true concord,” discovering that “concord” not only means harmony but derives from Latin roots meaning “hearts together.” The new name thus beautifully described those magical moments in music when performers’ and listeners’ hearts are united in harmony. True Concord Voices & Orchestra was “born, carrying with it the great responsibility of holding the soul of Tucson Chamber Artists in its breast” – that is, preserving the original spirit and values while moving forward under a banner that would “bring people together… through the transcending power of music.”

The name change celebration in 2015 was more than symbolic; it coincided with major artistic leaps. On September 11, 2015, True Concord made its debut in New York City at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, performing the very work that had so much meaning four years earlier: Stephen Paulus’s Prayers and Remembrances. This high-profile concert in the nation’s cultural capital – on the 14th anniversary of 9/11 – announced that True Concord had arrived on the national scene. That same day, the ensemble released its first commercial album, Far In The Heavens: Choral Music of Stephen Paulus, on the Reference Recordings label. The album comprised recently composed, previously unrecorded choral works by Paulus, including Prayers and Remembrances and another piece TCA had premiered in 2009 (The Incomprehensible). In essence, True Concord’s New York debut and album release brought its music from Tucson to the world, fulfilling the ensemble’s goal of uniting “hearts from Tucson with those from around the world” through the power of great music.

Key Performances and Programs by Season

Throughout its history, True Concord (and its predecessor TCA) has curated seasons balancing choral masterworks, new compositions, and imaginative thematic programs. A hallmark of the ensemble’s programming is the presentation of sacred masterworks with a chamber orchestra, often in intimate, acoustically rich churches and venues around Southern Arizona. In addition to the Mozart and Bach masses noted earlier, True Concord has performed Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem, Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s Requiem, and other pillars of the choral repertoire in recent seasons. These performances give local audiences the chance to experience iconic works live, often with the freshness and clarity that a smaller, high-caliber ensemble can provide.

At the same time, True Concord has remained committed to contemporary works and premieres. The ensemble has introduced Arizona audiences to major 20th- and 21st-century compositions. For example, in 2017 they partnered with the Arizona Early Music Society to stage Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, a Baroque masterwork rarely heard in its entirety in Tucson. In 2018, as part of the Tucson Desert Song Festival and the Leonard Bernstein centennial, True Concord joined forces with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and others to perform Bernstein’s theatrical Mass, showcasing the group’s versatility beyond traditional concert settings. The 2016–2017 season saw True Concord mount Felix Mendelssohn’s grand oratorio Elijah, assembling 125 performers on one stage (including expanded chorus and orchestra forces) for a memorable Desert Song Festival finale. These ambitious projects demonstrated True Concord’s growth into an ensemble capable of large-scale productions when the music calls for it.

True Concord is also known for thematic programming that blends old and new. In various seasons, they have built concerts around ideas like “Music of the Four Elements” (earth, air, fire, water), American folk music, or spiritual reflections, often premiering new pieces on those themes. One striking example was a program featuring Marc Blitzstein’s Airborne Symphony – a WWII-era work – selected in 2023 to commemorate the centennial of Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Another inventive project was a modern choral ballet based on Frankenstein, where True Concord added live choral music to a dance reimagining of Mary Shelley’s tale. These creative endeavors have kept programming fresh and have attracted diverse audiences, from classical aficionados to younger listeners (one concert in 2022 was noted as “perfect for [the] TikTok generation” in its imaginative variety).

Even the ensemble’s beloved annual Christmas Lessons and Carols concerts have a unique flavor – True Concord often commissions new arrangements of carols and includes American holiday repertoire, a tradition that eventually led to a popular recording (see below). Year after year, each season’s schedule reflects a careful balance of eras and styles, ensuring that across the full season, audiences experience Renaissance motets and Bach chorales alongside living composers’ voices and cross-disciplinary works.

National Accolades: GRAMMY and EMMY Honors

The rebranding to True Concord quickly bore fruit in terms of national recognition. In early 2016, the Recording Academy honored the ensemble’s Paulus project with two nominations at the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards. The album Far In The Heavens was nominated for Best Choral Performance (spotlighting the artistry of the choir and orchestra under Holtan’s direction), and Paulus’s Prayers and Remembrances – the centerpiece of the album – was nominated (and ultimately won) for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. When the awards were announced, Paulus’s win was a posthumous victory (the composer had passed away in 2014), and it also marked a triumph for True Concord. This Tucson-born ensemble had not only made it to the Grammy stage, but became part of the award history that year. The Arizona Daily Star noted that True Concord was Tucson’s first musical group to achieve a Grammy accolade of this kind. The recognition propelled the group into the national spotlight; suddenly True Concord was on the map alongside the country’s top choral ensembles. Later in 2016, the Far In The Heavens album even hit the Billboard classical charts, evidence of its broad reach.

Building on that momentum, True Concord continued to produce recordings and media that garnered acclaim. In 2018, they released Christmas with True Concord: Carols in the American Voice, a collection of holiday music that included traditional carols reimagined by American composers. This album was praised for its fresh take on beloved tunes and showcased the ensemble’s warm sound in seasonal repertoire. By featuring Americana and new works for Christmas, True Concord further solidified its identity: deeply respectful of tradition but not bound by it.

Fast forward to the early 2020s: as True Concord ventured into filmed performances (more on that below), it entered the realm of television honors. The ensemble’s partnership with Arizona PBS to broadcast concerts led to multiple EMMY Award nominations for the production quality and audio of these programs. Notably, composer Jake Runestad’s Earth Symphony, commissioned and premiered by True Concord in 2022, won a Rocky Mountain EMMY Award for Musical Composition/Arrangement. This recognition was especially meaningful as it bridged classical music with the medium of television, bringing True Concord’s work to an even wider audience. By 2025, True Concord could proudly claim the rare distinction of being “GRAMMY- and EMMY-honored,” reflecting excellence in live performance, audio recording, and televised presentation alike.

Notable Recordings and Commissions

A core part of True Concord’s mission has been to create and preserve new music through commissions and recordings. The partnership with Stephen Paulus was the first major success in this arena, and the album Far In The Heavens stands as a landmark recording. Released in 2015, it consists entirely of Paulus’s choral works – many of them never before recorded – including pieces commissioned by True Concord. The recording was produced by Grammy-winner Peter Rutenberg and supervised by Paulus himself in what turned out to be the final months of the composer’s life. Critics lauded the album’s pristine performances and emotional resonance. One reviewer wrote that the disc “possess[es] a virginal freshness and utter simplicity of concept… as worthy a [Grammy] winner as we have had in any number of years,” and others praised the “angelic voices” and “musically refined” advocacy for Paulus’s music. Through this project, True Concord not only preserved Paulus’s legacy (the album was described as the culmination of his choral output), but also introduced his works to countless new listeners.

In the years following, True Concord leveraged its growing reputation to undertake further recording projects. The Carols in the American Voice album (2018) captured the ensemble’s distinct approach to holiday music and received critical acclaim for its originality. More recently, in 2023, True Concord released A Dream So Bright: Choral Music of Jake Runestad, focusing on one of today’s prominent young composers of choral music. Jake Runestad’s works often address themes of social consciousness, nature, and hope, aligning well with True Concord’s ethos. A Dream So Bright includes a variety of Runestad’s compositions performed by True Concord, and it has been praised for its “universal message on war, climate change” and humanity’s future. The title track, A Dream So Bright, as well as Runestad’s ambitious Earth Symphony, were world premiere recordings by True Concord. In fact, True Concord gave the world premiere performance of Earth Symphony in concert – an expansive piece reflecting on the planet and climate – and subsequently recorded it for the album and the Arizona PBS broadcast that earned the EMMY. These efforts underscore True Concord’s role in commissioning and championing new large-scale choral works that speak to contemporary concerns.

Partnerships and Collaborations

From its chamber choir origins, True Concord has grown into a collaborative hub, frequently teaming up with other ensembles, institutions, and artists to create unique performances. These partnerships have significantly amplified its cultural impact. Close to home, True Concord has co-presented concerts with the University of Arizona’s Arizona Choir (the UA graduate choir) and worked with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra on large works requiring full orchestral forces. The ensemble has a long-running relationship with the Tucson Girls Chorus and Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, integrating young voices into select performances and educational projects. Such collaborations not only elevate the performances (by adding forces or specific talents) but also strengthen community ties, uniting different corners of the local music scene.

True Concord has also engaged in more cross-disciplinary collaborations. With UA Dance, the ensemble has blended live music and dance, as in the aforementioned Frankenstein choral ballet or other staged works. They have partnered with contemporary ballet companies like the James Sewell Ballet, bringing performers from outside Arizona to collaborate in productions that marry choral music with modern dance. In the realm of literary arts, True Concord has even worked with the University of Arizona Poetry Center, likely incorporating poetry or spoken word into concerts to deepen the artistic experience. They once staged a musical event at Tucson’s historic Hotel Congress, an unconventional venue that helped attract new audiences in a nightlife setting.

One of the most notable collaborations came in 2023 when True Concord joined forces with the Phoenix Chorale, another Grammy-winning Arizona choir. This project was heralded as a historic first: the two premier choirs of Tucson and Phoenix performing together. They opened the season with joint concerts in both cities, showcasing an “Arizona united” approach to choral music. Critics noted that the Grammy-honored ensembles making music side by side was far more than just a symbol – it produced an exceptional musical synergy. The concert featured repertory that leveraged the combined sonic power of both choirs, and likely introduced each ensemble’s audience to the other. The collaboration was covered widely, including by Broadway World and Arizona arts media, marking yet another way True Concord has extended its reach and influence.

Additionally, True Concord frequently engages world-class soloists to perform in its concerts, allowing local audiences to hear artists of international stature. Over the years, they have featured renowned singers such as mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor, bass Morris Robinson, baritone Jubilant Sykes, soprano Corinne Winters, soprano Susanna Phillips, soprano Nicole Cabell, and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, among others. These guest artists, who regularly appear at top global venues, have brought star power to True Concord’s productions of works like Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’s Requiem, or contemporary pieces requiring vocal soloists. Their participation not only elevates the performances but also signals True Concord’s standing in the classical music world – as an ensemble capable of attracting and collaborating with the very best. Through all these partnerships, True Concord has shown a penchant for “adventurous collaborations,” using the combined talents of multiple organizations to create musical experiences greater than the sum of their parts.

Community Engagement and Educational Programs

Deeply embedded in True Concord’s mission is a commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians and making an impact beyond the concert hall. One key initiative is the Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers Competition, launched in 2015 after Paulus’s untimely death as a way to honor his legacy. This annual national competition invites young composers to submit new works, with the winner’s piece performed by True Concord and often incorporated into the season. By providing a platform for emerging talents, the competition both memorializes Paulus’s encouragement of new music and ensures a steady infusion of fresh repertoire into True Concord’s programming. Some winning pieces have even been taken on tour or recorded, giving the young composers valuable exposure early in their careers.

True Concord also invests in educational outreach to local students. The ensemble runs a high school masterclass program, where visiting artists or True Concord musicians work with area high school choirs. In these masterclasses, students receive coaching on vocal technique and musical interpretation, and in some cases may join True Concord in performance for a piece or two – an inspiring side-by-side experience. By connecting professional singers with youth, True Concord helps mentor aspiring vocalists and spark enthusiasm for choral music among teenagers.

Another innovative program is “Compose Like a Girl,” spearheaded by Composer-in-Residence Jocelyn Hagen. This initiative, in partnership with the Tucson Girls Chorus and the literacy arts program Stories That Soar!, encourages young women (and girls) to try their hand at composition. Participants learn about female composers and get to create their own songs or musical stories. The involvement of Stories That Soar! brings in content from children’s original writings – True Concord has, for instance, helped turn imaginative stories written by kids into performed musical pieces, combining storytelling with choral music. Such programs carry an empowering message, showing girls that women can excel as composers and creators in a field historically dominated by men. Moreover, by setting children’s words to music, True Concord nurtures creativity and validates the voices of Tucson’s youth.

Community engagement for True Concord goes beyond formal programs; it’s also evident in their presence at civic and cultural events. They have appeared at benefit concerts, memorial services, and community festivals, using music to bring people together in times of celebration and remembrance. The organization’s volunteers and donors – including notable patrons like Dorothy D. Vanek, who in 2016 gifted $500,000 to support True Concord’s recording projects – are an integral part of its community impact. This philanthropy has helped True Concord expand its offerings (for example, funding those ambitious recording endeavors and new commissions), ensuring that the arts continue to thrive in Southern Arizona. Through educational outreach, competitions, and community partnerships, True Concord has woven itself into the cultural fabric of Tucson, inspiring people of all ages with the joy of music.

Resilience and Innovation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 posed an unprecedented challenge to performing arts groups worldwide. For True Concord, whose lifeblood is live choral performance, the prospect of shutting down for a season was devastating. Yet, the organization responded with remarkable resilience and innovation. In the fall of 2020, True Concord implemented a creative solution inspired by professional sports: an artist “bubble”. Much like the NBA’s bubble, the singers and instrumentalists agreed to isolate as a group, sequestering themselves to rehearse and perform safely in the midst of surging infections. This plan, one of the first of its kind among choirs, allowed True Concord to proceed with a modified 2020-21 season when most choirs were silenced. They opened that fall with a socially distanced performance of Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem – chosen for its message of comfort – presented to a limited audience and streamed online. Throughout the season, musicians lived and worked within a safety “bubble,” and periodic testing ensured that they could make music together without outbreak.

True Concord’s bold approach drew national attention. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) highlighted the ensemble in a special 2021 report called “The Art of Reopening,” which profiled arts organizations that found safe ways to operate amid COVID. The NEA recognized True Concord as a leader in pandemic adaptation, noting how their strategies could serve as a model for others. Locally, the group received a Resiliency Award from StartUp Tucson, honoring its determination to keep the arts alive for the community despite enormous hurdles.

A key part of True Concord’s pandemic strategy was embracing broadcast and digital media. Since in-person audiences were restricted, the ensemble partnered with Arizona PBS to film high-quality concert videos in lieu of traditional concerts. These televised performances, often recorded without live audiences, enabled True Concord to reach people sheltering at home and even broaden their audience beyond Arizona. The collaboration was so successful that even after returning to in-person concerts, True Concord has continued to film select programs, effectively creating a library of concert films. The production values – including excellent sound engineering – led to multiple regional EMMY nominations, as noted earlier, and an EMMY win for the broadcast of Runestad’s Earth Symphony. By integrating live performance with film, True Concord not only survived the pandemic’s worst impacts but emerged with new capabilities in digital outreach.

An Eye to the Future: True Concord’s Third Decade

Now in 2025, as True Concord Voices & Orchestra enters its third decade, it does so with a clear vision and renewed energy. The Board of Directors and leadership have outlined a strategic direction focused on building an enduring organization that will remain a cultural cornerstone for generations. Key to this vision is solidifying True Concord’s status as not just a local ensemble but a national treasure in the realm of choral and orchestral music. Practically, this means continuing to broaden its audience base beyond Arizona, whether through touring, recordings, broadcasts, or perhaps future residencies and festival appearances. A successful debut in New York and collaborations with major artists have paved the way for more such opportunities; we may foresee True Concord performing at other prestigious venues and events across the country, carrying Tucson’s artistic heritage with it.

At home, True Concord is focused on sustainability and growth. This includes expanding educational programs and community engagement to cultivate the next generation of music lovers and performers in Southern Arizona. By strengthening partnerships with schools, universities, and community organizations, the ensemble aims to ensure a pipeline of talented singers and appreciative audiences. The Stephen Paulus composer competition and Jocelyn Hagen’s residency are expected to continue, keeping True Concord at the forefront of discovering new compositional voices. Indeed, commissions are already on the horizon – for example, the planned 2025 release of Jocelyn Hagen’s works will likely coincide with performances of those pieces, and other composers are certainly in discussion for future projects. True Concord’s programming for upcoming seasons also reflects forward-thinking themes: the 2025-26 season is titled “The American Dream”, suggesting concerts that explore American music and stories (from immigrant narratives to Broadway classics) in line with the ensemble’s knack for thematic richness.

Technologically, the group will no doubt capitalize on the video and streaming capabilities it honed during the pandemic. Offering a digital subscription or periodic TV broadcasts could extend its reach indefinitely. And while nothing can replace the magic of live, in-person performance, these new channels will allow True Concord to engage with a global audience and remain resilient in the face of any future disruptions.

Artistically, True Concord shows no signs of slowing down. Audiences can anticipate a continued blend of “glorious music for voices and orchestra” – from Bach passions to modern masterpieces – and new works that speak to current times. The ensemble’s dedication to “goose-bump moments” and inspirational experiences will guide its repertoire choices. Whether it’s commissioning a piece on climate change, performing a forgotten Baroque gem, or joining another orchestra for a once-in-a-lifetime concert, True Concord will strive to create programs that move and uplift.

Finally, True Concord’s journey so far has been characterized by an incredible support network: the loyal Tucson community that has embraced it since 2004. Entering its third decade, True Concord remains proudly based in Tucson – “this is our home” Holtan affirms – and equally proud to represent Tucson on the world stage. The story of True Concord Voices & Orchestra illustrates how a passionate idea, when nurtured with talent, hard work, and community spirit, can grow into an ensemble of international caliber. From early days as Tucson Chamber Artists to Grammy-winning triumphs and beyond, True Concord has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape, and its music continues to ring out with hearts together in true concord.