Critical Mass Vocal Artists (CMVA) is an elite chamber ensemble of accomplished singers and choral educators from across the Treasure Valley, bringing audiences an inspiring blend of breathtaking artistry, musical storytelling, and unexpected discoveries.
Under the direction of Dr. C. Michael Porter, each concert explores a unique theme through music that spans centuries, from beloved choral masterworks to contemporary gems and inventive arrangements of familiar favorites.
CRITICAL MASS VOCAL ARTISTS
Performance
7:30 pm
Venue
TBD
Doors Open
6:30 pm
Ticket Prices
Adults: $42
Senior $32
Youth: $17
Groups
Save 20% on groups of 10 or more. Contact the box office at 208-345-3531
All tickets show the “all-in” price, fees and tax included.
Saturday, October 3
Join us as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with songs and stories from our nation’s rich heritage. This special concert brings together singers, composers, and communities to reflect on the nation’s journey—its triumphs, its trials, and the diverse voices that continue to shape its story.
Sunday, December 20
Celebrate the season with our cherished holiday tradition, featuring a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classical tale A Christmas Carol by contemporary composer Benedict Sheehan. Blending traditional carols and stunning harmonies with Dickens’s immortal story of redemption and holiday cheer, this performance is sure to fill the darkest winter night with joy and love.
Saturday, March 20
Let us sweep you away with music that both calls us to a higher place and lures us toward the unknown. Of Saints and Sirens features choral gems that celebrate the spirit within us all, alongside songs that entice, enchant, and stir the imagination.
Saturday, May 22
Join us for the Idaho premiere of Canadian composer Carmen Braden’s multi movement work Where Waters Meet. Commissioned by the Canadian Chamber Choir, this powerful work explores our relationship with water and our shared responsibility to care for this life giving resource. Drawing from both non Indigenous and Indigenous perspectives, it features texts by Braden and Indigenous poet Yolanda Bonnell. As the composer writes, “At the places where waters meet, there is turbulence. There is a mixing, sometimes a muddying, maybe the waters get rough. And then the two waters move on together.”Critical Mass [noun]
- The minimum amount orequired to start or maintain a venture.
- A name that reflects a collective of Idaho singers coming together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
CMVA brings together a diverse group of highly trained singers from across the Treasure Valley, including professional performers, educators, and experienced community vocalists. The ensemble is known for its precision, versatility, and commitment to thoughtful, engaging programming.
Auditions
Interested in joining CMVA? Contact Artistic Director Dr. Michael Porter at michael@operaidaho.org.
Prepare one solo selection (a pianist will be provided), along with a brief sight-reading and tonal memory exercise. Additional materials will be shared once your audition is scheduled.
History
Critical Mass began in the mid-1990s as a vision shared by Dr. Giselle Wyers and Dr. Christopher Raynes to create a chamber choir dedicated to choral excellence in the Treasure Valley. Under the direction of Dr. Bruce Browne and Dr. Raynes, the ensemble quickly established itself by performing challenging and inspiring works from the choral canon.
In 2012, Dr. C. Michael Porter joined as co-artistic director, expanding both the ensemble’s roster and its performance schedule. CMVA became a consistent and recognized presence in the regional arts community, earning multiple acknowledgments from the Idaho chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
In 2017, Opera Idaho brought the ensemble under its organizational umbrella, creating a partnership that aligned artistic vision and expanded opportunities. With this transition, the group was rebranded as Critical Mass Vocal Artists (CMVA).
Since then, CMVA has continued to grow, receiving an Honorable Mention in the 2022 American Prize for Professional Choruses and appearing regularly at ACDA conferences and Boise Music Week. Notable performances include the Idaho premiere of Considering Matthew Shepard, as well as works such as Bach’s Mass in B minor, Bernstein’s Mass, and Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil.