Critical Mass Vocal Artists
First Presbyterian Church
General Admission SeatingRenewal
Saturday, April 18, 2026 • 7:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church
Join CMVA as we celebrate Renewal, Rebirth, New Beginnings, and all that Spring inspires. Performing works by the celebrated American composers Samuel Barber (“Reincarnations”), Rena Esmail (“when the violin”), Caroline Shaw (“and the swallow”), and many other springtime favorites.
Night and Day
Saturday, May 23, 2026 • 7:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church
Critical Mass Vocal Artists (CMVA)
An elite chamber ensemble bringing together experienced singers and choral educators from across the Treasure Valley.
Under the direction of Dr. C. Michael Porter, CMVA delivers performances of precision and expressive depth, engaging audiences with a dynamic repertoire that spans classical to contemporary works, including inventive arrangements of unexpected favorites.
Through performance and educational outreach, CMVA enriches the community while setting a high standard for choral artistry in Southern Idaho.
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.