About AfterGlow Chorus
A New Kind of Chamber Choir in Oakland, CA
"A 21st-century reinvention of a traditional choir."
— Professional Bay Area vocalist and audience member
AfterGlow Chorus is a vibrant, fun-loving chamber choir made up of experienced, highly skilled singers from a variety of rich musical backgrounds. Characterized as a "21st-century reinvention of a traditional choir," AfterGlow has discarded the slow, rigid constraints of old-school community ensembles. Serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area, our vocalists come from a rich tapestry of musical backgrounds—including singers who trained in premier conservatories, elite vocal ensembles, and standout collegiate choral programs (e.g., The Aeolians) across the country. This select, auditioned group of over 40 singers has come together to produce distinct, fully realized concert seasons at the highest level of musicianship, precision, and artistic quality.
Our ensemble is celebrated for an incredible, lush, unified, and powerful sound that achieves both a dynamic blend and staggering emotional weight. Some of our singers are active, professional musicians and dedicated music educators. Others are accomplished, highly trained vocalists who balance their passion for the choral arts with daytime careers in specialized professions—including lawyers, engineers, teachers, and graduate students. All are enthusiastic in the pursuit of making joyful music together through the unique, transcendent pleasure that only comes with singing in complex harmony.
AfterGlow's mission is to perform beautiful choral works across a vast musical spectrum with the highest level of technical skill and emotional meaning. Our goal is to tap into a shared sense of joy, delivering high-caliber performances that deeply resonate with modern audiences.
Our Repertoire
The AfterGlow Chorus repertoire seamlessly bridges eras and styles, running the gamut from masterfully executed traditional canon to high-energy contemporary tributes. We perform both intricate, virtuosic a cappella works and sweeping accompanied pieces.
Our core repertoire features an eclectic, high-caliber mix of stunning vocal works, categorized across six primary pillars:
African American Spirituals: A foundational cornerstone of the AfterGlow identity. Our programming encompasses the rhythmically intense, virtuosic a cappella arrangements of Moses Hogan and Stacey V. Gibbs, significant historical anthems by William Dawson, and vital Freedom Songs.
Gospel: High-energy, deeply moving choral celebrations featuring seminal gospel anthems like Thomas Whitfield’s soaring arrangement of "I Shall Wear a Crown" and Richard Smallwood’s masterpiece "Total Praise".
Pop, Soul, & R&B Artist Tributes: Fully realized, genre-defying choral explorations celebrating the musical legacies of groundbreakers like Stevie Wonder, Prince, Bill Withers, and Tina Turner, alongside stunning arrangements of modern and timeless hits by Marvin Gaye, Beyoncé, and Selena.
Classical & Choral Masterworks: An expansive selection spanning the European canon to contemporary masterworks—including Johannes Brahms, Anton Bruckner, Antonín Dvořák, and celebrated modern composers like Michael John Trotta. Our programming features intricate selections like Barnaby Smith’s (of Voces8) breathtaking arrangement of the Pie Jesu from Fauré’s Requiem, alongside original works by trailblazers like R. Nathaniel Dett, Randall Thompson ("Alleluia"), Ériks Ešenvalds, and Latin American art music masterminds.
Jazz & Bossa Nova: Sophisticated vocal jazz ensemble arrangements and classics from Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, legendary pieces in the style of Billie Holiday, elite arrangements by Gene Puerling, and lush Latin standards by Antônio Carlos Jobim.
Global Music: A multicultural exploration of world music traditions, featuring reflective, resilient music from diverse international heritages — including South African traditional music, Afro-Cuban chants, and contemporary Ukrainian choral works sung in global solidarity.
Experience Our Sound
Experience our incredible, lush vocal blend firsthand with these live performance videos highlighting our dynamic multi-genre versatility—ranging from the virtuosic, high-energy rhythmic drive of traditional spirituals to dramatic, sweeping contemporary choral masterworks. To explore our full multi-genre performance archive, visit our dedicated videos page.
Join Us
AfterGlow Chorus is proudly based at the historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Oakland, CA, celebrated for its gorgeous architecture and wonderful acoustics. Our concerts routinely perform to enthusiastic, packed houses across the East Bay.
Choral auditions are currently open for experienced, talented singers looking to join an advanced, fully balanced SATB chamber choir in the Bay Area. We respect the active lives of our artists and utilize an accelerated, condensed rehearsal schedule with all sheet music distributed well in advance, allowing rehearsals to focus entirely on artistry and ensemble blend rather than note-learning. Best of all, AfterGlow is a tuition-free ensemble with no singer dues, ensuring that access to high-caliber music-making remains entirely barrier-free for our community of vocalists.
If you are a lifelong "choir kid" who thrives on elite musical standards but loves a welcoming, spirited community—whether your background is in top-tier collegiate choirs, contemporary a cappella groups, or professional ensembles—you will find your musical home here.
Ready to sing with us? Review our audition details and see how to get involved on our Auditions Page.