James Kallembach
University Ensemble Recordings and Concert Programs
These recordings have been compressed as MP3s in order to host them on this site. There are suggested timestamps for longer examples.
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December 2022
Worthy is the Lamb from Messiah – George Frideric Handel
Motet Choir, Rockefeller Chapel Choir, Rockefeller Chapel Orchestra
This recording, for me, demonstrates two things: 1) Years of rehearsing, improving, and re-thinking the annual Messiah performance in order to get the best, most 'stylish' sound with the student avocational singers that we have and 2) the extraordinary commitment and effort we made as an ensemble not only to return from the pandemic, but to return even better than before.
Worthy is the Lamb from Messiah – George Frideric Handel
Motet Choir, Rockefeller Chapel Choir, Rockefeller Chapel Orchestra
This recording, for me, demonstrates two things: 1) Years of rehearsing, improving, and re-thinking the annual Messiah performance in order to get the best, most 'stylish' sound with the student avocational singers that we have and 2) the extraordinary commitment and effort we made as an ensemble not only to return from the pandemic, but to return even better than before.

messiahprogram_december2022.pdf | |
File Size: | 1907 kb |
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May 2022
I Love My Love from Six Cornish Folk Songs – Gustav Holst NB: This recording is masked.
Motet Choir
Returning from the pandemic, we conducted much shorter, masked and distanced rehearsals. This gave us the opportunity to develop more discipline, communication, and planning in regards to learning music outside of rehearsal. It also revealed to us the effectiveness of more frequent, shorter rehearsals. I think the results of this discipline and emphasis on musicianship are reflected both in this recording and the Messiah recording above.
I Love My Love from Six Cornish Folk Songs – Gustav Holst NB: This recording is masked.
Motet Choir
Returning from the pandemic, we conducted much shorter, masked and distanced rehearsals. This gave us the opportunity to develop more discipline, communication, and planning in regards to learning music outside of rehearsal. It also revealed to us the effectiveness of more frequent, shorter rehearsals. I think the results of this discipline and emphasis on musicianship are reflected both in this recording and the Messiah recording above.

choralshowcaseprogram_may2022.pdf | |
File Size: | 1153 kb |
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April 2021
Rise Up My Love – Healey Willan
Kyrie I from Missa Brevis in F – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Members of Motet Choir and Rockefeller Chapel Choir
NB: This is a masked, distanced, in-person singing event we received special permission to hold. It is essentially a rehearsal.
After holding weekly online sessions during the pandemic we received special permission to hold a capped-attendance in-person event where we sang together masked and distanced for fifty minute sessions. We had been rehearsing these works online.
Rise Up My Love – Healey Willan
Kyrie I from Missa Brevis in F – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Members of Motet Choir and Rockefeller Chapel Choir
NB: This is a masked, distanced, in-person singing event we received special permission to hold. It is essentially a rehearsal.
After holding weekly online sessions during the pandemic we received special permission to hold a capped-attendance in-person event where we sang together masked and distanced for fifty minute sessions. We had been rehearsing these works online.
April 2021
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel Easter Service Podcast
Maurice Charles, Dean; Thomas Weisflog, organ; Rockefeller Chapel Choir (virtual recording); Rockefeller Children's Choir (virtual recording)
7:03: Rockefeller Chapel Choir (virtual recording)
26:38: Rockefeller Children's Choir (virtual recording; Kaitlin Foley, director; James Kallembach, audio editor; Bill Rolfing, audio engineer)
In addition to preparing and conducting concerts, a good deal of my focus is on planning music for and assisting in developing and compiling liturgies for weekly worship at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, as well as other sacred and secular ceremonies on campus. During the pandemic, I compiled, programmed and conducted music for the weekly podcast at Rockefeller Chapel. I would then have to communicate several rounds of sound editing decisions which were then executed by Bill Rolfing our sound engineer.
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel Easter Service Podcast
Maurice Charles, Dean; Thomas Weisflog, organ; Rockefeller Chapel Choir (virtual recording); Rockefeller Children's Choir (virtual recording)
7:03: Rockefeller Chapel Choir (virtual recording)
26:38: Rockefeller Children's Choir (virtual recording; Kaitlin Foley, director; James Kallembach, audio editor; Bill Rolfing, audio engineer)
In addition to preparing and conducting concerts, a good deal of my focus is on planning music for and assisting in developing and compiling liturgies for weekly worship at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, as well as other sacred and secular ceremonies on campus. During the pandemic, I compiled, programmed and conducted music for the weekly podcast at Rockefeller Chapel. I would then have to communicate several rounds of sound editing decisions which were then executed by Bill Rolfing our sound engineer.

eastersunday_april2021.pdf | |
File Size: | 176 kb |
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December 2020
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel Lessons and Carols Service
Maurice Charles, Dean; Thomas Weisflog, organ; Brandon Acker, lute; Vocal Artists in Residence (virtual and in-person);
Rockefeller Children's Choir; Cast of children
43:09: Example of lesson and artwork leading into Rockefeller Children's Choir
(virtual recording; Kaitlin Foley, director; James Kallembach, audio editor; Bill Rolfing, audio engineer)
This project was a tremendous undertaking because all elements had to be obtained virtually from children, the choirs, and individual recordings made in Rockefeller Chapel. I then had to edit all of them for sound and visual quality with the audio and video engineers and then compile and edit the actual video. The artwork comes from the children in the choir and from the Art Institute of Chicago (used with permission). We normally have around 1,000 people attend this service and the video, released live on Christmas Eve, was at 900 views or so within a few days.
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel Lessons and Carols Service
Maurice Charles, Dean; Thomas Weisflog, organ; Brandon Acker, lute; Vocal Artists in Residence (virtual and in-person);
Rockefeller Children's Choir; Cast of children
43:09: Example of lesson and artwork leading into Rockefeller Children's Choir
(virtual recording; Kaitlin Foley, director; James Kallembach, audio editor; Bill Rolfing, audio engineer)
This project was a tremendous undertaking because all elements had to be obtained virtually from children, the choirs, and individual recordings made in Rockefeller Chapel. I then had to edit all of them for sound and visual quality with the audio and video engineers and then compile and edit the actual video. The artwork comes from the children in the choir and from the Art Institute of Chicago (used with permission). We normally have around 1,000 people attend this service and the video, released live on Christmas Eve, was at 900 views or so within a few days.
November 2020
Ubi caritas – Maurice Duruflé
Members of all university choirs (virtual recording); Mollie Stone and Bill Rolfing, audio engineering; James Kallembach and Mollie Stone, audio editing
This recording is an example of our virtually compiled recordings with members of all of the university choral ensembles. Although they were common fare for the pandemic, virtual ensemble recordings were extremely time consuming, generally of low quality, and were very unrewarding (and, in my opinion, not very educational) musically speaking Motet Choir and Chapel Choir pivoted to mostly live-streamed performances of individuals and small groups, as well as small, one-per-part virtual projects, which were much more rewarding in terms of music-making and musicality (and, in my opinion, educational value).
Ubi caritas – Maurice Duruflé
Members of all university choirs (virtual recording); Mollie Stone and Bill Rolfing, audio engineering; James Kallembach and Mollie Stone, audio editing
This recording is an example of our virtually compiled recordings with members of all of the university choral ensembles. Although they were common fare for the pandemic, virtual ensemble recordings were extremely time consuming, generally of low quality, and were very unrewarding (and, in my opinion, not very educational) musically speaking Motet Choir and Chapel Choir pivoted to mostly live-streamed performances of individuals and small groups, as well as small, one-per-part virtual projects, which were much more rewarding in terms of music-making and musicality (and, in my opinion, educational value).
February 2019
All Night Vigil (Vespers) – Sergei Rachmaninoff
Rockefeller Chapel Choir
For this concert we were able to collaborate with American basso profundo Glenn Miller who has sung and recorded this piece countless times. His experience greatly shaped and enhanced the concert and especially the experience of the students involved. This is a good example of how avocational student singers singing alongside professional singers offers a richer experience.
All Night Vigil (Vespers) – Sergei Rachmaninoff
Rockefeller Chapel Choir
For this concert we were able to collaborate with American basso profundo Glenn Miller who has sung and recorded this piece countless times. His experience greatly shaped and enhanced the concert and especially the experience of the students involved. This is a good example of how avocational student singers singing alongside professional singers offers a richer experience.

rachvespersprogram_february2019.pdf | |
File Size: | 499 kb |
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April 2018 and February 2015
Oka Aya'sha' – Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate
Trīs dainas, no Mēness un Saule – Katherine Pukinskis
Rockefeller Chapel Choir, Motet Choir, various soloists
Jerod Tate's piece was co-commissioned and premiered at Rockefeller Chapel. It speaks to the vital spiritual place the Mississippi River holds for the Chickasaw Nation. I have premiered or prepared for premiere no fewer than three of Katherine Pukinskis's works. During her time here as a doctoral student and afterwards we collaborated to produce these works. Although this work was commissioned by a community chorus that I directed, this performance is by Motet Choir and Rockefeller Chapel Choir.
Oka Aya'sha' – Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate
Trīs dainas, no Mēness un Saule – Katherine Pukinskis
Rockefeller Chapel Choir, Motet Choir, various soloists
Jerod Tate's piece was co-commissioned and premiered at Rockefeller Chapel. It speaks to the vital spiritual place the Mississippi River holds for the Chickasaw Nation. I have premiered or prepared for premiere no fewer than three of Katherine Pukinskis's works. During her time here as a doctoral student and afterwards we collaborated to produce these works. Although this work was commissioned by a community chorus that I directed, this performance is by Motet Choir and Rockefeller Chapel Choir.

sacredpowersofwater_february2015.pdf | |
File Size: | 7225 kb |
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