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2022 ACDA Western Region Conference

P e r f
Performing Choirsorming Choirs

Sacra/Profana San José State University
Choraliers

The San José State University Choraliers have been
Sacra/Profana is a San Diego-based professional considered one of America’s preeminent chamber choirs
chamber choir founded in 2009 by visionary conductor for the past 40 years. Currently under the direction of
Krishan Oberoi and known for their eclectic and adven- Jeffrey Benson, the SJSU Choraliers have most recent-

turous programing. The ensemble has given numerous ly performed with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, The
world, national, and regional premieres by composers Rolling Stones, Josh Groban, Dionne Warwick, Andrea
such as David Lang, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Saunder Bocelli, and the Skywalker Orchestra. In the heart of

Choi, Brandon Waddles, Stephen Feigenbaum, and Silicon Valley, the SJSU Choraliers give four major con-
Sarah Rimkus. Sacra/Profana also provided the voices certs a year in addition to their annual tours throughout
for the world premiere live performance of Michael Gi- the state of California. The SJSU Choraliers won the
acchino’s score for Star Trek: Beyond with the San Diego prestigious “Choir of the World” title at the 1991 Inter-
Symphony, and the development of Alan Menken and national Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales.
Stephen Schwartz stage production of The Hunchback of
Notre Dame with Disney Theatrical and the La Jolla Play- Jeff rey Benson is director of choral ac-
house. tivities at San José State University in San
José, California. The Washington Post hails
Juan Carlos Acosta has served as the prin- his choirs for singing “with an exquisite
cipal conductor of Sacra/Profana since blend, subtlety of phrasing, confi dent mu-
2016 and has led the ensemble to critical- sicianship and fully supported tone.” Benson made his
ly acclaimed and award-winning perfor- international conducting debut with the Irish Chamber
mances in a broad array of choral reper- Orchestra and the SJSU Choraliers in Limerick, Ire-
toire. Acosta holds a BME and an MM from San Diego land, and made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in
State University. In addition to his work with Sacra/ 2015. Benson received his MM and PhD from the Flori-
Profana, he also serves as the director of music minis- da State University and his bachelor’s from NYU.
tries at the Village Community Presbyterian Church in
Rancho Santa Fe, and the director of the choral scholars
of the University of San Diego.

128 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2022 Volume 62 Number 5