History

The Zia Singers originated as a group of voice students, singers, and esteemed voice teacher Marilyn Barnes. Founded in 1993, the first group of women met in Marilyn’s living room to sing just for the love of making music. The choir continued under the direction of Kenneth Knight from 2003 through 2011, when conductor Dr. Karen Marrolli took the baton. After her departure in 2015, Interim director Cora Harms led the women’s chorale ensemble until Aaron Howe was hired in 2016. Following Howe’s innovative artistic direction, the baton was turned over in 2024 to John Tiranno, marking him as the Zia Singers’ sixth Artistic Director.

 

Over the years, the group has grown into a unique hometown performing ensemble comprised of up to and over 60 voices. We currently perform four concerts per year -- in January and in the Spring. Additionally, in January 22, 2026, the Zia Singers will be performing again at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe during the New Mexico legislative session.

 

We performed for the 2025 legislative session showcasing songs from our January 2025 I Have a Dream concert which was dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the enduring spirit of the civil rights movement. The Roundhouse performances are free to the public and are part of our community outreach efforts.

 

The Zia Singers is comprised of a diverse group of women with a wide range of prior musical experience who simply love to sing. We provide women in the Santa Fe area with a choral organization that:

 

• fosters creative expression through singing

• strives for musical excellence through the process of continued learning

• inspires interest in the choral arts through performance

• builds bridges and camaraderie among its members, its audiences, and the public

• fosters creative expression through singing

 

Community Outreach

The Zia Singers often sing at the Roundhouse during the annual legislative session and welcome the public to attend these free concerts. The Zia Singers regularly partner with local organizations and nonprofits whose missions align with our concert themes. On October 24, 2025, we performed for Life Circle Adult Day Care at 1800 Espinacitas Street in Santa Fe. We are adding additional community outreach performance projects in 2026 and can't wait to share our love of singing!

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Singing for the Love of Music

Each January, the Zia Singers present a winter program of traditional and/or contemporary classical choral music. Spring brings a performance of 20th and 21 st-century popular music, typically of a more lighthearted nature. In the spirit of collaboration, The Zia Singers have sung with the Men’s Camerata, Canticum Novum, New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus, and the Rio Rancho Youth Chorus. The Zia Singers regularly hire local professional soloists and instrumentalists to perform with them.

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In 2016, the Zia Singers applied for and were granted 501c3 non-profit status. We are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations!