"culture of the highest class"*
–– Sweden

The CCAS choral tradition has long been a precious feature in the great choral landscape of this country, witnessing eras from the Baroque to the Beatles and beyond. It traces its roots as far back as the Thomaskantors at J.S. Bach’s church in Leipzig, Germany. Gustav Schreck was the tenth cantor after Bach at St. Thomas church. Schreck taught F.Melius Christiansen, founder of the St. Olaf Choir and innovator of sensational a capella music in the United States. F. Melius taught his son Paul J. Christiansen, founder of the Concordia Choir who made great strides in the fusion of great choral and visual art and incorporated new musical forms being developed. Paul J., with F. Melius, taught his assistant, Randolph “Casey” Jones, who taught many students in the State of Colorado, including his children and his first grandson Robert Jones Gardner, now Principal Conductor of the CCAS. This tradition first appeared on the Denver scene in 1976, presented in more than fifty performances with the Denver Symphony Orchestra. Now, more than 30 years later, with the celebration of Bach's 325th Birthday in 2010, the CCAS carries the torch boldly onward at the magnificent St. John’s Cathedral in central Denver.

The CCAS is a nonprofit organization with a diverse membership of singers of varying experience from the greater Denver area. Its board of directors is elected from among the choir membership and carries on the business of the choir, as the organization has no paid staff. The singers are from all ages and voice classifications. While many music professionals, church and school choir directors and semi-professional singers make up its core, the group is welcoming to singers of all levels of ability.