The Director

Director Matt Deller is the founding director of the Sounds of the Southwest Singers community choir (SSWS) and the Sounds of the Southwest Chorale (SSWC) from Glendale, Arizona. The Sounds of the Southwest Singers, Inc. is a non-profit organization. As a Central Washington University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in communications and music performance, Matt thrives on pursuing his musical path with both the Sounds of the Southwest Singers and the Chorale. He recognizes there is a lot of local talent who need venues to musically express themselves. 

Mr. Deller has worked with many universally known musicians and conductors to perfect his craft. He has been a guest conductor for both choral and orchestral groups and mentored others on numerous occasions. In 2010 Matt made his international conducting debut by conducting in the American Cathedral in Berlin, Germany. During the 2012 Arizona Musicfest season, Matt had the privilege of conducting the orchestra in concert the Overture to Carmen. In 2013 he had the honor of conducting on board the USS Missouri, at Pearl Harbor, HI. Matt has conducted the Mark Hayes Requiem, in September, 2014 in Chula Vista, CA and in October, 2015 in Glendale, AZ in joint concerts with Southwestern College on both occasions.

During our 2014 Rome concert tour Matt was given the esteemed opportunity to conduct a selection with the Continuo Arts Festival Chorus during High Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. He also directed the SSWS in a solo performance at the Church of St. Mary Magiore in Assisi, Italy.

While touring England and France during the summer of 2016 Matt had the great pleasure of conducting the Sounds of the Southwest Singers in addition to other choirs combined to create the American Tapestry Chorus. He conducted during both England performances at the All Saints Church in Dulwich and at Southwork Cathedral, in London.

One of his most emotional conducting moments was conducting the Battle Hymn of the Republic on July 4th at the American Cemetery at Normandy, France.
 
The Sounds of the Southwest Chorale made its debut in 2015, under the umbrella of the Sounds of the Southwest Singers, Inc. The Chorale performs the more traditional music styles, their season runs September through May, rehearsing on Thursdays. The SSWC performed jointly in concert with Southwestern College from Chula Vista, CA in October, 2015 and toured England and France with the SSWS in 2016 as well as traveling to Washington DC in 2017 and Carnegie Hall in 2018.

​In his spare time he participates in mentoring conducting workshop programs from around the country, most notably, New York City and Oberlin, OH. Outside of conducting, Mr. Deller performed for several years as a percussionist in the North Valley Symphony Orchestra and is currently the Music Director of the First Presbyterian Church of Peoria. 

Matt believes music isn't just notes on the page, but one truly experiences music through emotion and feeling from the heart. The Sounds of the Southwest Singers through his direction has brought their own brand of passion to their music. As you watch him conduct you can see and feel the passion he brings to the music. Under his direction what the performer and listener emotionally take from each performance is evident.

To reach Maestro Deller by email: sswsdirector@gmail.com

The Choir

The Sounds of the Southwest Chorale (SSWC) is an all-volunteer choir under the umbrella of the Sounds of the Southwest Inc., and began during the first quarter of 2015. We are for the more traditional choral enthusiasts. The primary focus of the SSWC will be the more traditional classical music styles. The chorale is smaller by design than the original Sounds of the Southwest Singers (SSWS) and our positions are filled through an audition process. The SSWC will stick to a much more classical repertoire of both traditional and contemporary composers. The Chorale season is September through May of the following year, offering two concert series, one in December and one in May. Rehearsals begin September 6, 2018 @ 7:00PM.

The chorale will also have opportunities to perform locally, nationally and internationally. We performed with Southwestern College from Chula Vista, CA in October of 2015 and performed in Carnegie Hall in  2016 and 2018. We plan to return in May, 2020 where director Matt Deller will make his Carnegie Hall conducting debut. We toured Ireland, England and France with the Sounds of the Southwest Singers during July, 2016. In 2017 we traveled to Washington DC for Memorial Day week to participate National Memorial Day Choir Festival, performing at the John F. Kennedy center for the performing arts. During the summer of 2019 we toured the Seattle area and Alaska, performing with Conductor/Composer Joseph Martin and Matt Deller.

We are directed by the Sounds of the Southwest Singers founding director Matt Deller and accompanied by Terry Smith.

We are very excited to offer another choral option to the community. We have that same passion for music we established with the SSWS. It's time to start building new friendships and passing on that passion to a new group. Whether you are part of the Singers or the Chorale or both, there is something for everyone, no matter your level of musicianship.  ​

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Sounds of the Southwest Singers