The Choir

Solvay Ensemble was founded in 2007 as the Solvay Ensemble Chamber Choir, bringing together a group of musicians and experienced choristers with a shared goal: to explore, learn, grow and share the richness of choral music. Today, it is an established mixed-voice polyphonic choir and one of Cantabria's leading choral ensembles

Originally formed by around twenty singers from across Cantabria, the choir officially adopted the name Solvay Ensemble in 2015 following a significant increase in membership.

Today, the ensemble demonstrates remarkable versatility, performing regularly a cappella, with piano and organ accompaniment, and occasionally in collaboration with chamber orchestras and other instrumental groups. The choir is available for concerts, festivals, and all types of civil and religious ceremonies.

Participatory Projects and Special Productions

The choir is distinguished by its strong commitment to participation and collaboration, embracing projects that bring innovative and distinctive approaches to choral singing. Highlights include its involvement in the production of Dreams2, performed in Madrid and Santander, and its participation in a large-scale performance of Handel's Messiah at the Palace of Festivals of Cantabria, alongside more than 200 singers and orchestra.

Solvay Ensemble takes particular pride in presenting a specially curated production every two years, premiered as part of the Polanco International Choral Series. In addition to featuring its resident pianist and organist, these productions incorporate instruments such as string quartet, guitar and saxophone, combining music with other artistic disciplines including poetry, dance and lighting design.

Under this format, the choir has presented Virginem (2022), In Paradisum (2024), and its upcoming project for November 2026, Three Paths to the Light, which will incorporate live painting.

Federico Ceballos Memorial

In 2014, the choir created the Memorial Federico Ceballos, a highly relevant event within the choral world of Cantabria that pays tribute to this well-known figure. Every year, at the beginning of December, the memorial performs the Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez (according to the harmonisation by Federico Ceballos himself) in an innovative and participatory concert open to choristers from other groups, which incorporates Andean instruments and features the collaboration of Argentine folklorist Pablo Mezzelani. This event has already reached ten editions, having only been suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Festivals and Tours

The group maintains an active presence on the main stages of Cantabria and the rest of Spain:

• In Cantabria: The choir collaborates in the organisation of the Polanco International Choral Series and regularly takes part in the Laredo Spring Music Festival, the Astillero International Music Festival, the Reocín Choral Music Series, the Santander Choral Festival, the Maliaño Choral Series, the Herrera de Camargo Music Festival, the Musical Trails Festival, and the Arturo Dúo Vital Tribute Series in Castro Urdiales. It has also participated in the Religious Choral Music Festivals of Torrelavega and Los Corrales de Buelna, the Bezana Choral Series, the Comillas Choral Gathering, the Coralia Festival in Suances (2025), and the ORIGEN – Culture Strikes Back series (held annually since 2021).
  A particular highlight was the performance in Comillas of O Magnum Mysterium by Tomás Luis de Victoria, together with a wind quartet.
  
  
• Outside Cantabria: The choir has performed at the Carmelo Alonso Bernaola Music Festival (Medina de Pomar), the Arandino Polyphonic Autumn Festival (Aranda de Duero), the León Choral Festival, the Irache Monastery Choral Series (Navarre), the Hispanic Day celebrations at Seville Cathedral, the churches of Santa María Magdalena (Salamanca) and San Millán (Segovia), the Ars Viva Sacred Music Festival (Bilbao), as well as at Palencia Cathedral (2023), Lugo Cathedral (2024), and the Church of Santiago el Mayor in Logroño (2025).

Points of Interest: The Lebaniego Holy Year

In March 2017, as part of the Lebaniego Holy Year celebrations, the choir recorded the CD Our Glory, Lord, Is Your Cross: Liturgical Choir of Lebaniego, composed by Juan Jáuregui Castelo.

In September of the same year, the choir took part in the liturgy at the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana in a Mass broadcast nationwide on RTVE La 2. It also participated in the Closing Mass of the Jubilee Year in April 2018.