SACRA/PROFANA is Latin for "Sacred/Profane". Despite my aversion to the glut of vocal ensembles with obscure Latin names, I nevertheless decided on this as a fitting embodiment of what this vocal ensemble strives to be. The word "profane" can be interpreted in a variety of ways, and thus has an edgy ambiguity to it. It is often understood to mean "vulgar", or even "blasphemous"; this is in keeping with our unorthodox vision for the ensemble. Yet "profane" can also act merely as a synonym for "secular", describing that which is unconsecrated, or non-sacred. In this sense, there is a nice symmetry to the name SACRA/PROFANA, in that it balances two important elements which are at the core of the ensemble's mission: the sense of belonging to the secular world, and being relevant in it, while at the same time striving to transport the listener to a higher spiritual plane.