Choirs

University Chorale
One of eight choral ensembles at Michigan State University, the University Chorale is the university's premiere choral ensemble, comprised of the best graduate and upper-level undergraduate singers in the College of Music. Under the baton of David Rayl, the Chorale sang for the 2007 American Choral Directors Association National Conference, 2006 ACDA Central Division Conference, the 2002 National Meeting of the College Music Society, and on the Tuesday Matinee Series at New York’s Merkin Concert Hall in 2015. The Chorale has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in performances of Handel’s Messiah (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015), Bach's Mass in B-Minor (2001), Mozart’s Requiem (2003) and Holst’s The Planets (2013).

Under the baton of Charles K. Smith, the Chorale appeared at the ACDA National Conferences of 1983 and 1989, at Lincoln Center for  the Mozart Bicentennial Masses-In-Concert Series in 1992 and at Chicago's Orchestra Hall, for the CBS Radio Network's Cavalcade of Christmas Music, and at the Eisteddfod (Wales) International Choral Festival. 

To hear performances of the University Chorale, please click here.

State Singers
The MSU State Singers, an auditioned undergraduate ensemble, includes music majors and some talented non-music majors. This choir enjoys a proud heritage and is recognized as the oldest singing organization on campus. The State Singers ensemble appears in concert throughout Michigan, frequently joining the University Chorale and University Symphony for major works and convention appearances.

Women's Chamber Ensemble

Women’s Chamber Ensemble is an auditioned ensemble singing treble repertoire both historical and contemporary.  The ensemble has appeared at national (2009), regional (2007), and state conferences of the American Choral Director’s Association.  WCE performs regularly on campus and in the community and supports in particular projects related to women’s advocacy.  Members of the ensemble are majors in music as well those seeking degree programs across campus and include undergraduate and graduate students.   Commissioning projects feature premiere works by American composers and poets.

 

Women's Glee Club
Women’s Glee Club is a performing ensemble of treble voices consisting primarily of non-music majors and performing several times throughout the academic year. Performing a vast array of music—from Renaissance through contemporary—the Women’s Glee Club participates in in-state festivals and often collaborates with ensembles from other universities. This ensemble is open without audition to all treble singers on the MSU campus.

The Singing Statesmen
The MSU Singing Statesmen (formerly Men’s Glee Club) brings together singers from across campus to sing outstanding repertoire for the TTBB ensemble.  SS has been featured performers at conferences of the American Choral Director’s Association including national conferences in 1999 and 2001, and the Central Division regional conference in 1998.  Other juried performances include the national conference of the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses.  The ensemble has regularly toured Europe to include Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, Netherlands, and the UK. 

Campus Choir
The Campus Choir is a popular 50-member mixed ensemble of singers from across the university. It performs a wide variety of musical styles from throughout history and around the world. Open to all students at MSU without audition, the Campus Choir performs twice a semester and often collaborates with musicians at the College of Music.

Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir is composed of approximately 20-24 singers selected by the conductor (a graduate student in choral conducting) for their vocal and sight-reading abilities. The group studies and performs music from a range of stylistic periods generally not suited for the larger choral ensemble. This ensemble meets only one hour per week and is not available for academic credit.

Choral Union
The Choral Union, a large mixed chorus of 125 voices, is designed to bring the campus and community together in a joint musical effort. Repertoire focuses on the major choral and orchestral works, performed with both the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and the MSU Symphony Orchestra. Recent master works include Bruckner Te Deum, Schubert Mass in G, Mahler Symphony No. 2, Brahms Requiem, Handel Messiah, Mozart Requiem, Verdi Requiem, Orff Carmina Burana, Bach St. John Passion, and Beethoven Symphony No. 9.

Membership is open to adults and high school and college students and consists primarily of mid-Michigan residents and MSU students. Community members pay a participation fee each semester. MSU students may register as a community member or for academic credit. Previous choral singing experience is desired but not required. To register for Choral Union as a community member, please visit the MSU Community Music School's website. For information about the MSU Choral Society, please click here.

For Spring 2020 choral ensemble audition information, please email rayld@msu.edu.