Overview
At Colorado State University, student singers become exceptional musicians by participating in choral ensembles where they sing core repertoire of choral canon from a range of eras. The ensembles are open to all CSU students, regardless of major; however, an audition is required for select groups.
The entire music faculty encourages student participation in choir; the best musician-singers in the music program sing in the top choirs resulting in a balance of graduate vocal majors and undergraduate music majors throughout.
The CSU choral program is established on a national level through appearances at multiple conferences such as the National Collegiate Choral Organization, the American Choral Directors Association, the Aspen Music Festival, the Steamboat Springs Strings Festival, and the Colorado Music Educators Association.
The CSU choirs perform locally many times each academic year including traditional choral concerts and large-scale works with the University Symphony Orchestra, as well as at special events such as CSU Founder’s Day at the state capital. Internationally, the choirs have traveled to Asia and Europe on numerous occasions. Additionally, CSU choirs embark on regional recruiting and outreach tours, performing at high schools, churches, and other notable venues.
Study With
Nathan Payant
- Instructor of Music
- Administrative Coordinator of Music Education
- Director of Concert Choir
(970) 491-2346
Events
Spring 2024 Student Recitals / FREE
Flute Studio Recital / FREE
CSU Marching Band Q&A: Webinar #1
Joel Bacon x Soundtracks
Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck
Lecture Recital-"Music, then Film: Julie Giroux's Symphony No. 6: The Blue Marble. A Film Composer's Immersive Experience for Wind Band"
Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck
North American Baroque Trumpet Conference and Competition
Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck
North American Baroque Trumpet Competition Opening Concert: A Baroque Extravaganza / FREE
North American Baroque Trumpet Conference and Competition
Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck
North American Baroque Trumpet Competition Awards Ceremony and Closing Concert: Baroque Trumpet Spectacular! / FREE
The Meaning of Democracy: a moderated panel
Keynote conversation with W. Kamau Bell: Race, culture, and democracy
Indigenous Governance Traditions: Native Nationhood, Sovereignty, and Democracy
Trombone Studio Recital / FREE
Alumni Night Out with the CSU Marching Band
Viewing of The Five States of Colorado
Democracy at CSU Panels
Practicing Democracy Open House and Civic Skill Building Workshops
Screening of Join or Die
Lessons and Legacies of the Civil War for American Democracy
Guest Artist Series: Michelle Kesler, Cello, and Scott Holden, Piano
Jazz Combos Concert
Democracy Expo
Living into a deep democracy: practices for reclaiming citizenship
Closing Keynote with Robert Putnam: the Erosion of American Democracy and the Upswing
Brass Area Chamber Music / FREE
CSU Trombone Choir Concert / FREE
Voice Area Recital / FREE
Wind Symphony Concert: Garden of Dreams
2024 Clarinet Composers Festival: Mangani Mania!
2024 CSU Marching Band Spring Game Extravaganza
Fall 2024 CSU Color Guard Live Auditions
Saxophone Studio Recital / FREE
Virtuoso Series Concert: Faculty Chamber Music
Jazz Ensembles Concert: Guest Artist Jon Gordon, Saxophone
Symphonic Band Concert: Song and Dance Part II
Spring Choir Concert: My Life Flows On in Endless Song
CSU Percussion Ensemble Festival Concert
Fall 2024 CSU Drumline Live Auditions
Double Reed Studio Recital / FREE
String Chamber Music Concert / FREE
Concert Band Concert: Musical Memories / FREE
Graduate String Quartet
Concert Orchestra Concert: Ancient Airs and Echoes / FREE
Piano Studio Recital / FREE
University Symphony Orchestra Concert: Propulsion!
World Percussion Ensemble Concert
CSU Marching Band Q&A: Webinar #2
2024 Summer Voice Intensive
2024 CSU Jazz Summer Workshop
CSU Marching Band Preseason Virtual Q&A
2024 CSU Percussion Camp
2024 Colorado Harp Seminar
2024 Organ Week
2024 CSU Brass Workshop
Concert Version: Bye Bye Birdie
2024 International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A.
CSU Band Day
CSU Alumni Band at 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend
2024 CSU Honor Band Festival
News
The Colorado Music Educators Association clinic conference will take place online for 2021. Information about registering for the annual conference is available at cmeaonline.org. CSU music education graduate student Christina Herman has been selected to present a session titled: Student Perceptions of Online Peer Learning in Preservice Music Teacher Education: Motivation, Social-Emotional Learning, and Classroom Climate […]
In November, Colorado State University vocal students participated in the 2020 West Central Regional Student Auditions for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS); the 58th annual competition for Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas vocalists was held via video submission for 2020. Founded in 1944, NATS is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in […]
Ensembles
Chamber Choir (MU 400)
Under the direction of Dr. James Kim, this top-select ensemble of 24–32 singers perform a variety of a cappella and accompanied repertoire. Objectives include ensemble precision with sensitivity to blending and intonation, demonstrating both healthy vocal production and sophisticated musical knowledge.
The Chamber Choir has been featured at many honor festivals, conventions, and workshops, including the International Sacred Choral Music Festival and Changwon Grand-Prix Choral Festival & Competition in Korea, appearances at National Collegiate Choral Organization conferences for a feature performance conducted by Bach specialist Helmuth Rilling. They've been featured at the ACDA Regional Conference in Denver, Colorado.
- Audition required - open to all CSU students
- Rehearses: M/W/F, 1-2:25 p.m., Runyan Rehearsal Hall, G 122
- Director: Dr. James Kim
Concert Choir (MU 305)
The Concert Choir is an auditioned ensemble of 40-50 undergraduate and graduate students from all degree paths at CSU. Half of the students pursue majors other than music and represent members of top high school choral programs from across the country and multiple all-state ensembles. The Concert Choir performs music from across the spectrum of choral repertoire, including masterworks by major composers from the early Renaissance through the Nineteenth Century, and new repertoire from some of today's top names in choral composition. The Concert Choir has collaborated with prominent composers such as Ola Gjeilo, Joshua Shank, and Paul Carey in recent performances. It frequently combines with the CSU Chamber Choir and Symphony Orchestra to perform such masterworks as The Yellow River Cantata by Xian Xinghai (performed in Mandarin Chinese), Mozart's Requiem and Grand Mass in C Minor, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. The Concert Choir regularly performs in concert on campus and in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado venues.
- Audition required - open to all CSU students
- Rehearses: M/W/F, 2:40-4 p.m., Runyan Rehearsal Hall, G 122
- Director: Dr. Nathan Payant
University Chorus (MU 202)
The University Chorus (MU 202) is open to all CSU students and is the largest and most diverse choir on campus with 100+ singers. Emphasis is placed on the basics of beautiful, healthy vocal technique for the enjoyment of singing. The University Chorus performs a variety of music spanning history, culture, and language, including Renaissance madrigals, classical works, jazz tunes, world music, spirituals, and contemporary pieces.
- No audition required: register and show up
- Rehearses: T/TR, 5:30-7 p.m., Runyan Rehearsal Hall, G 122
- Director: Dr. Seth Pendergast