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
All-Choral Holiday Concert: Featuring Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and University Chorus
News
CSU faculty members continue to extend their influence and vision across the region – and the world. Dr. James Kim, CSU Director of Choral Studies, has launched the Colorado Bach Ensemble, a group featuring professional singers and instrumentalists from across North America. The Colorado Bach Ensemble will perform their inaugural concerts in June with performances of […]
Imagine rehearsing J.S. Bach’s “B Minor Mass” for six hours a day, hopping on a five- city tour of Italy, and then flying to Colorado for a one week Chamber Choir tour. Tired? This is a day in the life of Gene Stenger, tenor and graduate student studying vocal performance at Colorado State University. 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