Choral Ensembles

A Long And Distinguished Tradition of Choral Music

Our mission is to offer everyone an inspiring musical experience in a variety of ways. Our choirs provide the opportunity to prepare diverse literature, enhancing individuals’ ability in singing, listening, and the application of related music skills. All UW-Madison choirs focus on our ability to make great music together, establish meaningful relationships, build community, and advance our treatment of other human beings. Our program boasts several ensembles that differ by size, skill level, and repertoire.

Our choirs are comprised of undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines across campus, and from community members.

If you are passionate about singing, the School of Music has a choir for you.

We invite you to become part of the great choral tradition at UW-Madison. Our choral program provides opportunities for students of all levels of ability to study and perform outstanding choral music from all historical periods and from a variety of cultures.The program holds auditions at the beginning of each semester. We encourage everyone to sign up for audition and have an exciting, challenging, and inspirational experience. For more information about our choirs, contact Director of Choral Activities Dr. Mariana Farah at mariana.farah@wisc.edu.

Ensembles are open by audition to all students at the University, regardless of major. Choral Union is also open to community members and does not require an audition. Whether you are an accomplished singer or someone seeking to develop and refine your vocal abilities, you will find a place in one of our choirs. UW-Madison choirs perform various concerts throughout the school year, and then combine with the Symphony Orchestra for performance of major choral orchestral works at the beautiful Hamel Music Center in downtown Madison.

Concert Choir

Dr. Mariana Farah, conductor
Rehearsal Schedule: Monday 3:30–5:00 PM; Tuesday and Thursday 2:30–4:00 PM

Course Number: Undergraduate 660-50; Graduate 660-578. 1 credit.
Prerequisites: Placement audition.

Description: Concert Choir is the premier choral ensemble in the Mead Witter School of Music. This advanced-level flagship group performs works that span the entire breadth of the choral literary tradition and requires an advanced level of musicianship and ensemble skills from its members. Members of this ensemble will join the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra for performance of major choral orchestral works at the Hamel Music Center.

Advanced Treble Choir

Dr. Mariana Farah, conductor
Rehearsal Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 1:20–2:10 PM

Course Number: 660-52. 1 credit.
Prerequisites: Placement audition.

Description: Advanced Treble Choir is the premier treble choral ensemble in the Mead Witter School of Music. It is a select ensemble of undergraduate singers who specialize in the performance of a wide variety of music for treble voices. Members of the ensemble come from diverse backgrounds, including musicians from the School of Music and academic disciplines campus-wide. Under the direction of Dr. Farah, the ensemble will rehearse and perform a wealth of both historical and contemporary literature for soprano and alto voices. Members of the Advanced Treble Choir may also join the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra for performance of major choral orchestral works at the Hamel Music Center.

Madrigal Singers

Dr. Bruce Gladstone, conductor
Rehearsal Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Course Number: Undergraduate 660-58; Graduate 660-558. 1 credit.
Prerequisites: UW–Madison student. Placement audition.

Rehearsals: Mosse Humanities Building, Room #1351, 455 N. Park St. Madison, WI
Concert(s): Mead Witter Foundation Concert Hall, Hamel Music Center

Description: This advanced-level group sings repertoire for small chamber choruses from the Renaissance to the present. Madrigal Singers has very limited openings each semester and demands a high level of sight reading and independence.

Chorale (Lab Choir)

Dr. Mariana Farah, conductor
Rehearsal Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12:00–1:00 PM

Course Number: Undergraduate 660-56; Graduate 660-577. 1 credit.
Prerequisites: UW–Madison student. Placement audition.

Description: Chorale (Lab Choir): Chorale is an auditioned laboratory ensemble that provides guided conducting opportunities for graduate choral conductors at the Mead Witter School of Music. The mixed ensemble is comprised primarily of graduate and undergraduate students in music and it focuses on helping graduate choral conductors further their skills in rehearsals and performances. Membership will be limited to a few selected students and the choir will not fulfill requirement for major ensemble participation unless approved by Dr. Farah.

Choral Union

Community member registration for spring 2023 is now closed.

Choral Union will be offered in spring 2023. We invite UW–Madison students and community members to join CU for a performance of two choral symphonic works: Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Felix Mendelssohn’s Lauda Sion, Op. 73 in the Hamel Music Center on the UW–Madison campus.

Rehearsals will begin on Monday, February 13, at 7 pm under the leadership of Dr. Mariana Farah, Director of Choral Activities. Rehearsals take place in Room 1351 in the Mosse Humanities building. The performance will take place on Sunday, April 30 at 7:30 pm in the Hamel Music Center, and will feature a collaboration with the UW–Madison soloists and UW–Madison Symphony Orchestra with conductor Oriol Sans.

There is no audition requirement for students or community members who wish to participate. UW–Madison students should contact Dr. Mariana Farah (mariana.farah@wisc.edu) to request a permission code for enrollment in the course.

In accordance with University Policy, Covid-19 vaccinations and testing will not be required and masking is optional for all Choral Union activities.

Our choral department is led by outstanding faculty

It is our mission to offer everyone an inspiring musical experience in a variety of ways. Our choirs provide the opportunity to prepare diverse literature, enhancing individuals’ ability in singing, listening, and the application of related music skills. All UW-Madison choirs focus on our ability to make great music together, establish meaningful relationships, build community, and advance our treatment of other human beings.

Mariana Farah

Director of Choral Activities

Bruce Gladstone

Associate Director of Choral Activities

bgladstone@wisc.edu
608.262.9297
Bio

Graduate Studies

Our graduate choral conducting program is one of America’s most comprehensive programs. Led by Dr. Mariana Farah, director of choral activities, and Dr. Bruce Gladstone, associate director of choral activities, the program combines intense academic and practical studies with extensive podium time.

Our choral conducting students are afforded daily experience in training choirs with one of the university choirs. Select graduate students are given the responsibility to teach their own ensemble as part of their Graduate Assistantship. These GTAs are carefully mentored so that there is immediate feedback with regards to their progress. Our program of studies is crafted to help prepare the UW Madison graduates to become leaders in the musical world.

The Graduate Choral Conducting program at UW-Madison gives preference to applicants with teaching experience, keyboard skills, excellent communication skills, and a deep desire to learn and excel in the field of conducting.

Students and Alumni

See how UW-Madison choral conducting alumni are using creative ways to advance choral music during this challenging time for choral communities around the world.

1. DMA student Kyle Sackett (Vocal Performance) was nominated as an ensemble member with The Crossing for a GRAMMY award in the category of Best Choral Performance.

2. Mike Pfitzer (graduated in 2011 MM in choral conducting)- Director of Choral Studies at SUNY Albany- Leading Drive-In Rehearsals in the time of Covid-19: A Choir Finds a Way to Sing (New York Times)

3. Kimberly Dunn Adams (DMA in choral conducting, graduated in 2011)-Director of Choral Activities at Western Michigan University-sought new ways to approach choral music at WMU in fall 2020: “We’re talking about how we can use choral music to amplify the good work that other organizations do for our community. We’re researching non-profit/charitable organizations and finding connections with our repertoire, where they exist.”

4. Congratulations to spring 2021 choral graduate Michael Johnson on his new appointment as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Ed at Minnesota State University in Moorhead. We are very proud of Michael and are excited for his future professional accomplishments.

Mead Witter School of Music