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Choirs at Western

Coordinator of Choral Activities

Conductors

Choirs at Western

The Choral Program at the Don Wright Faculty of Music includes three choral ensembles, course offerings at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, two graduate degree options, and an undergraduate student-led council. The Faculty frequently hosts distinguished guests and touring ensembles that work with students in classroom, rehearsal, and performance settings. Recent guests have included the Canadian Chamber Choir, Sherryl Sewepagaham, musica intima, and Andrew Balfour. The Choral Program is led by Dr. Mark Ramsay, Coordinator of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music Education, and Dr. Tracy Wong, Assistant Professor of Choral Studies.

Choral Ensembles

Choral Program includes three choirs: Chorale, Les Choristes, and Western University Singers. Each choir performs at least four times throughout the academic year and frequently collaborates with guest artists, community organizations and ensembles, and other Faculty ensembles. See all events this year at a glance.

Graduate Program

Students can study choral conducting at the graduate level in the Master of Music (MMus) Performance degree program and the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree program. The application deadline is December 1 and live auditions occur in February. Graduate students in choral conducting receive weekly individual lessons, dedicated podium time with Faculty ensembles, a weekly choral seminar class, and the opportunity to take elective courses from various departments.

Choir Council

The Faculty of Music Choir Council is a student-led team at the undergraduate level that serves to support and represent students participating in the choral program at Western. Students can apply to be a member of the Executive Team, or participate as choir representatives to act as liaisons for the choir they participate in. Additionally, the Choir Council works closely with the choral faculty and creates initiatives throughout the year to expand and support the offerings of the overall choral program. Most recently, the Choir Council created a professional clothing drive to support students at the faculty who may not have the means to purchase performance attire. This year, the Choir Council plans on collaborating with SNATS to host a discussion panel with voice and choral faculty. The Choir Council Executive Team comprises the roles of President, VP Communications, Secretary, Treasurer, and First-Year Representative.

Choral Events in 2024-25

All concerts are approximately 1.5 hours in length unless otherwise noted. Download concert programs

Friday, November 1 | 7:30pm
Paul Davenport Theatre
Choral Kick-off!
Chorale, Les Choristes and Western University Singers present the annual Choral Kick-off! Come hear all three ensembles together in concert as they kick-off the choral season.

Wednesday, December 4 | 7:30pm
Paul Davenport Theatre
Mix and Match
Chorale and Western University Singers end the semester on a high note, combining forces to share music for both mixed and equal-voiced choirs.

Thursday, December 5 | 7:30pm
von Kuster Hall
Out of this World
Les Choristes invites you on a journey through music that explores a variety of human emotions and storytelling, from the hauntingly beautiful to the rhythmically pulsing!

Tuesday, February 11 | 12:30pm (approx. 1 hour duration)
Paul Davenport Theatre
Lunchtime Choral Series featuring Chorale
Take a midday break, unplug, and catch each of our faculty choirs in concert this week.

Wednesday, February 12 | 12:30pm (approx. 1 hour duration)
von Kuster Hall
Lunchtime Choral Series featuring Les Choristes
Take a midday break, unplug, and catch each of our faculty choirs in concert this week.

Thursday, February 13 | 12:30pm (approx. 1 hour duration)
von Kuster Hall
Lunchtime Choral Series featuring Western University Singers
Take a midday break, unplug, and catch each of our faculty choirs in concert this week.

Thursday, April 3 | 7:30pm
von Kuster Hall
Spring Concert
Western University Singers wrap up the choral season with a concert combining new music and choral highlights from the year. The concert will also feature smaller chamber choirs from within the larger choir.

Friday, April 4 | 7:30pm
Paul Davenport Theatre
United in Song
Chorale and Les Choristes unite one last time this choral season to celebrate a year of music-making where they share new works as well as reprise favorite pieces, as voted by the singers.