Choral Ensembles

Choral Ensembles

UT choral ensembles offer singers a vibrant environment in which to create music, develop their personal artistry, and participate in the undeniable power of voices joined together in song. Led by a team of five dedicated choral faculty members, choral students perform a rich variety of choral literature spanning many epochs, countries of origin, and cultural backgrounds. Choir vols also benefit from developing lasting friendships with other choral students.

All students, regardless of major, are welcome to join one or more of the University’s choirs: Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Men’s Chorale, Women’s Chorale, Gospel Choir, or UT Singers. Choir membership per semester offers one hour of undergraduate or graduate credit. Additionally, participation in Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Men’s Chorale, or Women’s Chorale satisfies the Applied Arts and Humanities courses in Vol Core general education requirements for undergraduate students.

When you sing in choir at UT, you’ll find yourself performing music from across many centuries, in different languages, and in a variety of styles. Choral singing at UT parallels the rest of your experience here: new ideas, new friends, and new understandings. Sign up for a choral hearing today and find your choral home at UT!

Choral Studies

For students interested in being choral conductors, the College of Music offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs that lead to this career goal. The graduate choral conducting program features a wealth of conducting experiences in a variety of choral settings and an academic preparation that leads to successful careers in choral music. The curriculum focuses on literature, style, rehearsal techniques, score reading, and problem solving for each level of choir, and is designed to provide the student a thorough knowledge of the choral repertoire. Graduates of the College of Music hold choral positions throughout the world in professional choral ensembles, public and private schools, churches, community choirs, and colleges and universities.

Degree Programs Leading to Careers as a Choral Conductor
- Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Music Education
- Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Sacred Music
- Master of Music, Concentration in Choral Conducting
- Master of Music, Concentration in Music Education

College of Music Programs

How to Join Us!

Calendar of Events

Financial Aid

Ensembles

Chamber Singers

Chamber Singers is a select auditioned choir of singers that performs a variety of music from all periods. In addition to regular concerts on the UT campus, the Chamber Singers have performed all over the world. Off-campus appearances have included concerts for community arts groups, State and Division Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, and concerts for Christmas at Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. Most recently, the Chamber Singers complete a Cathedral Residency in Ireland and Northern Ireland, where they sang in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin and Downpatrick Cathedral, Northern Ireland. They have toured also Russia where they shared concerts with the choirs from both the St. Petersburg and Moscow Conservatories. In addition, the Chamber Singers, along with other UT choirs, has been the Chorus-in-Residence for the International Cathedral Music Festival at Oxford University in Oxford, England.

Course Information:

MUEN 330/530

Tuesday/Thursday 2:30-3:45 PM

Concert Choir

Concert Choir is an auditioned, large mixed-voice ensemble whose members represent a variety of academic disciplines, and includes both undergraduate and graduate student membership. The repertoire this choir performs includes music from all eras and encompasses a variety of different styles, regions of origin, and composer perspectives. In addition to performing concerts on the UT campus, the Concert Choir has performed at numerous conventions, with the UT Orchestra, and with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Course Information:

MUEN 380/580

Monday/Wednesday 12:40-2:40 PM

Men’s Chorale

Men’s Chorale is dedicated to building a brotherhood within the choral tradition and to performing a wide variety of music written specifically for male voices. Membership in this ensemble is open to all students at the University. In addition to regularly scheduled on campus concerts, the Men’s Chorale occasionally joins with other UT choirs to perform major works of the choral repertoire.

Course Information:

MUEN 383/583

Tuesday/Thursday 4:05-5:20 PM

Women’s Chorale

Women’s Chorale is an ensemble that performs a wide variety of music written specifically for treble voices. This group, whose membership is drawn from throughout the University, performs both on and off campus. Periodically, the Women’s Chorale joins with the Concert Choir for performances with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Course Information:

Women’s Chorale MUEN 389/589

Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1:50-2:40 PM

Gospel Choir

Gospel Choir was designed with the hope and intention of providing an educational and enriching experience that is engaging for both UT students and the Knoxville community at-large. Students explore, preserve, and honor the rich tradition of gospel music while actively working to effectively sing together as an ensemble. The primary repertoire of the UT Gospel Choir consists of a collective exploration of various forms of gospel music that will provide learners with a broad understanding of gospel music from its traditional forms to contemporary gospel. There are exciting opportunities to perform at local services and events that provide context for the course curriculum.

Auditions: students may be invited to audition for GC after completing a traditional choral hearing or may schedule an audition with Professor Turner directly. You will be asked to perform a portion of a prepared song.

Course Information:

MUEN 315/515

Thursday 7:15-8:30 PM

UT Singers

UT Singers is the oldest vocal ensemble on the UT campus. Its roots date back to the 1950s and, like any great artist, it has evolved its image with the changing times. UT Singers started as a traditional choral ensemble, then changed to a show choir, a jazz choir, and now performs as a mixed-voice, contemporary a cappella group.

Eligibility: Graduate members must have and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Undergraduate members must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7, as well as a minimum 3.0 in music classes for music majors. Scholarships are available for UT Singers.

Auditions: Auditions for the UT Singers occur both semesters, and are offered by invitation from the director, only when there are openings for new personnel. At the audition, you will be asked to perform a prepared song. You will also be asked to vocalize.

Course Information:

MUEN 320

Monday/Wednesday 3:00-5:25 PM

A Cappella Ensembles

Contemporary a cappella ensembles are an exciting part of the UT choral program. Auditions for these ensembles occur at the beginning of each fall semester. To be eligible for membership, interested students must hold concurrent membership in one of the traditional choirs: Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, or Men’s Chorale.

reVOLution

reVOLution, a treble a cappella ensemble, was formed in 2010 and specializes in their signature brand of sassy stylings of contemporary favorites.

VOLume

VOLume, a tenor-bass a cappella ensemble, was formed in 2009 and has brought energy and excitement to the choral program with their unique a cappella stylizing of popular music.