Choirs

ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Choirs

2025 National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) programÌý

Welcome to choirs at the University of Colorado BoulderÌýCollege of Music! Our choral ensembles perform works from all style periods as well as works by underrepresented composers.

ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ choral activities, founded in 1938 by Warner Imig, was the first formal area of study in the College of Music. The department continues to mentor great students from across the university while preparing and performing everything from new works to jazz to traditional masterworks through regular collaborations with the ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Wind Symphony, the ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Symphony and the Boulder Philharmonic.

Choral participation is open to everyone (regardless of your major) as well as community members! Please take time to review the following information about the new audition process and check out theÌýaudition signup pages for additional info.

Choir on stage at Macky auditorium
Choir on stage at Macky auditorium
Close-up of two singers on stage at Macky Auditorium
Vocal soloist on stage with choir at Macky Auditorium
Choirs
Choirs

Ensembles

Chamber Singers

ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Chamber Singers
Coreen Duffy, conductor + director of choral activities

ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Chamber Singers fall 2025 callbacks packet

Members of the ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Chamber Singers—the university’s premiere choral ensemble—comprise graduate students in music, undergraduate music majors, graduate students from other disciplines and, occasionally, undergraduate non-music majors who are very experienced choral singers and sight-readers.

Rehearsals: Tuesday + Thursday, 12:30-2 p.m.

Audition info

  • ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Chamber Singers auditions will ONLY take place on Tuesday, Aug. 19 + Wednesday, Aug. 20.
  • For your audition, please prepare a vocal solo (e.g. art song, aria) which demonstrates the strengths and true nature of your voice. Please bring sheet music for the pianist.
  • Requirements: Previous choral singing experience; excellent sight-reading skills; the ability to move at a fast pace in rehearsal and learn quickly; a willingness to learn music outside of rehearsal.

If you are a returning student and auditioned for Chamber Singers this past spring, you do not need to do another 1:1 audition and will receive callback information via email.

EMUS 1217/3217/5217

ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ University Choir
Elizabeth Swanson, conductor + associate director of choral activities

The ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ University Choir is the advanced undergraduate choir at ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ, with some graduate student singer participation. Members of the University Choir tend to be very experienced choral singers and include undergraduate students majoring in music as well as undergraduate students from other disciplines who have experience with singing in choir.

Rehearsals: Mondays, Wednesdays + Fridays, 12:20-1:35 p.m.

Audition info

  • ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ University Choir auditions will ONLY take place on Tuesday, Aug. 19 + Wednesday, Aug. 20.
  • For your audition, it is ideal that you prepare a vocal solo (e.g. art song, aria, folk song) that demonstrates the strengths and true nature of your voice. Please bring sheet music for the pianist.
  • Requirements: Previous choral experience; experience with sight-reading; the ability to move at a faster pace in rehearsal; a willingness to learn music and use practice tools/resources (provided by the conductor) outside of rehearsal.

EMUS 1227/3227/5227

ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ °Õ°ù±ð²ú±ô±ðÌý°ä³ó´Ç°ù³Ü²õ
Elizabeth Swanson, conductor + associate director of choral activities

The ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Treble Chorus is a semi-advanced undergraduate choir that includes many experienced as well as some less-experienced choral singers. Members of this ensemble tend to be undergraduate students from non-musical disciplines as well as students who are majoring in music.

Rehearsals: Mondays + Wednesdays, 2:15-3:25 p.m.

Audition info

  • The ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Treble Chorus auditions will take place on all available days (Aug. 19-21); there are no callbacks.
  • For your audition, it is ideal that you prepare a vocal solo (e.g. art song, aria, folk song) but this is not required. You may otherwise decide to sing one verse of a well-known song, such as Amazing Grace or another song of your choosing. (If you have prepared a vocal solo, please bring music for the pianist.)
  • Desired qualifications: Previous choral singing experience; some experience with sight-reading; a willingness to learn music and use practice tools/resources (provided by the conductor) outside of rehearsal.

Note: Follow the above choral audition link to sign up for an audition time with the choral faculty.

EMUS 1237/3237Ìý

ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Festival Chorus
Conductors: Doctoral + master's student conductors with Faculty Advisor Coreen Duffy

The ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Festival Chorus includes singers of all experience levels. Festival Chorus members tend to be undergraduate and graduate students who are not majoring in music as well as Boulder community members who love to sing.

Rehearsals: Mondays, 7-9 p.m.

Audition info

  • Festival Chorus auditions will take place on all available days and there are no callbacks.
  • Community members (those who are not enrolled at ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ) are asked to audition on Monday, Aug. 25 between 5-6:30 p.m., just before the first rehearsal of the semester. A separate signup for community member auditions will be posted on the ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Choirs webpage by mid-August.
  • For your audition, you do not need to prepare a solo but will be asked to sing one verse of a well-known song, such as Amazing Grace or another song of your choosing. (If you have prepared a vocal solo, please bring music for the pianist.)
  • Desired qualifications: Previous choral singing experience; some experience with sight-reading; a willingness to learn music and use practice tools/resources (provided by the conductor) outside of rehearsal.

EMUS 1207/3207

Contact

Coreen Duffy
Associate Professor of Conducting
Director, Choral Activities
coreen.duffy@colorado.edu
Ìý

Are you a non-music major?

Learn about our Music Minor

Upcoming choral events