Wells School of Music

Opera Theatre

West Chester University’s Opera Theatre is an auditioned organization, open to any student. Opera Theatre mounts 2 productions a year, the major production in the Spring and a second reading-type production in the Fall. Previous operas include A Bernstein Celebration and Copland's The Tender Land. Auditions are held at the end of each semester.

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CONCERT CHOIR

The WCU Concert Choir is a select thirty-two voice choir chosen by competitive audition from among the nearly 500 music students in the Wells School of Music. Primarily composed of upper-level voice majors and graduate students, the Concert Choir strives to sing music from the past five centuries in historically accurate, musically detailed, and dynamic performances. The choir regularly performs off campus and past excursions have sent them to California, Florida, the Desert Southwest, throughout the Northeast, and to Europe. Recent performance highlights include John Paine's Mass in D, David Conte's American Triptych, and Bach’s St. John Passion. Their repertoire also includes staged performances of contemporary choral works by Jacob Avshalomov, Hugo Distler, Gian Carlo Menotti, and Leonard Bernstein. Committed to performing new music, the Concert Choir has premiered or sung new and recent works by Jennifer Higdon, David Conte, Robert Maggio, Kurt Erickson, and WCU student and faculty composers.

MASTERSINGERS

The WCU Concert Choir is a select thirty-two voice choir chosen by competitive audition from among the nearly 500 music students in the Wells School of Music. Primarily composed of upper-level voice majors and graduate students, the Concert Choir strives to sing music from the past five centuries in historically accurate, musically detailed, and dynamic performances. The choir regularly performs off campus and past excursions have sent them to California, Florida, the Desert Southwest, throughout the Northeast, and to Europe. Recent performance highlights include John Paine's Mass in D, David Conte's American Triptych, and Bach’s St. John Passion. Their repertoire also includes staged performances of contemporary choral works by Jacob Avshalomov, Hugo Distler, Gian Carlo Menotti, and Leonard Bernstein. Committed to performing new music, the Concert Choir has premiered or sung new and recent works by Jennifer Higdon, David Conte, Robert Maggio, Kurt Erickson, and WCU student and faculty composers.

CANTARI DONNE

Cantari Donne is a select choir for vocally advanced female singers. Comprised mostly of vocal music majors, other talented women chosen by audition also sing in the ensemble. They sing music for women's voices from all eras, from medieval chants to contemporary music, spirituals, and world music. Cantari has also been honored by being chosen to perform for two professional music conferences in 2015 and 2016.

MEN’S CHORUS

Men’s Chorus specializes singing the rich trove of music for men’s voices. The ensemble is comprised largely of music majors who are not majoring in voice, along with a number of talented non-music majors. The repertory for the choir is especially broad, ranging from contemporary music, to selections from the classical repertory, as well as spirituals and folk songs.

WOMEN'S CHORUS

The WCU Women's Chorus is the ensemble with the most varied constituency. Many of the members are music majors who are not majoring in voice, although occasionally voice majors sing in the choir, too. Many of the members are students from the whole University, studying things other than music, but who love to sing and who have participated in ensembles previous to enrolling at West Chester.

VOCAL JAZZ

The Vocal Jazz Ensemble is a small ensemble who performs vocal jazz, often one on a part. The highly select group of singers is chosen not only for their musical skills, but for their ability to sing close harmony and to blend. Most are given solo opportunities in the group, which is accompanied by a jazz trio.

• Ensemble Director: Ryan Kelly
• Number of Members: 8-10
• Audition Requirements: Students must audition through the regular choral auditions, held each Fall during the first two days of classes.

RECITAL CHOIR

Recital Choir is an ensemble of sixteen, including both undergraduates and the master's degree students in choral conducting. The purpose of the choir is to provide a laboratory choir for the graduate conducting students. The choir performs two public performances a year, led by one of the graduate conductors.

• Ensemble Directors: David DeVenney
• Number of Members: 16
• Number of Concerts: 2 per year

CHAMBER CHOIR

Chamber Choir sings repertoire composed for small ensembles, particularly early music, but also including Romantic and later works.

• Ensemble Director: Ryan Kelly
• Number of Members: 8-12
• Audition Requirements: Students must audition through the regular choral auditions, held each Fall during the first two days of classes.