School of Fine and Performing Arts

Choirs

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As a major component of a balanced curriculum of music performance, applied music, music history, music theory, and music education, the School of Fine and Performing Arts offers a wide range of performing ensembles. These ensembles are open to ALL students at the university, regardless of major, and, in some cases, to community members.

For further information on auditions for these choirs, please contact the appropriate director or email choirs@wright.edu.

Auditions

Auditions for the Fall 2023 semester will take place on August 25, 28-30 in CAC 085C. Sign up for a time.

Choir auditions are open to ALL students at Wright State University, regardless of your major. We want you to sing with us! To schedule an audition for any WSU choirs, email choirs@wright.edu or the appropriate ensemble conductor. All audition dates are advertised via our social media platforms @wrightstatechoirs.

  • Collegiate Choral auditions are held at end of the Spring semester and the choir is set for before the new academic year. You are welcome to email Dr. Nagir if you miss or have conflicts with the audition dates.
  • University Singers auditions are held at the beginning of each semester.
  • Alankaar auditions are held during the first month of each semester.

Collegiate Chorale

Collegiate Chorale is the premier choral ensemble at Wright State University and is mostly comprised of majors within the School of Fine and Performing Arts, but all WSU students are invited to audition. Collegiate Chorale meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 12:20-1:50 p.m. Touring annually, the Chorale has sung throughout the United States and Europe, including Austria, the Czech Republic, England, Germany, and the Netherlands, including such venues as Salzburg Cathedral, St. Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Washington National Cathedral, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. Most recently, the Chorale toured Italy, performing an a cappella program spanning six centuries in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, and other great venues in Rome and Florence.

The Collegiate Chorale includes undergraduate singers representing many majors, including music, the humanities, social sciences, liberal arts, engineering, business, education, and medicine. The ensemble performs music selected from a wide variety of styles and genres, spanning the early Renaissance to the 21st century, including music taken from the worlds of folk music and popular entertainment.

The Collegiate Chorale has been featured with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra to critical acclaim on numerous occasions, performing works such as Britten’s War Requiem, Stravinsky’s Mass, Orff’s Carmina Burana, the Bernstein Mass, and numerous Bach motets and cantatas. The choir has also appeared with or performed for numerous notable artists, including most recently Maestro Keith Lockhart and composer Stephen Schwartz.

Conductor: Nathan Nagir, D.M.A., Director of Choral Studies 
Course Number: MUE 2990/4990/6990 
Meets: MWF 12:20-1:50 p.m.  
Room: CAC M180 (Choir Room) 


University Singers

University Singers is the second auditioned mixed-ensemble open to students of all majors at Wright State University. Auditions are held in August, a few days before classes begin and during the first week of classes in both the Fall and Spring semesters. The literature performed ranges from the Renaissance to 21st century and is not without pop, musical theatre/Broadway, gospel, spirituals, jazz, show-choir, a cappella and multicultural music. University Singers occasionally combines with Collegiate Chorale and once a year with all the choirs to form the Rowdy Raider Grand Chorus for the annual Holiday Concert. 

Conductor: Nathan Nagir, D.M.A.
Course Number: N/A
Meets: MWF 3:35-4:30 p.m.  
Room: CAC M180 (Choir Room)


Treble Chorus

Treble Chorus, formerly Women's Chorale, is a non-auditioned ensemble of treble voices. The ensemble performs significant choral music selected from a wide variety of historical, compositional, and cultural traditions. The chorus performs at numerous concerts and events, both on and off campus, throughout the year. Each year, the group is one of five choral ensembles featured in Wright State’s annual Holiday concert.

This group's performances have included composer collaborations, world premieres, hosting choirs from around the world, combined concerts with other campus ensembles, recording sessions, and convention appearances. Major works performed by the ensemble—alone or in collaboration—include Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Fauré's Messe Basse, Thompson’s Frostiana, and Haydn’s Mass in D Minor ("Lord Nelson Mass").

All are welcome to sing with the Treble Chorus!

Conductor: Ginger Minneman, B.M. 
Course Number: MUE 2940/4940/6940
Meets: TTh 2:00-3:20 p.m.  
Room: CAC M180 (Choir Room) 


Tenor-Bass Chorus

Tenor-Bass Chorus, formerly Men’s Chorale, is a non-auditioned ensemble of lower voices which provides an opportunity to learn about the art of choral music in a university setting. Members develop musical skills and superior vocal technique through rehearsal and performance of a wide variety of challenging choral literature. The chorus also gives back to the community by motivating young people to participate in vocal activities and encouraging all persons who identify with a low vocal register to embrace a positive image of collegiate singing through performances and workshops. 

The Tenor-Bass Chorus has performed for many schools, churches, retirement homes, and various civic functions, and the group has been regionally televised. The chorus also performed in the state and regional Music Education Conference and often joins forces with other Wright State ensembles to perform masterworks. Other venues have included basketball games, graduation ceremonies, homecoming festivities, and tours. 

Much of the Tenor-Bass chorus appeal to the public results from the wide variety of both secular and sacred choral music representing all major style and periods, lively folk song arrangements, entertaining selections from opera, operetta, musical theater, and movies, as well as popular tunes. 

All are welcome to sing with the Tenor-Bass Chorus! 

Conductor: Nathan Nagir, D.M.A.
Course Number: MUE 2930/4930/6930 
Meets: TTh 2:00-3:20 p.m.  
Room: CAC M104


Alankaar

Alankaar is Wright State University's first Indian music choir, co-founded and directed by Dr. Nathan Nagir and graduate student, Nainika Hira. The choir focuses on Indian Classical Music (Hindustani and Carnatic), Bollywood, and Indian Folk Music. Alankaar’s aim is to increase the representation of Indian Music through training, performance, and community support to help everyone experience the gift of a home away from home. Connect via their Instagram page @wrightstate_alankaar for more information. 

Directors: Nathan Nagir, D.M.A. and Nainika Hira
Course Number: N/A
Meets: W 5:00-7:00 p.m. 
Room: CAC M104


Rowdy Raider Grand Chorus

The Rowdy Raider Grand Chorus consists of singers from Collegiate Chorale, Tenor-Bass Chorus, Treble Chorus, University Singers, WSU Alumni, and community members. In collaboration with the WSU Bands and Orchestras, Grand Chorus performs for the annual Holiday Concerts and for major choral works.

In the Fall of 2023, Grand Chorus will perform Gabriel Fauré Requiem in D minor, Op. 48.  

Conductor: Nathan Nagir, D.M.A., Director of Choral Studies 
Course Number: N/A
Meets: Once or twice throughout the year 


Wright State Choral Festival

The Wright State Choral Festival, formerly known as the Mad River Vocal Arts Festival, is held annually in the Fall Semester and is hosted by the Choral Program at Wright State University. The festival is open to all high school students who enjoy singing in a choral setting and those in particular who are wanting to experience music at the college level. Teachers are encouraged to send as many students as possible, despite their sight-reading abilities. Also included are opportunities and sessions on the festival's final day for Professional Development. More information about registration can be found on the Wright State Choral Festival website or by emailing choirs@wright.edu.


Choral Faculty

 


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