Chamber Choir
The Bowdoin Chamber Choir is an ensemble that take their talents to audiences all over the world. (Music 2741/2742)
Bowdoin’s Chamber Choir is a group of 30-40 students that performs at least three concerts every semester and goes on tour approximately every three years, most recently to Portugal and Germany. The Chamber Choir performs contemporary, folk, classical, world, and popular music, including the music of Eric Whitacre, Moses Hogan, J.S. Bach, Ola Gjeilo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Beyoncé.
Course Credit
One-half credit per semester toward graduation is earned by participation, and the VPA requirement is met by two semesters in Chamber Choir.
An auditioned group that often sings a cappella, the choir's past performances include Gaelic folksongs sung in Ireland, a Jimi Hendrix festival, over a dozen works by Eric Whitacre, the music of Bartok sung in his native Hungary, songs of Violetta Parra sung in her native Chile, premieres of new American music for the Society of Composers, Messiah with the Portland Symphony, and the moresche of Lassus at an ACDA convention in Boston, for which only two college choirs were accepted out of an auditioned pool of twenty-three. Past guest artists include Shannon Chase, Emily Isaacson, Gary Hines, Robert Russell, Toshi Shimada, Abraham Adzenyah, Joachim Gehrold, Eric Rice, Volker Jänig, and Yarina.
Concerts, Fall 2018
The theme this semester is “Sky Music,” and the repertoire includes Whitacre’s “Cloudburst,” as well as music by Gjeilo, Elder, and Esenwalds; some gospel and folk/pop music; and a song from the recent show Dear Evan Hanson.
Audition Procedures
Auditions for first-year students will occur during orientation week, Sunday, August 28, 2:00-4:00, Gibson Hall 209 (sign up for a time on the first floor of Gibson). Auditions for all students (including first-year students who missed the orientation audition) will occur during the first day of fall classes, Thursday, September 1, 4:00-5:30, Gibson Hall 209. The auditions consist of singing 1) "The Star Spangled Banner" or any other song you would like, 2) scales, 3) long notes with changes in volume, 4) rhythmic reading, and 5) sight singing. An accompanist will be provided.
Rehearsal Schedule
The entire choir meets Monday and Thursday, 4:30-5:30. Sectionals occurs as follows:
- Tenors, Tuesday, 4:30-5:30;
- Basses, Tuesday, 5:00-6:00;
- Sopranos, Wednesday, 4:30-5:30; and
- Altos, Wednesday, 5:00-6:00.
If you have a lab conflict during these times, please contact the director, Robert Greenlee (rgreenle@bowdoin.edu), about your attendance options; it is still possible to sing in Chamber Choir if you have a lab conflict.
Listen
Most concerts are streamed live and archived footage is available at "Bowdoin Talks."