University Chorus

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Course Number: Music 144
Marika Kuzma, director
Kristen Brown, assistant director
Masis Parunyan, administrative assistant
Rehearsal schedule:
Tutti rehearsals: Tuesdays/Thursdays 5-6:30, Hertz Hall stage
Sectionals: one Wednesday session per week either 5-6 or 6-7, Morrison 125

Description and History

The University Chorus is a select ensemble of approximately eighty singers open to all musicians in the campus community: undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, community members. Previous singing experience and some sight reading skills are highly recommended. Acceptance into the chorus is by audition.

Sponsored by the Music Department, the chorus performs literature from the standard choral-orchestral repertoire to contemporary music. Along with concerts on campus under its director Marika Kuzma, the chorus has been invited to perform with the Midsummer Mozart Festival under George Cleve (Beethoven Ninth Symphony), the Oakland-East Bay Symphony under Michael Morgan (Gershwin Porgy & Bess), and with the Berkeley Symphony under Kent Nagano (Vaughan Williams Flos campi). Its concerts have met with enthusiastic audiences and reviews from the local press. "The University Chorus is "very impressive in sonority, quality of tone and expressiveness." (SF Chronicle) Last semester's collaboration with Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra from Venezuela was a resounding success!

The goal of the University Chorus is to provide our singers and our audiences with a stimulating musical experience. In any four-year cycle, singers can expect to perform repertoire in a several languages and from various centuries. Each rehearsal involves a combination of vocal instruction, ensemble training, and musical interpretation. Singers can expect to be challenged and enriched in many ways over the course of each year.

Participation

Membership in the Chorus is open to all musicians in the campus community: undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, community members. Previous singing experience and/or musicianship training is required. Singers may receive University credit for their participation (Music 144, 2 credit hours per semester), but enrollment in the course is not mandatory. Everyone —whether participating for credit or not—must audition. Regular attendance at rehearsals and participation in public performances is required. The University Chorus performs several times per semester at Hertz Hall, including noon concert and evening concerts, as well as on Cal Day.

Audition Information

Singers auditioning for University Chorus and/or Chamber Chorus are expected to bring a song of their choice. You must have a song in mind. You may bring a piece to sing a cappella. You may also bring a pre-recorded accompaniment or bring your own accompanist. After you sing your prepared piece, we will take you through a series of vocalizes to determine your range and a series of exercises to determine your musical ear and musicianship skills. We will evaluate all of your skills as a composite. Sometimes singers with excellent ears and a pleasant voice but less developed sight-reading are accepted. Whatever you level of skill, we will help you find a singing home on campus.

Audition information for all performance opportunities in the Music Department.

Sound Clips

Upcoming Performances

  • Wednesday, February 13, 12pm, Hertz Hall
    Noon Concert Valentines repertoire to include
      Excerpts from Brahms Liebeslieder Op. 52, Beatles song arrangements
  • Sunday, March 17, 6pm, San Francisco Conservatory Concert Hall
    David Conte, September Sun,
  • Saturday, April 20 (Cal Day!), 8pm, Hertz Hall
    Combined concert with the UC Chamber Chorus
    Various a cappella works related to the spring season (Chamber Chorus)
    Francis Poulenc, Gloria (U Chorus) with chamber orchestra and student soloists
  • Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11, 8pm, Hertz Hall
    Concert with UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra
    Beethoven Symphony No. 9

For more information, see our events calendar

Recent Performances

Past performances