Choral and Vocal Events
Concert Choir's Summer Performance Tours
The WWU Concert Choir regularly performs internationally; past summer concert tours have taken us to France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, In June 2009, the choir had the opportunity to travel to South America we they sang to highly enthusiastic audiences in churches and concert halls in both Argentina and Uruguay. The chance to perform with other South American choirs was an amazing experience for all of us, and sharing our primarily American repertoire with people from other countries was tremendous. While the musical aspects of the tour were fantastic, so were the frequent cultural exchanges we experienced (including our tango lessons)! Our wonderful memories and experiences are too many to name. We had a fantastic time and are already planning our next trip to Italy and Croatia in March 2013.
WWU's Annual Invitational Choral Festival
Each November, the WWU Concert Choir invites eight outstanding high school choirs to the Western campus to participate in our fall invitational choral festival. Each choir has the opportunity to sing for the others and to receive an on-stage clinic from a well-respected guest clinician. Recent clinicians have included Dr. Paul Head from the University of Delaware, Dr. Jerry Blackstone from the University of Michigan, Dr. Rodney Eichenberger from Florida State University, Dr. Sharon Paul from the University of Oregon, Dr. John Guthmiller from Virginia Commonwealth University, and Dr. Joe Miller from Westminster Choir College. This year’s clinician will be the legendary Dr. Rodney Eichenberger, Professor Emeritus at Florida State Unviersity. The festival ends with a performance by the WWU Concert Choir. We enjoy a wonderful day of sharing and learning from each other and from our guest clinician; a good time is had by all.
Opera and Musical Theatre
Award-winning performances of La Boheme and The Magic Flute are examples of the high level of student performances in the opera area. Students are encouraged to participate by audition in the opera program. Experiences range from studio productions of opera scenes to full-scale productions with orchestra. Students learn to develop their acting/singing skills through participation in the Musical Theater Fundamentals Class and, by audition, in musicals staged by the Theater Arts Department.
ACDA National Convention Performance
The WWU Concert Choir was highly honored with an invitation to perform at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention which was held in Los Angeles on February 2-5, 2005. We had the opportunity to perform in several downtown venues including the new Frank Gehry-designed Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. We were extremely excited about this opportunity to share our music with other choral musicians from throughout the world at this prestigious event. We received warm and appreciative receptions from audiences of enthusiastic choral conductors. We continue to perform regionally at Northwestern Division conventions of ACDA and MENC and at state WMEA conferences.
ACDA Student Chapter
Western's student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) provides future conductors and teachers with the opportunity to learn more about the world of choral conducting. Chapter activities have included choral reading sessions, conducting workshops, guest speakers, outings to concerts and rehearsals throughout the Puget Sound region, sponsorship of the ACDA National Student Conducting Competition, and many other interesting events. All Western music students are invited to participate in this organization.
Fall Choral Retreat
Each fall, the WWU Concert Choir takes some time out for a beginning-of-the-year retreat. We come together outside of class to rehearse, play games, eat lasagna and lots of great junk food, and get to know each other. We spend time in sections learning even more about each other, talking about our own personal goals, and setting musical goals for the upcoming year. We feel that outstanding choirs care about each other not just as musicians, but also as people, and this retreat is just the beginning of our year-long journey together.
Women's Choral Festival
Each October, the WWU Choral Area sponsors a Women's Choral Festival at Western. The festival brings high school and university women together for a day of singing. The women join together to rehearse in sectionals and as a full choir. The day also showcases female soloists, small performing ensembles, Western's Advanced Women's Chorale, and at the end of the day a massed choir of treble voices.
Men's Choral Festival
Each February, the WWU Choral Area sponsors a Men's Choral Festival here at the university in order to bring high school and university men together for a day of choral singing and celebrating men's voices. The men work together, in sectionals and as a full choir; highlights of the day include a concert showcasing male soloists and small groups singing in a variety of styles, from classical to musical theater, jazz to barbershop, as well as performances by the Western Men's Ensemble and the WWU Concert Choir. The day culminates in a performance by the nearly 200-voice massed male choir, highlighting the best in men's choral singing.