History

The University Singers is a group of 18 auditioned singers.  Many of the students are music majors at CCSU, but several students come from other schools and departments within the University.  The group rehearses together four hours per week.  The repertoire performed by University Singers is purposefully varied, encompassing some of the great chamber choral music from five centuries.  Because several of the Singers will eventually be music educators, this ensemble provides important experience in singing a variety of literature with appropriate styles.  Often students take on leadership roles within the group, serving to develop both musical and organizational leadership skills important to their future.

In the fifteen years that University Singers has been in existence, they have given concert tours in Germany (1994), Puerto Rico (1996), Hungary (2000),  France (2006), and China (2009).  They have been invited to perform at CMEA In-Service Conference several times, and at the ACDA State Conference.  They have given several concerts and choral workshops in Connecticut high schools, and for the past three years have hosted an Invitational Choral High School Festival on campus.  They have joined forces with the professional choirs CONCORA and Voce for special concerts, the most recent being this April as they were part of a Morten Lauridsen concert – working closely with this award-winning composer in preparation for the event.

Some selections from the University Singers repertoire list over the past 15 years are:

Missa Assumpta Mass – Palestrina

Mass for Four Voices - William Byrd

Justorum Animae - Orlando di Lasso

Nos Qui Sumus – Orlando di Lasso

Motet from Psalm 51 for 6 part chorus (opus.29, No.2) - Johannes Brahms

Motets of Heinrich Schutz

Selig sind die Toten

Verleih uns Frieden

Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt

Herr, auf dich traue ich

Notre Pere - Maurice Durufle

Gartenlieder - Fanny Hensel

Revecy Venir du printans - Claude Le Jeune

Quatre petities prieres de - Francis Poulenc

Huit Chansons Francaises – Francis Poulenc

La Battaglia - Adriano Banchierei

Nos Qui Sumus - Orlando di Lasso

Many spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan

Michelle - Lennon/McCartney

Can't Buy me Love - Lennon/McCartney

I Will – Lennon/McCartney

That Lonesome Road - Taylor/Grolnick

Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington

Blue Moon - Richard Rodgers