Choral and Vocal Studies at UCM

University Chamber Singers

With approximately 28 singers, Chamber Singers is the University of Central Missouri's most advanced choral ensemble. This ensemble has performed in prestigious regional, national, and international venues, and tours frequently. The choir recently completed a four concert tour to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and performed live on “Good Morning, Lithuania” in March of 2024. In addition to local and regional tours, Chamber Singers have performed at the Xi'an International Choral Festival in Xi'an, China, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Missouri Music Educators Association Annual Convention. On campus, Chamber Singers presents an extraordinarily diverse repertoire in several performances each semester, including a choral masterwork annually. Chamber Singers is open to all UCM students by audition. 

Chamber Singers meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 2:00-3:20 pm. To schedule an audition or receive more information, email Dr. Jackson Thomas, Director of Choral Activities (jthomas@ucmo.edu).

University Concert Choir

UCM’s largest mixed chorus, Concert Choir is open to any UCM student. The choir performs diverse repertoire individually at concerts, as well as combining with all three UCM choral ensembles for an annual choral masterwork. This ensemble is perfect for singers who want to dive into a collegiate-level experience without the extra commitment of Chamber Singers. 

Concert Choir meets Monday and Wednesday from 3:30-4:45 pm. For placement in the ensemble, please reach out to Dr. Jackson Thomas, Director of Choral Activities (jthomas@ucmo.edu).

Collegiate Choir

Collegiate Choir affords UCM students an opportunity to explore a variety of excellent choral music with the smallest amount of commitment, perfect for beginners to advanced singers wanting to keep music in their lives. Collegiate Choir performs individually and with the other UCM choral ensembles throughout the year, and is open to any UCM student without audition. 

Collegiate Choir meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00-12:50p m. Please reach out to Dr. Jackson Thomas (jthomas@ucmo.edu) with any questions.

 

Please visit the UCM Music "Application, Scholarships, and Auditions" page for step-by-step instructions regarding UCM Music application and auditions.

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The Voice Audition for Music consists of:

1. Singing two classical pieces of contrasting style from the Western musical canon (i.e. "Danza, danza fanciulla gentile" by Francesco Durante, and "Where'er You Walk" by G.F. Handel).
2. should be memorized;
3. singers are advised to provide their own accompanist; however, one will be provided if needed (music must be available in advance);
4. one of the pieces should be in a foreign language (typically Italian, German, French, or Spanish)
5. selections should be like those sung for District Music Festival. http://gvlabs.com/festivalmanager/mshsaa/src/admin_pml.php.
6. Singing scales and vocalises to demonstrate range.
7. Sight reading.

Please note: The requirements above are for consideration for music admission and scholarship only. Choral ensemble placement auditions will take place at a later point in time.

Questions about Scholarship Auditions? Reach out to Dr. Stella Roden at sroden@ucmo.edu. 

Choir Auditions will be the first two days of classes in the fall and are separate from Scholarship Auditions. Please reach out to Dr. Jackson Thomas (jthomas@ucmo.edu) for more information!

Career Opportunities

At UCM, students in the voice area are preparing to enter the world of vocal music in a variety of disciplines. Students interested in becoming teachers are a part of the Bachelor of Music Education program. These students will be eligible for careers in elementary, middle, and high school choral departments. For those with a passion for performing, students may pursue a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. Students wishing to study voice may also enroll in the Bachelor of Music Technology program. Music technology is an exciting and fast-growing field and our program offers hands-on experience. 

Performing Opportunities

In addition to our choral offerings, students at UCM have many options for performance during their degree program:

Master Classes
Master classes occur on a regular basis, offering exposure to many types of learning. Each semester, students will have the opportunity to work with our faculty, as well as a series of guest artists from around the world. 

Vocal Competitions
UCM vocal students win numerous awards and prizes in regional and national competitions. These include: Quistorff Aria Prize Competition, Concerto/Aria Competition, Kansas City NATS, Regional and National Division NATS, Missouri Federation of Music Clubs, NAFTZGER Awards, Kansas City Music Club.

Opera Theater
Opera Theater productions give students a hands-on performance experience. Events include evenings of opera scenes and full productions of works from every era. Our goal is to bring exciting music to the UCM community in innovative ways. Auditions are held during the fall semester for our spring productions.

Musical Theatre
In conjunction with the Theatre Department, students have the opportunity to audition for UCM main stage productions. These auditions are typically held during the first week of the fall semester and include singing, a monologue, and dance requirements. 

Gabriel Englehart, Senior Music Education Major (Vocal)

In high school I was on the fence about studying music in college, especially because I didn’t know what that entailed. Dr. Jacob Sentgeorge, a professor in the UCM Voice faculty, worked with a few choral students at my high school and outlined the college music major’s experience. I knew I wanted to discover more of my voice and learn choral conducting. I felt so welcomed by Dr. Zrust and Dr. Roden from the first week on campus. I have made countless friends, developed lifelong relationships with my colleagues, and learned from the excellent examples set by professors while studying in UCM Music.