CHORAL ENSEMBLES

You have reached the main page for the University of New Mexico Choral Ensembles. Here you will find information about each vocal ensemble performing on campus, announcements about upcoming concerts, and contact information should you wish to reach us. UNM students have the opportunity to get involved with a number of choral ensembles, including:

 

Concert Choir

A highly select mixed-voice (SATB) ensemble of approximately 55 singers specializing in the study, preparation and performance of the outstanding choral literature from all periods of musical history. The Concert Choir frequently performs major choral/orchestral works with various orchestras of the Southwest as well as the University Symphony Orchestra. Tryouts are required for participation and are open to music majors, non-music majors, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff.

Concert Choir

Audio Samples:
O Fortuna (Oh Fortune)

Recordings Available:
Fast Falls the Eventide
Verdi Requiem (The University Chorus and Concert Choir)

 

las Cantantes

Las Cantantes
Photo by Max Woltman

The women's chorus, Las Cantantes, is directed by Dr. Maxine Thévenot. The group is comprised of about twenty singers who are selected via audition. This ensemble studies, rehearses and performs the finest literature written for treble voices. The ensemble is, at times, accompanied by other instruments such as the harp, percussion, piano, and pipe organ.

Performances occur several times throughout each academic term both on and off campus including many local churches, synagogues and concert halls.

Las Cantantes was founded in 1994 by Professor Bradley Ellingboe and during his fourteen-year tenure as its director, the group collaborated with several important musical figures and made several regional tours.

Under the direction of its new Director since Fall 2007, Dr. Maxine Thévenot and Las Cantantes—the only collegiate women's choir in the state of New Mexico—has performed many concerts in a wide variety of settings, and has recorded two internationally released CDs—My Dancing Day (2008), which features several premiere recordings of works for the Christmas season, and Dream a Little Dream, to be released in the fall of 2009 featuring a wide variety of unaccompanied and accompanied works, including several premiere recordings of works by New Mexican composers.

Stay tuned for more information!

Based on the success of its recordings, Las Cantantes was invited to sing concerts in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Grace Church on lower Broadway, the historic Cathedral of the Incarnation, and Church of the Heavenly Rest in May 2009.

UPCOMING CONCERTS:

Wednesday, October 28, 12:30-1:00 p.m., The Cathedral of St. John Lunchtime Concert Series. Freewill offering.

Friday, October 30, 7:30 p.m., Keller Hall, UNM.
Ticketed event ($7,5,3).

Thursday, December 10, 7:30 p.m., Keller Hall, UNM. Ticketed event ($7,5,3) .

Wednesday, March 10, 12:30-1:00 p.m. The Cathedral of St. John Lunchtime Concert Series . Freewill offering

Friday, March 12, 7:30 p.m. Keller Hall, UNM.
Ticketed event ($7,5,3).

Friday, May 7, 7:30 p.m. The Cathedral of St. John Friends of Cathedral Music Series. Ticketed event ($20,15,5).

AUDIO SAMPLES:
Psallite (Michael Praetorius)
Personent Hodie (from Dancing Day by John Rutter; harpist: Lynn Gorman DeVelder)
A la ru, a la me (northern New Mexican folk song, arr. Bradley Ellingboe; organist: Iain Quinn)
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas (arr. Bradley Ellingboe; oboist: Claudia Giese)

All of the above are selections from the newly released My Dancng Day. The CD is available for purchase from the Department of Music and also through Raven Compact Discs.

RECORDINGS AVAILABLE:
Enchantment at Chimayó
I Just Lightning
Stepping Westward

My Dancing Day

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to Las Cantantes to aid the many costs of operating a choral ensemble and in particular to help us get to New York City for our May 2009 tour, please send an email to thevenot@unm.edu for further information on how you can help keep choral music for young people alive. 

To quote a great writer, T.S. Eliot said, “You are the music, while the music lasts.” 

 

University Chorus

This was the first choir formed at the University of New Mexico. Today, with more than 75 years of tradition behind it, the group enjoys a well-deserved reputation of providing the community with fine performances. Since its beginning the group has functioned as a “town and gown” oratorio society. Membership is drawn from both the University community as well as the community at large. The University Chorus, directed by Bradley Ellingboe, is a non-auditioned group which performs a major choral work with orchestra each semester.

They received the "Bravos" award from the Albuquerque Arts Alliance for outstanding musical organization of 2006. For more information about the University Chorus, click on the link above.

Recording Available:
Verdi Requiem (The University Chorus and Concert Choir)

 
Dolce Suono

Dolce Suono

Dolce Suono ("Sweet Sound") is the newest choir at UNM, founded in 2006. It is a mixed ensemble of approximately 24 voices and is comprised of both music majors, as well as singers from the larger UNM community. It counts as a major ensemble and membership is by audition. Beginning in the fall of 2008, Dolce Suono will be led by Dr. Regina Carlow.

 
opera house

The International Lyric Academy

The International Lyric Academy is a marvellous opportunity for students and emerging young artists. During an intensive three weeks you may participate in a full range of master classes, concerts, Italian language courses, recitals and rehearsals culminating in concerts of Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” Mozart’s “Laudate Dominum,” Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” all accompanied by symphony orchestra, as well as unaccompanied American choral classics.

For more details, click HERE.

viterbo
 

A Word About Tryouts

Each person possesses certain vocal potentials and capabilities as a choral participant at any given time. The UNM choral program has attempted to develop offerings that meet the needs and challenges of a large cross-section of persons wishing to sing in a choral ensemble. The purpose, therefore, of a general choral tryout is to help the participant find the ensemble best suited to him or her at the time of the tryout.

As one’s knowledge and experience broaden, an individual may progress to the other ensembles in the program. Unless otherwise noted, general choral tryouts are held the first week of classes each semester–see Ensemble Auditions (PDF, 56KB) for more information. Music majors are NOT granted preferential placement in ANY UNM choral ensemble; and rehearsals of the various choral ensembles are scheduled at times when most students can participate. THERE IS A CHORAL ENSEMBLE AT UNM FOR ANY INTERESTED PERSON!

For further information on the choral program contact:

Professor Bradley Ellingboe
Department of Music
MSC04 2570
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131-0001
505/277-4429
brell@unm.edu

 

Last updated on Sunday, June 21, 2009 5:09 PM
   
   

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Center for the Arts :: Department of Music
MSC04 2570 :: 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-2126