Choral studies

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Welcome to choral studies at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music!

Our choral studies strive to examine and honor the legacy of past faculty, while moving forward with evolving pedagogies and programs, and the music of underrepresented composers.

The CU Boulder choral studies area, founded in 1938 by Warner Imig, was the first formal area of study in the College of Music; in the 1960s, CU Boulder became one of the first universities in the nation to offer a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting. The department continues to mentor great students from across the university, while preparing and performing everything from new works to jazz to traditional masterworks through regular collaborations with the CU Boulder Wind Symphony, the CU Symphony and the Boulder Philharmonic.

Upcoming choral events

Our choirs

Our choirs

Students from many majors and interest areas sing in CU Boulder choirs—not only music majors! Join a choir ... and sing!

CU Boulder Chamber Singers (SATB)—Coreen Duffy, conductor 
CU Boulder University Choir (SATB)—Elizabeth Swanson, conductor  
CU Boulder Festival Chorus (SATB)—Coreen Duffy, faculty advisor 
CU Boulder Treble Chorus (SSAA choir)—Elizabeth Swanson, conductor

Alumni

We’re proud of our choral studies alumni, including those who have gone on to teach at Fresno State University, Harding University, Metro State University, Oklahoma State University, Regis University, Samford University, San Jose State University, University of Kentucky and University of Missouri-Kansas City, among many other institutions; others have proceeded to found and/or direct organizations and schools such as Young Voices of Colorado and the Central Educational Center charter school. Notable choral studies alumni include Charlene Archibeque, Eph Ehly, Anna Hamre, Hugh Sanders, Z. Randall Stroope and many more. Check out our alumni class notes for more alumni accomplishments and follow our ongoing alumni highlights on Instagram.

Coreen Duffy

Coreen Duffy

Coreen Duffy is associate professor of conducting and director of choral activities at the University of Colorado Boulder where she conducts the CU Boulder Chamber Singers and oversees the choral program. Her duties at the College of Music include leading the graduate program in choral conducting at both the master’s and doctoral levels. Duffy is also artistic director of the Seicento Baroque Ensemble, a Boulder-based semi-professional choral ensemble committed to working with period instruments and historically-informed performance practice. Prior to her appointment at CU Boulder, Duffy served on the faculties of the University of Montana and the University of Miami Frost School of Music. As director of choral activities at the University of Montana, Duffy conducted the Chamber Chorale and University Choir and served as Artistic Director of the Missoula Community Chorus. MORE

Elizabeth Swanson

Elizabeth Swanson is associate director of choral activities at the University of Colorado Boulder. She conducts the CU Boulder Treble Chorus and University Choir which was founded in 1938 by Warner Imig, a former dean of the College of Music. A passionate educator, Swanson teaches courses in conducting at the undergraduate level and serves on master’s and doctoral committees. She is also the faculty advisor for CU Boulder’s student ACDA chapter. Swanson was awarded a competitive university-wide Provost’s Faculty Achievement Award (2024) acknowledging her contributions to CU Boulder through her scholarly and creative work, teaching, leadership and service. Additionally, Swanson oversaw the College of Music’s choral studies program as interim director of choral activities for four semesters (2018-19; 2024) during which she supervised all aspects of the program. MORE

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