Choirs

Choirs

Welcome to choirs at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music! The CU Boulder choral program provides a wide array of performance opportunities for students, whatever their level or major field of study. 

The past three years have included esteemed performance and travel opportunities for CU Boulder choirs. The Chamber Singers, our top choral ensemble, performed at the Southwestern ACDA conference (Albuquerque, New Mexico); the University Choir was invited to perform at the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) National Conference (Fullerton, California); and members from all four CU Boulder choirs performed in a concert at Carnegie Hall (New York, New York). Every year, all of our choirs perform in CU Boulder’s beloved annual Holiday Festival events in our historic Macky Auditorium.

Choral participation is open to everyone, regardless of major, as well as community members! CU Boulder choirs perform a large variety of musical genres—from new musical works to jazz to traditional masterworks through regular collaborations with the CU Boulder Symphony Orchestra and the CU Boulder Wind Symphony. 

For fall semester 2026, auditions for the CU Boulder Festival Chorus and Treble Chorus continue until the last day to drop a class (Aug. 28).

Interested in auditioning for spring 2027 CU Boulder choral ensembles? Email Coreen Duffy: coreen.duffy@colorado.edu

Choir on stage at Macky auditorium
Choir on stage at Macky auditorium
Close-up of two singers on stage at Macky Auditorium
Vocal soloist on stage with choir at Macky Auditorium
Choirs
Choirs

Ensembles

Chamber Singers

CU Boulder Chamber Singers
Coreen Duffy, conductor + director of choral activities

Members of the CU Boulder Chamber Singers—the university’s premier choral ensemble—comprise graduate students in music, undergraduate music majors, graduate students from other disciplines and, occasionally, undergraduate non-music majors who are very experienced choral singers and sight-readers.

Rehearsals: Tuesday + Thursday, 12:30-2 p.m.

Audition info

  • CU Boulder Chamber Singers auditions: Check back for the next opportunity to audition.
  • For your audition, please prepare a vocal solo (e.g., art song, aria) which demonstrates the strengths and true nature of your voice. Please bring sheet music for the pianist.
  • Requirements: Previous choral singing experience; excellent sight-reading skills; the ability to move at a fast pace in rehearsal and learn quickly; a willingness to learn music outside of rehearsal.

If you are a returning student and auditioned for Chamber Singers this past spring, you do not need to do another 1:1 audition and will receive callback information via email.

EMUS 1217/3217/5217

CU Boulder University Choir
Elizabeth Swanson, conductor + associate director of choral activities

The CU Boulder University Choir is the advanced undergraduate choir at CU Boulder, with some graduate student singer participation. Members of the University Choir tend to be very experienced choral singers and include undergraduate students majoring in music as well as undergraduate students from other disciplines who have experience with singing in choir.

Rehearsals: Mondays, Wednesdays + Fridays, 12:20-1:35 p.m.

Audition info

  • CU Boulder University Choir auditions: Check back for the next opportunity to audition.
  • For your audition, please prepare a vocal solo (e.g. art song, aria, folk song) that demonstrates the strengths and true nature of your voice. Please bring sheet music for the pianist.
  • Requirements: Previous choral experience; experience with sight-reading; the ability to move at a faster pace in rehearsal; a willingness to learn music and use practice tools/resources (provided by the conductor) outside of rehearsal.

EMUS 1227/3227/5227

CU Boulder Treble Chorus
Graduate conductor; Faculty Advisor Coreen Duffy

The CU Boulder Treble Chorus is a semi-advanced undergraduate choir that includes many experienced as well as some less-experienced choral singers. Members of this ensemble tend to be undergraduate students from non-musical disciplines as well as some students who are majoring in music.

Rehearsals: Mondays + Wednesdays, 2:15-3:25 p.m.

Audition info

  • The CU Boulder Treble Chorus auditions will take place on all available days through Aug. 28; no callbacks.
  • For your audition, it is ideal that you prepare a vocal solo (e.g., art song, aria, folk song), but not required. You may otherwise decide to sing one verse of a well-known song, such as “Amazing Grace” or another song of your choosing. If you have prepared a vocal solo, bring music for the pianist.
  • Desired qualifications: Previous choral singing experience; some experience with sight-reading; a willingness to learn music and use practice tools/resources (provided by the conductor) outside of rehearsal.

EMUS 1237/3237 

CU Boulder Festival Chorus
Elizabeth Swanson, conductor + associate director of choral activities

The CU Boulder Festival Chorus includes singers of all experience levels. Festival Chorus members tend to be undergraduate and graduate students from all majors on campus as well as Boulder community members who love to sing.

Rehearsals: Mondays, 7-9 p.m.

Audition info

  • Festival Chorus auditions will take place on all available days through Aug. 28; no callbacks. 
  • Community members (those not enrolled at CU Boulder) are asked to audition on Monday, Aug. 24 between 5-6:30 p.m., just before the first rehearsal of the semester. 
  • The first rehearsal of the semester will be Monday, Aug. 24 from 7-9 p.m. (S118).
  • For your audition, you do not need to prepare a solo but will be asked to sing one verse of a well-known song, such as “Amazing Grace” or another song of your choosing. If you have prepared a vocal solo, bring music for the pianist.
  • Desired qualifications: Previous choral singing experience; some experience with sight-reading; a willingness to learn music and use practice tools/resources (provided by the conductor) outside of rehearsal.

EMUS 1207/3207

Border Lines by Mari Ésabel Valverde (b. 1987) 
Adriana Cipponeri, soprano soloist 
Nicolò Spera, guitar

Whispers by Steven Stucky (1949-2016)

Like a diamond by Annika Socolofsky (b. 1990) 
Annika Socolofsky, vocal soloist (amplified)

This Little Light of Mine (African American spiritual) arr. Moses Hogan (1957-2003)
Miguel Ángel Ortega Bañales, tenor soloist

Contact

Coreen Duffy
Associate Professor of Conducting
Director, Choral Activities
coreen.duffy@colorado.edu
 

Are you a non-music major?

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Upcoming choral events