WMU Choral Studies
Dr. James Bass, Director

Choral opportunities at Western Michigan University are wide ranging, from the University Chorale, Collegiate Singers, Women's Chorus, Men's Ensemble, Collegium Musicum, and Grand Chorus, to two vocal jazz ensembles: Gold Company and GC II. Together, these ensembles represent one of the most diverse choral programs in the region.

Choral ensembles are open for audition by any WMU student. Auditions take place at the beginning of each year, with some ensembles offering additional auditions at the semester break. Enrollment in the school of music is not necessary to participate in an ensemble. Choirs at WMU contain both music majors and non-music majors.

Choral activities at WMU reach across city, state, and national borders. Events like the MSVMA Regional and State Honors Choir auditions, Michigan Youth Arts Festival, and Gold Company's Miller Show, draw singers from across the state. The Gold Company Vocal Jazz Invitational draws singers from the US and Canada, while the Southwest Michigan Vocal Festival focuses on building relationships with local schools. Also, it is not uncommon for Western ensembles to include singers from European or Eastern nations.

School of Music

The School of Music has a selective enrollment of 425 music majors who are served by 39 full-time faculty, 41 graduate assistants, and 13 professional staff. It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Programs in music therapy are certified by the American Therapy Association.

School of Music artistic activity can be represented by the 1998-99 academic year when students and faculty were featured at some 700 events in 32 states and in 17 countries on five continents. The music student enrollment in that same year came from 22 states and 11 countries on four continents.

College of Fine Arts

WMU's College of Fine Arts is one of only 22 in the nation sheltering music, theatre, dance, and the visual arts. The Fine Arts College is one of fourteen in the nation (and the only one in Michigan) to be nationally accredited in all four areas.