Collegium Musicum
Collegium Musicum
Directed by Matthew Steel, the Collegium Musicum is the ensemble for Early Music at Western Michigan University. This ensemble is devoted to the repertory of pre-Classical music (generally anything before the career of W. A. Mozart). Past programs have included music from 10th century liturgical dramas all the way up to late Baroque works of women composers. Recent works include cantatas by Buxtehude and Bach, selections from Biber’s Vespers, and madrigals by Lasso, Wilbye, Morely, and Arcadelt. Collegium Musicum is has performed as part of the Michigan Festival of Sacred Music, among other festivals and concert series.
Membership in the Collegium Musicum is by informal audition and open to all singers and instrumentalists in the University and Kalamazoo communities. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:00 to 5:15pm. The ensemble performs Early Music in a public, School of Music sponsored, concert at least once each semester. Collegium is beloved by many members of the community and has has a devoted following at concerts and performance events throughout the year.
Collegium Musicum consists of an instrumental ensemble and a choral ensemble. The choral/vocal ensemble component of Collegium Musicum is conducted by a graduate student in conducting or highly advanced undergraduate conductor. The student conductor for the Singers is chosen through a competitive audition and awarded the Davidson Scholarship. These two ensembles perform works both separately and together.