Grand Chorus
Grand Chorus
The Grand Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Kimberly Dunn Adams, is the largest choral ensemble at Western Michigan University, involving approximately 180 students. Membership includes the three major vocal ensembles - the University Chorale, Women's Chorus, and Collegiate Singers - and also comprises a dedicated core of singers from the Kalamazoo and University communities.
Kimberly Dunn Adams is the chorus' eleventh conductor. Previous conductors have been Harper C. Maybee, the first chairman of Western's Department of Music; Elwyn Carter; Thomas Hardie; William Appel; Mel Ivey; Thomas Kasdorf; Craig Arnold; Joe Miller; James K. Bass; and Ronnie Oliver, Jr.
The Grand Chorus has performed with the Western Michigan University Symphony Orchestra and the Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Detroit symphonies. Major works performed include Jeanne d'Arc (Honnegger), Requiem (Verdi), Te Deum (Berlioz), Belshazzar's Feast (Walton), Messiah (Handel), L'Enfance du Christ (Berlioz), A German Requiem (Brahms), Symphony Number 9 (Beethoven), War Requiem (Britten), Hodie (Vaughan-Williams), Magnificat (Bach), King David (Honnegger), Missa Solemnis (Beethoven), Requiem (Berlioz), Symphony Number 8 (Mahler), Requiem (Mozart), Prologue to Mephistopheles (Boito), Carmina Burana (Orff), Symphony Number 2 (Mahler), and Dream of Gerontius (Elgar).
In Spring 2013, the Grand Chorus will perform Orff's Carmina Burana with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. All interested college and community singers should contact Kimberly Dunn Adams for audition, rehearsal, and performance information. Rehearsals will start in January 2013 and will take place Wednesdays from 7:00-9:00pm in the Dalton Center's Choral Rehearsal Room A. ALL singers are welcome to participate in this performance and we look forward to sharing this great experience with you!
To be placed on our roster for Grand Chorus, please send an email to Kimberly Dunn Adams with your name, voice part, and contact information.
A voice-placement audition is required to join Grand Chorus, and these 5-minute auditions will take place on:
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
6:30-7:30pm (Rehearsal to follow, from 7:30-9:00pm)
WMU Dalton Center, Choral Rehearsal Room A (1116)
No appointment is neccessary - simply show up at 6:30pm on January 9th, and we'll hear you as soon as possible. No song is required for the audition. You'll be asked to sing some short vocalises, simple ear tests, and a brief sightreading example. The audition should take no longer than 5 minutes.
The rehearsal schedule:
1/9/2013 7:00-9:00pm Auditions/Rehearsal
1/16/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
1/23/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal 1/30/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
2/6/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
2/13/2013 No Rehearsal Ash Wednesday
2/20/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
2/27/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
3/6/2013 No Rehearsal WMU Spring Break
3/13/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
3/20/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
3/27/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
4/3/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
4/10/2013 7:00-9:00pm Rehearsal
4/16/2013 7:30-10:00pm Rehearsal w/KSO
4/17/2013 7:30-9:00pm Rehearsal
4/18/2013 7:30-9:00pm Dress Rehearsal
4/19/2013 8:00pm Concert
Download the Audition Announcement & Info Sheet:
Grand Chorus Audition Announcement - Spring 2013.pdf