Grand Chorus

The Grand Chorus is the largest choral ensemble at Western Michigan University, ranging from 175 to 225 singers. Membership is primarily composed of the three major vocal ensembles – the University Chorale, Women’s Chorus, and Collegiate Singers – although other interested singers from the Kalamazoo and University communities may also participate.

Previous conductors have included: Harper C. Maybee, the first chairman of Western’s Department of Music, Elwyn Carter, Thomas Hardie; William Appel, Mel Ivey, Thomas Kasdorf, Craig Arnold and Joe Miller.

The Grand Chorus has performed with the Western Michigan University Symphony Orchestra, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Battle Creek Symphony, and the Detroit Symphony. Major works performed include Mass in c (Mozart), Jeanne d’Arc (Honnegger), Requiem (Verdi), Te Deum (Berlioz), Belshazzar’s Feast (Walton), Messiah (Handel), L’Enfance du Christ (Berlioz), A German Requiem (Brahms), Ninth Symphony (Beethoven), War Requiem (Britten), Hodie (Vaughan-Williams), Magnificat (Bach), King David (Honnegger), Missa Solemnis (Beethoven), Requiem (Berlioz), 8^th Symphony (Mahler), Requiem (Mozart), Prologue to Mephistopheles (Boito), Carmina Burana (Orff), 2^nd Symphony (Mahler), Gloria (Poulenc) and Dream of Gerontius (Elgar).

Sound clip: gloria.mp3 1:33 / 1.8MB Poulenc, Gloria Recorded Dec. 2001 Holiday Concert at Miller Auditorium

Dr. James Bass, Director

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Dr. James Bass, Director | Webmaster