Choirs

Kaitlin DeSpain
Associate Director of Choral Studies
kedespai@CougarNet.UH.EDU

Receive first-class instruction in one of the world's most culturally rich cities! With five large choral ensembles complemented by five student-led cappella groups, there is a musical home at UH for every interested choral singer. Our faculty, facilities and high standards can make performing in a UH Choir a highlight of your college career. If you are interested in learning more, connect with our Moores Student Ambassadors to sit in on a choral rehearsal, music history or theory class and possibly audit a voice studio class!

Thank you for visiting our UH Choirs page! We welcome singers from all majors and at all levels of skill and talent. In short, if you are interested in singing with us, there is a UH choir for you!

Faculty

kaitlin-despain-ls

Kaitlin DeSpain
Associate Director of Choral Studies
kedespai@CougarNet.UH.EDU

Large Choral Ensembles

The Moores School of Music is the home to some of the best collegiate vocal ensembles anywhere. Concert Chorale is world-renowned, having won several competitions across Europe. In 2017 alone, they sang at three important conferences. Our other auditioned choirs, Soundscape and Resonance, compare favorably to most universities' top choirs.

Concert Chorale

The internationally acclaimed Moores School Concert Chorale is the University of Houston’s premier large mixed-voice choral ensemble. In addition to a full calendar of concerts in and around the Houston area, Chorale is frequently featured at state and national conventions. Also, members routinely compete internationally. When Chorale travels, the university pays all tour expenses. To audition for Chorale, singers must pass an audition and must have sung for at least one previous semester with either Soundscape or Resonance. Upon placement in this ensemble, students must register for UH course credit; registration through the Community Arts Academy is not possible.

Soundscape

Specializing in the performance of advanced treble repertoire from across a broad musical spectrum, Soundscape regularly commissions new works for treble chorus. It hosts the Women’s Chorus Festival Concert each spring. All treble singers, regardless of major, are welcome to audition for membership in Soundscape. Available to soprano and alto singers, participation requires an audition. After a successful audition, a singer may register for University credit or through Community Arts Academy.

Resonance

Resonance consists of both music and non-music majors committed to choral excellence. The ensemble, which was founded in 2013, performs a wide range of tenor/bass repertoire from across musical eras and styles. Its varied performance schedule includes traditional choral concerts, singing the national anthem at sporting events and participating in the annual Oratorio Concert in conjunction with the Moores School Symphony Orchestra, Concert Chorale and Soundscape. Part of the ensemble’s mission is to encourage the creation of quality tenor/bass music. To that end, it regularly commissions new works for tenor/bass chorus, including recent music from David Ashley White, Thomas Juneau and Carlos Cordero. After a successful audition, a singer may register for University credit or through the Community Arts Academy.

University Chorus

Singers who are new to choral singing, including those who cannot read music or those who simply desire a less rigorous choral experience, may register for these choirs with no audition required. Local community members may register through the Community Arts Academy and do not have to audition.

Auditions

UH singers who wish to be considered for one of our three premier ensembles must audition. The audition will consist of two portions: vocalizing and sight-reading. Details for completing these components of the audition can be found HERE.

Student Led A cappella Ensembles

The University of Houston Acabellas is a student-led treble a cappella group with a pop twist. Members of Concert Chorale, Soundscape and University Women’s Chorus are eligible to audition for this ensemble. They often sing pop music, musical theatre, Disney songs and even some throwbacks. Their main goal is to have a close-knit group that performs high-level music for fun. They showcase their work throughout the semester at the University of Houston choral concerts in addition to a dedicated small group concert at the end of the semester. The rehearsal is 2 hours a week.
Ardore is a student-led a cappella chamber choir comprised of Concert Chorale members. The ensemble provides students with valuable leadership opportunities and an outlet for high-level chamber music singing. Student conductors select repertoire, lead rehearsals and organize outreach performances and concerts. Ardore members perform choral music from a broad range of musical styles and periods, including the music of emerging Houston composers. This unique ensemble provides a collaborative musical environment where students build bonds of professionalism and friendship with their peers while growing as musicians and leaders.
In addition to developing friendships, building professional relationships and training their musical skills, members of the select chamber choir Floreat sing a wide range of traditional mixed choral repertoire. Often featured during the University of Houston choral concerts, Floreat also gives regular outreach performances in the greater Houston area. The ensemble draws its membership from all UH choirs except Concert Chorale.
Formerly known as Men of Moores, MoM A Cappella is UH's premiere tenor-bass a cappella ensemble. The group performs a variety of pop and choral music. MoM A Cappella has released two singles and one full-length album, all of which are available on iTunes and Spotify. In addition to performing regularly in concerts on campus, MoM frequently reaches out to local school districts whenever possible, and is available for weddings, corporate events and other performance needs. Members come from any of UH’s large ensembles. The group holds auditions at the beginning of each semester and rehearses approximately 3 hours a week.
Rhapsody, founded in 2013 by José Castejon and Andrew Gilstrap, is the University of Houston's premier mixed-voice pop a cappella ensemble. It regularly performs at concerts and events, both on-campus and in the greater Houston area. They have recently been featured by the Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo and Uber Houston. This ensemble rehearses for 3 hours a week, and anyone enrolled in a UH Choir is eligible to audition. Auditions take place at the beginning of both the Fall and Spring semesters.

Voice Division

Singers who are accepted into the voice program at the Moores School of Music study with internationally acclaimed performing artists who have decades of stage and teaching experience. In addition to our faculty’s impressive singing careers, they are excellent pedagogues. Students in our program leave UH with extraordinary skills and training as singers.

Music Education Division

Many singers aspire to become choral conductors or elementary music teachers. MSM boasts a renowned music education faculty. Our vocal Music Education graduates enjoy a 100% job placement rate.

Moores Opera Center

Performed with the orchestra ensemble in our Moores Opera House the center holds four fully staged opera productions each season. Students learn their craft through four fully-staged productions with orchestra per season, including one opera written in the last twenty years. Auditions in April and August of each year are open to all students. Many of our Moores School of Music choral singers also participate on stage in opera productions during their time at UH.

“Through my four years in UH Choirs, I experienced a whirlwind of great music, created lifelong friendships, met people from all over the world and got to work with amazing teachers and conductors. I had the opportunity to sing in Europe twice and performed amazing major works like Alexander Nevsky and Carmina Burana. The UH Choral area also supports five student-led ensembles, one of which I had the privilege of directing. I feel well prepared for my career as a choral director through the education and experiences I received at the Moores School of Music.” Marissa Suazo (‘20)