Choral Ensembles

Under the umbrella of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, the choral program at Loyola University Chicago offers four choirs: University Chorale, University Singers, Chamber Choir (Ignatian Voices), and Liturgical Choir.

Loyola’s choirs are open to students from across the university, regardless of their major, and welcome singers with a wide range of musical backgrounds and experience. As part of Loyola’s rich liberal arts tradition, the choral program offers students an opportunity to continue pursuing their passion for music while studying in any academic field, building community and developing as artists alongside their broader university education.

In recent years, the choirs have performed Fauré’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Orff’s Carmina Burana, David Lang’s The Little Match Girl Passion, James Whitbourn’s Annelies, Cecilia McDowall’s The Girl from Aleppo, and Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Mass for the Endangered. The program is also deeply committed to the creation and performance of new music. In 2019, the choirs premiered Wendel Patrick’s My Four Suns, with poetry by Ursula Rucker, and more recently have given premieres of Dongryul Lee’s Missa Laudato Si and Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha’ Tate’s Ámmo’naka̱. With a particular commitment to environmental justice, Loyola’s choirs frequently perform at the annual LUC Climate Conference and collaborate with colleagues across the university. Since 2013, they have also presented sold-out performances of Lessons & Carols, a beloved annual holiday tradition.

The choirs regularly collaborate with professional ensembles including the William Ferris Chorale, Bella Voce, New Earth Ensemble, the Canadian Chamber Choir, and the Lincoln Trio, as well as Loyola ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble. Loyola singers have toured Italy twice in recent years and regularly perform throughout the Chicagoland area, providing students opportunities to make music both on campus and beyond.

Students may register for their first-choice ensemble (excluding MUSC 207) but may be asked to move to another ensemble following Vocal Placements, which are held at the beginning of each semester.

For more information, contact Director of Choral and Vocal Activities Kirsten Hedegaard at khedegaard@luc.edu.

 

University Chorale

Course Details

MUSC 107: University Chorus (Section 101: University Chorale)	University Chorale
Jennifer Budziak, Conductor	1 Credit
Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:15pm-5:30pm
University Chorale is a select ensemble for those wishing to develop advanced choral skills and explore various styles of choral music composed for SATB ensemble. University Chorale performs several times per semester and frequently collaborates with other Loyola ensembles. (Artistic Core Credit) If you wish to sing with University Chorale, please enroll for the course and attend the Vocal Placement Appointments during the first week of classes. Click here to sign up.

 

University Singers

Course Details

MUSC 107: University Chorus (Section 102: University Singers)	University Singers
Kaitlin Foley, Conductor	1 Credit
Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:15p.m. - 5:30p.m.
University Singers is an ensemble for those wishing to improve choral skills and explore various styles of choral music composed for SSAA ensemble. University Singers perform several times per semester and frequently collaborates with other Loyola ensembles. (Artistic Core Credit) If you wish to sing with University Singers, please enroll for the course and attend the Vocal Placement Appointments during the first week of classes. Click here to sign up.

 

Liturgical Choir (Schola)

Course Details

MUSC 108 Liturgical Choir	Liturgical Choir (Schola)
Jordan Chua, Director	1 Credit
Wednesdays 5:30p.m. - 8:00p.m.
Liturgical Choir (Schola) is an SATB ensemble providing music for the Sunday liturgies in Madonna della Strada Chapel and other university liturgical and choral functions and concerts. Repertoire includes both traditional and contemporary sacred music.  For information about auditioning for Liturgical Choir, click here.

 

Chamber Choir (Ignatian Voices)

Course Details

MUSC 207 Chamber Choir	Chamber Choir (Ignatian Voices)
Kirsten Hedegaard, Conductor	1 Credit
Mondays, 7:00p.m. - 9:30p.m.
Ignatian Voices is a project-based vocal ensemble that meets once a week on Monday evenings. This advanced ensemble focuses on rehearsal techniques, music preparation, and musicianship skills, while learning important choral repertoire and working with guest professional artists. For information about auditioning for Chamber Choir (Ignatian Voices), click here.