Messiah University Choirs (Choirs)

Founded: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Concert Choir

Director: Dr. Joy Meade
Concert Choir performs a wide variety of choral repertoire, performing on-campus, in the greater Harrisburg area, and on annual tours, both regionally and abroad. Auditions are open to all Messiah University students, regardless of major.

Choral Arts Society

Director: Dr. Joy Meade
The Messiah University Choral Arts Society, is our largest campus choir made up of students, faculty and staff from Messiah University and members of the greater Harrisburg community. Founded by Messiah music professor Earl “Prof” Miller in 1946, the ensemble was originally called the Alumni Oratorio Society. Later, the name was changed to the Grantham Oratorio Society to emphasize the community in which they participated. Earl Miller directed the choir for 22 years, followed by Messiah professors Ronald Sider, who led the group for 28 years, and Ronald Miller, the 1997 interim director. In 1998, the choir was renamed the Messiah College Choral Arts Society to reflect the group’s rich heritage with the college. Under LInda Tedford's 20 year tenure, Choral Arts Society began regular collaborations with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and the choir continues to perform majors works with orchestra each season. Recent seasons have included performances of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Poulenc's Gloria, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Bach's Magnificat and Haydn's St. Nicholas Mass.

Women's Ensemble

Director: Dr. Rachel Cornacchio
Women's Ensemble is an all-female vocal ensemble, open to music majors and non-majors alike. This choir performs a variety of repertoire, ranging from the Renaissance to the present day. Women's Ensemble performs both on the Christmas Concert and Spring Concert.

Men's Ensemble

Director: Eric Dundore
Men's Ensemble is an all-male vocal ensemble. This choir rehearses once a week, and performs two concerts each school year. Men's Ensemble is open to all majors.

Messiah University Vocal Jazz

Messiah University Vocal Jazz is a select vocal ensemble, comprised of music majors and non-majors, that performs a variety of contemporary music. Ranging from arrangement of jazz tunes to ballads from musicals, Messiah Unviersity Vocal Jazz combines modern singing with on-stage performance. The ensemble performs both on campus and off campus at a variety of events.

Chamber Singers

Director, Dr. Joy Meade
Chamber Singers is a small, select vocal ensemble, comprised of members of the Concert Choir. This ensemble performs both on and off campus and studies advanced repertoire.

Opera Workshop

Music and Stage Director: Dr. Damian Savarino
Opera Workshop allows students the opera experience in an instructive and educational setting. Students learn the art of on-stage singing, acting, movement and other aspects of opera while performing excerpts from great works in full costume.

Musical Theatre

Music Director: Dr. Timothy Dixon
The musical is a full production staged every spring. Past playbills include classic shows from the '50s and '60s along with modern productions. The musical is open to all majors.

United Voices of Praise

Director: Eric Byrd
United Voices of Praise serves as Messiah University's gospel choir. This ensemble, open to all Messiah University students, performs works from the gospel literature both on campus and in the community.

Sources:
Messiah University Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2021)

Joy Elizabeth Meade: Short Biography | Ensembles: Messiah University Chamber Singers
Bach Discography: Recordings of Vocal Works

Links to other Sites

Messiah University: Choirs and Vocal Ensembles