Vocal Program

Let me take this opportunity to offer greetings to you and to introduce you to some of the opportunities for choral singers here at Humboldt State University.  There are five choral ensembles, plus opera workshop, that rehearse and perform on campus each semester.  These choirs, listed below, are open to all students enrolled in all majors at the University.

  • Madrigal Singers
  • Mad River Transit
  • Humboldt Chorale
  • University Singers
  • Opera Workshop

The Madrigal Singers is an ensemble of 16 to 20 voices selected by audition to perform madrigal literature as well as vocal chamber music.  This ensemble is open to all students at the university. The Madrigal Singers has begun a tradition of presenting an annual Madrigal Dinner in December complete with costumes and with music of the Elizabethan Era.

The Mad River Transit (MRT) is an auditioned jazz choir of 14 select voices that performs jazz music.  This ensemble performs frequently on and off campus and also takes part in a vocal jazz festival every other year.  MRT Singers were one of five college jazz choirs selected to perform at the National Convention of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE).  MRT Singers traveled to New Orleans and performed at the 2000 IAJE National Convention.  This ensemble is open to all students at the university.  An audition testing voice quality, and musicianship is required.

The Humboldt Chorale is a chorale of 80-150 singers made up of both students and community members.  This chorale performs large works from traditional literature each semester.  In December the Chorale highlights the annual Community Christmas Concert with a performance of excerpts from Handel's "Messiah" and a popular rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

The University Singers, an auditioned group, was founded in Fall 1992.  The University Singers perform music of all styles and periods including traditional choral music, Broadway musical selections, and masterworks composed for choir and orchestra.  The University Singers represent the University and Music Department in performances and festivals on the campus, in the community, and throughout the state.  This ensemble is open to all students at the university. An audition testing voice quality, and musicianship is required.

The Opera Workshop is an auditioned group of singers who rehearse and perform traditional and contemporary musical theatre repertoire including operetta, grand opera, chamber opera, and broadway musicals. Singers prepare individual roles, ensemble music, and scenes from musicals and operas.  The opera Workshop gives a public performance each semester.  This ensemble is open to all students at the university. An audition testing voice quality, and musicianship is required.