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Chamber Singers & Chorale

UMD Chamber Singers

The University of Maryland Chamber Singers were founded in 2001 by music director, Edward Maclary. The group quickly established itself as one of the leading choral ensembles in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Chosen by audition from the undergraduate and graduate populations at UMD, the Chamber Singers present concerts on and off campus throughout the year.

The Chamber Singers' repertoire encompasses music from the Renaissance era to the 21st century and recent programs have included major works by Bach, Handel, Britten, Brahms, Copland, Penderecki and Poulenc. The Chamber Singers were the featured performers for the opening concert of the 2004 convention of the National Association for Music Education.

In 2006 the ensemble released its first CD, The First Five Seasons and in 2007 made its first international performance tour. In Wales the ensemble competed at the prestigious International Musical Eisteddfod at Llangollen and was awarded Second Prize in the Mixed Choirs division. The Chamber Singers performed by invitation at the 2008 American Choral Directors Association convention and are the only American collegiate ensemble to receive consecutive invitations to sing at the conventions of the National Collegiate Choral Organization in 2008 and 2009.

In 2011, the Chamber Singers won top prizes at the prestigious Florilège Vocal de Tours, including the "Premier Prix" for Mixed Choirs, and the "Prix Ronsard" for exceptional performance of Renaissance music at the Florilège. Music director Edward Maclary, was presented with the award for the competition's outstanding conductor.

In addition to working regularly with music director Edward Maclary, the Chamber Singers have collaborated and studied with conductors such as Helmuth Rilling, Iván Fischer, Paul Goodwin, Peter Philips, Paul Hillier, Kenneth Slowik and J. Reilly Lewis. In Spring 2010 the Chamber Singers performed the B Minor Mass by J.S. Bach with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Iván Fischer.

University Chorale

The University of Maryland Chorale is a vital component in the choral program and a popular ensemble on campus. This 50-voice ensemble is chosen by audition, comprising students from the School of Music and across the University each semester.

The University Chorale has collaborated with the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra and annually with the National Symphony Orchestra since 2003 in repertoire such as the Bach St. Matthew Passion with Helmuth Rilling, Handel's Messiah with both Emil de Cou and, in 2007, Paul Goodwin. The Chorale performs a wide range of concerted and a cappella repertoire, ranging from Medieval chant and Renaissance polyphony to masterworks of the twentieth century. They also premier contemporary works, including those of the University's own choral composition majors.