Concert Chorale

Bucknell Music Department

William Payn, Conductor 

The Bucknell University Concert Chorale is a mixed chorus of students from various fields of study at Bucknell. Formed in 1964 by Allen Flock, the Chorale presents annual programs of secular and sacred music.

In addition to its public concerts on campus, the ensemble has traveled extensively, presenting concerts from Toronto, Canada, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Tours have taken the group to Chicago, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, and Buffalo, including a performance at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Recently the chorale toured throughout Rhode Island and Connecticut. In 1997, the Chorale toured throughout the Pacific Northwest, including engagements in Seattle, Victoria, and Vancouver. In recent years, the ensemble has distinguished itself by singing with the Washington National Symphony Orchestra, the Chorale of Simon Bolivar of Caracas, Venezuela, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and for the Music Educators' National Conference in Atlantic City. In a concert with the New York University Choral Arts Society, the Chorale performed in Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. In spring 1994, the Chorale was honored to sing for the Eastern Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association in Washington, DC. In December 1994, the Chorale performed Handel's Messiah with the Brewer Ensemble of original instruments. In 1996, a special performance commemorating Bucknell's Sesquicentennial featured Carl Orff's Carmina Burana , with the Bucknell University Orchestra, at the Weis Center for the Performing Arts.  In May 1999, the Chorale was invited to sing David Willcock's Sing Praises under the composer's direction at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  In the fall of 1999, the Chorale participated in Paul Winter's premiere of The Tree, on Bucknell's campus.  During the fall semester 2000, the Chorale was honored to be invited by Paul Winter to join four other choirs to sing his Earth Mass for the Feast of Saint Francis at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City.  In the spring of 2003 the Chorale joined forces with the George Washington University Choir (directed by former Bucknell student Matthew Mehaffey), with concerts at Bucknell and in Washington, D.C.  On Sunday, March 6, 2005 the Concert Chorale participated in a performance at the new Strathmore Center for the Arts, Strathmore, Maryland.  Here the singers combined with other choral ensembles to sing the Rutter Mass of the Children and the Dvorak Te Deum with the National Philharmonic.

Information about the Concert Chorale 

• A Select Group:

  75 singers, selected by audition

• Rehearsals:

  Tuesday and Thursday, 5:00-6:15 p.m.
  Choral Rehearsal Room
  Weis Center for the Performing Arts

• Concert Tours:

  1997 - Pacific Northwest
  
  

  1995 - Arizona
  
  

  1993 - Florida
  
  

  1991 - Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania
  
  

  1989 - select group of 16 singers to Carnegie Hall, New York City
  
  

  1988 - Massachusetts and Rhode Island
  
  

  1987 - Florida
  
  

  1986 - Illinois, Michigan, Ohio
  
  

• Concert Dress Required:

  Men - Black tuxedos (must be purchased upon acceptance into the ensemble)
  
  

  Women - White blouse, long black gown (provided upon acceptance into the ensemble)