The A&M-Commerce Vocal Division consists of five choral ensembles and Opera Workshop. The University Chorale is the premier choral ensemble selected by audition from graduate and undergraduate students in the Department of Music and the campus at large. In addition to a full schedule of on campus performances, the Chorale has appeared in convention concerts, workshops presentations and choral festivals as well as tours within the United States and Europe. Most recently the University Chorale and Wind Ensemble presented a two hour in concert in Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Chorale traveled to Brazil to perform as the guest international choir at the International Music Festival of Campina Grande, toured France performing in Le Madeline Church, St. Sulpice Church and a special concert at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy and toured Austria and Germany performing concerts at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and at the University of Vienna. In 2019 the Chorale was selected by audition to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention.
The Men’s Chorus was begun in 2009 and has remained an integral part of the vocal division at Texas A&M University-Commerce. The Men’s Chorus consists of men from the University Chorale. The Men’s Chorus was invited to perform for the American Choral Directors Association Southwestern Division Convention in 2016. The Women’s Chorus consists of the women from the Chorale. The Women’s Chorus performs each Fall on the Fall Choral Division Concert. The University Singers is open to all singers from the Department of Music and the campus at large. The University Singers perform annually on the Choral Fall, Holiday Candlelight, Holiday Gala and Spring Concerts as well as special events on campus. The Grand Chorus combines forces of all the singers in the Department to perform a large-scale choral-orchestral master work. Pervious works include, Mozart’s Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living, Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard. The Chamber Singers specialize in a cappella chamber vocal music from all periods of music history and are noted for their excellence in the choral art. The Chamber Singers perform two concerts on campus, and an annual holiday concert at Frist Presbyterian Church in Commerce as well as at special events on campus and in the community. Most recently, the group performed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Paul’s Church in New York City, Grace Cathedral and St. Mary Cathedral in San Francisco and at Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church in New Orleans, LA. The Opera Workshop offers singers the opportunity to perform a fully staged opera or musical each year. In the semester opposite the main stage production, students are selected to perform in a scenes program. Recent main stage productions have been Kiss Me Kate, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Impresario by Mozart and Il Companello by Donizetti, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Xerxes by Handel. In 2018 the production of Xerxes won the Division III 2nd place in the National Association of Opera Competition. Most recently the A&M-Commerce Opera Workshop performed the North American premiere of Adam Gorb’s opera, Pathway to Heaven. In addition to production preparation, students are given the opportunity to learn more about dance, acting and professional theatre training through class experiences and guest artists.
