Choirs
UNI Choirs is committed to providing outstanding performance opportunities, artistic excellence, and lifelong friendships. There are five choirs on campus, and every choir is open to any major. You are invited to join the tradition and find your home within UNI Choirs.
About UNI Choirs
UNI Choirs seek to provide outstanding performance opportunities, positive rehearsal atmospheres and an environment that fosters community.
This year more than 250 singers have found their home in University of Northern Iowa Choirs.
Concert Chorale, UNI Singers, Cantorei, Cecilians and Varsity Glee Club perform for campus functions as well as regional and international communities. UNI Choirs offer students a comprehensive music education, introducing students to all genres and periods of choral repertoire, frequently collaborating with instrumental ensembles on chamber music and major works.
Recent Major Works
- Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D minor (2019)
- Nancy Hill Cobb, Threnody (2018)
- Maurice Duruflé, Complete Choral Works (2016)
- performance to appear on the CENTAUR Record Label
- Rolf Rudin, Requiem (2015)
- Johannes Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem (2014)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams, Hodie, (2013)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Requiem (2012)
Recent International Choral Tours
- Greece: Glee Club and Cecilians (2022)
- Spain: Concert Chorale (2019)
- Wales and Ireland: Varsity Men's Glee Club (2018)
- Germany: Women's Chorus (2018)
- Iceland & Norway: Varsity Men's Glee Club (2016)
- Ireland: Women's Chorus (2016)
- Estonia: Concert Chorale (2015)
- Spain: Varsity Men's Glee Club (2014)
- Austria & Germany: Varsity Men's Glee Club (2012)
Master of Music in Choral Conducting
The graduate program in choral conducting is designed to be highly select and the objective is to prepare first-rate conductors of choral music. Graduate study in choral conducting at the University of Northern Iowa is focused on providing outstanding performance opportunities, encouraging deliberate study of expression and clarity as an artist and pedagogue, fostering an informed, scholarly approach to choral literature and music research, and offering regular podium time with university ensembles.
Graduate students in the Master of Music in Choral Conducting program are able to study with the entire Graduate Conducting Faculty and across all conducting disciplines. In recent years UNI Choirs have performed requiems by Brahms, Duruflé, Mozart, and Rudin, Ralph Vaughan Williams' Hodie, 30 Bach cantatas, have made multiple recordings, and have embarked on international tours throughout the world.
View the Typical Course of Study How to Apply to pursue graduate study in choral conducting at UNI
If you would like to know more about the graduate program in choral conducting at UNI, please contact Dr. Wiles.
Support Choirs
The UNI Choral Enrichment and Opportunity Fund (CEOF) is designed to enhance choral music education at UNI. Money donated will be used to provide scholarships, expand touring, and support programmatic needs. By giving to the CEOF, you can impact the student experience by strengthening the tradition of UNI Choirs, increasing future opportunities, and inspiring professional excellence after graduation.
If you would like to give to the Choral Enrichment and Opportunities Fund, please contact the UNI Foundation at (319) 273-2311.
Education Events
Vocal Arts Festival
For over a decade, the University of Northern Iowa has had the privilege of hosting thousands of young singers from across the state, providing an environment to meet other vocalists and experience making music together at its Vocal Arts Festival (VAF). Offering programs for students and conductors alike, the VAF seeks to provide an outstanding performance opportunity, positive atmosphere, and foster relationships between singers and ensembles. In addition, students will have the opportunity to take voice lessons from the UNI Voice Faculty, and scholarships may be awarded to study voice at the UNI School of Music as a music major.
Music Career Day
UNI Music Career Day is designed for juniors and seniors in high school who are considering a career in music. This free event will include informational breakout sessions on various music careers and the programs at UNI that can lead you to them. Participants will also have the chance to sit in on classes in their chosen area of focus, visit ensemble rehearsals including Choirs, Jazz Band Combo, Orchestra, and Panther Marching Band, meet with current students, and experience first-hand what it might be like to be a music major in college.
Middle School Treble Festival
The Middle School Treble Festival is open to cis women, trans women, and nonbinary treble singers in grades 6-9. Students will have sectionals and rehearsals on the concert repertoire, have a voice masterclass with one of UNI's voice faculty, and have the opportunity to work with members of the Cecilians, UNI's treble ensemble. All events will culminate in a performance of the Great Hall of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center!
Northern Iowa Choral Invitational
The Northern Iowa Choral Invitational is hosted by the UNI student chapter of the ACDA. Excellent choirs from across the state are invited to perform in Great Hall of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. If you are interested in appearing in the Northern Iowa Choral Invitation, please contact John Wiles (john.wiles@uni.edu).
We Sing
We Sing is an all-day choral festival open to all high school female identifying individual and non binary treble singers. Join the inclusive community of strong, proud singers that make up the Cecilians for the day, connecting with students from across Iowa as well as faculty members from multiple academic areas at UNI. The events culminates in an evening performance in the Great Hall at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
