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Choral Ensembles

A Cappella Choir

The Baylor A Cappella Choir is the premier choral ensemble at Baylor University. Selected by competitive audition, the 60-voice choir performs a wide variety of repertoire from all periods of music history. In the past few years the choir has represented Baylor University at many of the major choral, vocal and instrumental conventions throughout the U.S. including the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas Annual Meeting, the Texoma Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the College Band Directors Association.

Baylor Bella Voce

Baylor Bella Voce is the newest choral ensemble at Baylor University. This highly select women's choir is comprised of thirty-six singers. The students are primarily music majors (choral music education, church music, and vocal performance) although several members are non-majors, representing various disciplines, at both the graduate and under-graduate level. Bella Voce performs a wide and interesting variety of choral selections reflecting various style periods and genres from the vast repertoire written specifically for women's voices. The ensemble has been featured at Christmas at Baylor, as well as at concerts throughout the state. Dr. Lynne Gackle (Professor of Ensembles and Associate Director of Choral Activities at Baylor) is the founder and conductor of Bella Voce.

Concert Choir

The 60-voice Baylor Concert Choir performs music from all styles of the choral repertoire. Concert Choir is an auditioned group that has developed a strong reputation for its excellence and recent performances include Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Zigeunerlieder of Johannes Brahms. The Baylor Concert Choir recently sang for the Association of Baptist Schools and in the Spring of 2008 presented a Celebration of Psalms and Hymns featuring works by Fissinger, Batten, Sweelinck, and Wilberg. The Baylor Concert Choir meets from 11:15am-12:35pm three days per week.

Baylor Men's Choir

The Men's Choir has had a long history at Baylor with its inception in 1895. It provides an exciting experience from folk songs to serious choral works for male voices. Comprised of many non-majors, the ensemble has appeared at major conventions including the Texas Music Educators Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship National Assembly, and the Southwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association. In addition to its annual tours, the choir takes an international tour once every four years, going to Kenya in 2005 and 2013 and Argentina in 2009. The Men's Choir sponsors a Men's Day Out Choral Festival each fall for regional high school men's choirs. For additional information, visit their website at www.baylor.edu/BUMC

Women's Choir

The Baylor University Women's Choir is an auditioned ensemble dedicated to the study and performance of music for the female voice. Annual performances include the Parent's Weekend concert, Fall and Spring concerts, Christmas at Baylor, and hosting the Baylor Women's Choir Festival-an event attended by over 250 high school women's choir singers each year. The choir also sings at a variety of events in the community and undertakes recording projects. Membership is open through audition to female students in any degree program at Baylor.

Chamber Singers

Specializing in music from the Renaissance and Contemporary periods, the 18-voice Baylor Chamber Singers are noted for their excellence in the choral art. Performing in the exceptional acoustics of the Meditation Foyer of the Armstrong Browning Library, the Chamber Singers were prominently featured in the PBS special, Christmas at Baylor. The Chamber Singers have made several recordings over the years including their most recent entitled Songs of Praise.

Baylor Choral Union

Comprised of all the Baylor choirs, the Baylor Choral Union performs major works with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra. In the spring of 2007, the Choral Union joined forces with Schola Cantorum of Texas for performances of Gustav Mahler's Symphony 2 (Resurrection) in Jones Concert Hall in Waco and in Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.

For more information regarding the Baylor Choral Program, please contact:

Dr. Alan Raines
Director of Choral Activities
Baylor University
School of Music
Waco, TX 76798-7408
Phone: 254-710-2967
Fax: 254-710-1497
Email: Alan_Raines@baylor.edu