Swarthmore College Chorus & Garnet Singers
Chorus and the Garnet Singers provide singers on the Swarthmore campus the opportunity to join a welcoming creative community that rehearses and performs works from across hundreds of years and many musical traditions. Both ensembles are directed by Dr. Nathan Reiff and perform regularly in Lang Concert Hall.
Chorus is a mixed-voice choir comprising about 75 students, faculty, staff, and community members. This ensemble rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:00-9:00 PM, with each vocal section meeting approximately one additional Thursday per month for a sectional rehearsal from 8:00-9:00 PM. Chorus performs repertoire including small-scale works from throughout history and around the globe as well as major works with orchestra including Fauré’s Requiem, Boulanger’s Hymne au Soleil, and Bach’s Magnificat (BWV 243). Singers of all experience levels are encouraged to join.
Garnet Singers is a select, mixed-voice ensemble of approximately 24 students. Garnet Singers rehearses Mondays from 4:15-6:15 PM and Wednesdays from 9:00-10:00 p.m. Garnet Singers are strongly encouraged to enroll simultaneously in Chorus. This ensemble focuses on works that are more intimate than those sung by Chorus, typically either a cappella or with piano accompaniment, and spanning many centuries, languages, and musical styles. It also regularly premieres pieces by student and faculty composers.
Both Chorus and Garnet Singers provide numerous opportunities for members interested in being section leaders, rehearsal managers, social coordinators, conductors, composers, and arrangers. Both choirs can be taken for 0.5 or 0.0 credits.
Students singing in Chorus and/or Garnet Singers are eligible to participate in a free Skills for Singing course aiming to help develop vocal technique, rehearsal skills, music reading, and related abilities. More information about Skills for Singing will be available at the first rehearsal of each ensemble.
2024-2025 Performance Dates
Friday, November 22, 2024 @ 8pm in Lang Concert Hall
Concert program, texts/translations, and program notes for the Swarthmore Chorus and Garnet Singers Fall 2024 concert, November 22, 2024.
Friday, April 25, 2024 @ 8pm in Lang Concert Hall
Choral Auditions, Fall 2024
Choral auditions at Swarthmore are a low-pressure and affirming experience! Both Chorus and Garnet Singers offer auditions at the beginning of each semester. During your brief audition you will be asked to do some vocal exercises, a listening exercise, and to sing about 30 seconds of a song of your choosing in any style, a cappella (“Happy Birthday” is fine!). The goal is for you to feel empowered to share about your musical experience and goals in a welcoming space.
This semester, Chorus will sing Ralph Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs with members of the Orchestra and world-renowned baritone and composer Roderick Williams OBE. Williams will also compose a new piece for Chorus to premiere in the same concert. Garnet Singers will sing a variety of shorter works by Elaine Hagenberg, Tōru Takemitsu, Shawn Kirchner, Laura Mvula, and others.
Auditions will be held in Lang Music Building in the first week of classes. A link to sign up for a 10-minute audition time is available here. Please reach out to Nathan Reiff (nreiff1@swarthmore.edu) at any time with any questions.
