Choral Studies
Bakersfield College Choir
The Bakersfield College Choir is a large ensemble composed of students from all majors across the campus. The Choir consists of students of all skill levels and devotes time to developing healthy vocal technique, sight singing and solfege skills, and music theory knowledge in each member. College Choir sings challenging repertoire across all styles and genres, including major choral literature of all the historical periods. The Choir participates in four concerts a year (two per semester) and can also be seen performing on campus at various events as well as in the community.
The BC College Choir frequently commissions and premiers new works, including the March 2017 premier of The Journey of Harriet Tubman by composer Ron Kean. It is a multi-movement work with staging, soloists, and an original video about the life of Harriet Tubman and is now being performed by notable choirs across the country.
The College Choir enjoys collaborating each December with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and the Bakersfield College Chamber Singers. The College Choir continually strives for excellence and provides a place for students to come together to personally experience the joy of choral music and share it with their community and beyond.
Prerequisites
Students must participate in voicing. For more information, please email Dr. Jennifer Garret: jennifer.garrett@bakersfieldcollege.edu
Chamber Singers
The Bakersfield College Chamber Singers is an elite, auditioned ensemble that performs challenging repertoire of all styles and periods. They perform in at least two major concerts per semester and can be seen at numerous schools, community, and private events. Locally, Chamber Singers are frequently featured on the news, radio, and newspaper for their sold-out performances, service in the community, and representation of the college both nationally and internationally.
The Chamber Singers have been seen in various conference performances through the years, and in February 2018 were one of only a few choral ensembles to perform at the California All State Music Educators Conference in San Jose. Their national and international tours include places such as Hawaii, Costa Rica, and with Eric Whitacre in New York's Carnegie Hall. In June 2015, the Chamber Singers represented the college on a performance tour of Rome, Florence, and Venice, Italy. In July 2018, they toured Australia, where they participated in exchange concerts with local Australian choirs in Cairns and Sydney, performed on ABC Radio in Sydney for millions of listeners, and their tour culminated in the Sydney Opera House under the direction of Grammy-award winning composer and conductor, Craig Hella Johnson.
The Chamber Singers constantly seek out new opportunities and challenges and frequently commission and premier new works. In 2017, they commissioned composer Ron Kean to write a piece for their spring 2017 Freedom concert. This commission became a unique collaboration between the Bakersfield College Choirs and the composer. In March 2017, The Journey of Harriet Tubman premiered as a multi-movement work with staging, soloists, and an original video about the life of Harriet Tubman and is now being performed by notable choirs across the country. Their October 2018 concert also featured a commission by Ron Kean of the Star Spangled Banner. An additional premier took place in the Sydney Opera House, where the Chamber Singers performed Secret of the Sea by American composer Jake Runestad.
The Chamber Singers also enjoy collaborations with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and artists such as Grammy-award winning soprano, Hila Plitmann, who performed with the Chamber Singers in 2018. The BC Chamber Singers constantly strive for excellence and devote a great deal of time and energy to developing the choral art and sharing it with their community and the world.
Prerequisites
Students must audition. For more information, please email Dr. Jennifer Garret: jennifer.garrett@bakersfieldcollege.edu
Renegade Chorus for Tenor & Bass Voices
The Bakersfield College Renegade Chorus is devoted to the exceptional repertory of music for men’s voices of all styles and genres. Members come from diverse backgrounds, including music majors, non-music majors, faculty, staff, and members of the community from high school age and above. Specific attention will be given to proper vocal technique in regards to men’s voices. Renegade Chorus performs a wide range of music and musical styles including folk songs, songs with sacred texts, songs in foreign languages and both serious and lighter music. The group generally performs in at least two concerts per semester. Field trips for performance may be required.
Bella Lux Treble Choir for Alto & Soprano Voices
Bella Lux Treble Choir is Bakersfield College’s newest chorus! Dedicated to the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to treble voices of all historical periods, this exciting group is growing fast and ready for your voice to join us. Specific attention will be given to proper vocal technique in regards to alto and soprano voices. Bella Lux performs a wide range of music and musical styles, including popular music, folk songs, songs in foreign languages, and much more. The group generally performs in at least two concerts per semester. Field trips for performance may be required.
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