Welcome to the Department of Choral Activities
The UNR Department of Choral Activities is an exciting place to belong and perform! It consists of four ensembles with over 200 participants. All of the ensembles maintain an active performance schedule on campus and throughout the Truckee Meadows. In addition, the choirs tour nationally, regionally, and perform regularly with local and regional arts organizations such as the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and the Reno Chamber Orchestra! For more information, contact Dr. Duane Karna, Director of Choral Activities at 775-784-4030.
Activities, Highlights, and Honors
- 1994 ACDA Convention Performance in Sacramento UNR Concert Choir.
- 1994, 1996 ACDA Student Symposia in Las Vegas UNR Chamber Singers.
- Performances at many CBDNA Northwest and Western Division Conferences performing literature written for Wind Ensemble and Choirs such as Berlioz Symphonie funèbre et triomphale, music by Percy Grainger, and Persichetti's Celebrations.
- Collaborations with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra performing the major choral/orchestral literature including Orff's Carmina Burana, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Candide, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, and Mahler's Symphony No. 2.
- Collaborations with the Reno Chamber Orchestra performing chamber works such as Handel's Messiah, and Bach's B minor Mass and Magnificat.
- Annual UNR High School and Middle School Choral Festivals. Each year, the UNR Department of Choral Activities sponsors an adjudicated festival for regional high school and middle school choirs. Nationally known clinicians are brought in to work with Northern Nevada's music educators and students. The UNR ACDA Student Chapter is actively involved in planning and running these festivals.
The UNR Chamber Singers is a select, mixed ensemble for upper-division music majors, non-majors, and graduate students. It offers students the opportunity to seriously study and perform a wide variety of choral repertoire including virtuoso choral music from the Western tradition, vocal jazz, and music from other cultures. The Chamber Singers have performed at two ACDA Regional Student Symposiums, and many CBDNA Division Conventions with the UNR Wind Ensemble. In addition, the Chamber Singers perform regularly with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and the Reno Chamber Orchestra.
The UNR Concert Choir is a mixed chorus of undergraduate and graduate students from throughout the university. It offers majors and non-majors alike an excellent choral experience in a diverse setting. The choir performs a wide range of choral repertoire and has also performed with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1994, the UNR Concert Choir performed Eric Whitacre's Cloudburst at the Student Composer Interest Session for the Western Division ACDA Convention in Sacramento. Whitacre's composition was chosen as the winning entry and has since been published and performed throughout the United States.
The UNR Symphonic Chorus is a large ensemble of both students and community singers including UNR faculty and staff members from other departments. It performs major works with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and presents the annual performance of Handel's Messiah with the Reno Chamber Orchestra.
The UNR Women's Chorus is open to music majors and non-majors from the University and the community. The ensemble performs regularly on and off campus, and focuses on the growing repertoire for women's voices.
Graduate Studies in Conducting
Graduate students pursuing the Master of Music in Performance (Conducting) or the Master of Music Education degree get many opportunities to conduct all of the above ensembles. The program offers a "hands on" approach with as much podium time as possible. In addition, many students get the opportunity to conduct a graduate student recital choir to fulfill the recital requirement for the M.M. in Performance degree.
Student Organizations
UNR's ACDA Student Chapter UNR has a very active student chapter of the American Choral Director's Association. The student chapter participates in division symposiums, and provides service and leadership to the music department at UNR. In addition, students pursuing a degree in choral music education receive leadership opportunities as they assist with the planning and operation of the UNR High School and Middle School Choral Festivals. MENC also has a very active and involved chapter at UNR for both vocal and instrumental majors.
How do I get involved in Choral Activities at UNR?
- Contact the Director of Choral Activities (Dr. Duane R. Karna) by phone (775) 784-4030 or email: karnad@unr.edu.
- Students are placed in appropriate ensembles based upon a placement hearing. Placement is based upon tone quality, tonal memory, and sight-reading.
- Register for the ensemble recommended to you.
Choral Faculty
Graduate Choral Assistants
Denell Hall
Sue Goodenow
Choral Links
Degrees in Choral Music Education
