Chorus Information

 

University of California, Berkeley: University Chamber Singers

Marika Kuzma, director

Information last updated: 2008-10-10
Status: Archived

Basic Information

Description: This is a highly selective volunteer educational chorus, open to the general public.
Web Address: http://music.berkeley.edu/chchorus.html
Mission: To provide students and members of the greater campus community with the opportunity to sing a varied and stimulating choral repertory at the highest musical level.
Emphasis: Largely a capella repertory: Renaissance, Baroque, and contemporary works. Also performs with the Mark Morris Dance Troupe.
Size: 30-40
Concerts/Year: 12 (Approximately 4-5 separate programs)
Skills Required : Advanced musicianship skills and significant ensemble experience required.
Auditions: Yes. at the Music Department, Morrison Hall, UC Campus, Berkeley. Auditions are held roughly during the last two weeks of August, second and third week of January. Auditions include performance of a prepared piece, ear-training tests, and sight-singing.
Dues: No
Payments to Singers: Singers may (but are not required to) receive college credit for their participation.
Dress: Varies, but usually combination of black and white.
Rehearsals: Monday, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Hertz Hall, University of California, Berkeley

Categories

Type of Music: Classical
Church/Sacred
Contemporary
Early Music
Type of Chorus: Mixed Adult
Academic
Rehearse City: Berkeley
Region: Alameda County West
Audition Req'd: Y

Chorus Contact Information

Mailing Address: Morrison Hall, Music Department, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-1200
Phone: (510) 642-2678

Other Information

Related Groups: Occasional programming for subgroups of the ensemble.
Discography:

Harrison, Lou. Lo Koro Sutro. New Albion Records, 1988
Handel. Susanna. Harmonia Mundi, 1990. (With Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra)
Handel. Messiah. Harmonia Mundi, 1991. (With Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra) (Grammy-nominated).
Handel. Theodora. Harmonia Mundi, 1992. (With Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra)
Handel. Judas Maccabaeus. Harmonia Mundi. (With Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra)
Feldman, Morton. Rothko Chapel, Why Patterns. Philip Brett, Director. New Albion. 1991.
Armer, Elinor, with texts by Ursula K. Le Guin. Uses of Music in Uttermost Parts. Marika Kuzma, Director. Koch International. 1995.
Icons of Slavic Music (Selections in Church Slavonic including several rare 17th-century motets, Bortniansky choral concertos, Rakhmaninov Vespers). Marika Kuzma, Director. Americ Disc. 1996. Gibbons. Anthems & Instrumental Works. John Butt, Director. Centaur Records, 1997.
Dufay, Guillaume. Missa Ave regina celorum. Marika Kuzma, Director. To be released. Graceful Passages, Companion Ars, 2000.

 

Bibliography:

Numerous reviews with Philharmonia Baroque.

Comments from various reviews:
San Jose Mercury News: "arguably the Bay Area's preeminent collegiate ensemble. "
Washington Post:  "wonderfully rich sonority. "
San Francisco Examiner:  The chorus  "leaves no syllable unarticulated and no marvel unexplored. "
Opera News.  "The powerful concentration of Marika Kuzma's Chamber Chorus provided an exciting backdrop. "
New York Times.   "The UC Chamber Chorus...was excellent."