Choirs and Voice
Concert Choir
Equally at home in the cathedral or the concert hall the Murray State Concert Choir sings diverse musical styles with enthusiasm and ease. From the pure resonant tone of the Renaissance to robust singing in opera choruses the premiere choir at Murray State University fully realizes the stylistic integrity of each of the musical genres it performs. The Choir has presented concerts in some of the world’s greatest venues including York Minster, Canterbury Cathedral, St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice, St. Thomas, Leipzig, and Carnegie Hall and enjoys a world-wide reputation for excellence. Under the baton of Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Bradley Almquist, the MSU Concert Choir has sung invitational performances at State, Division and National Conferences of NAfME and ACDA. The MSU Concert Choir is selected each fall by audition and includes students from all of the academic colleges on campus. With its extensive performance responsibilities, the singers selected as members of the Concert Choir are many of Murray State University’s finest and brightest students. They regularly appear in concert on campus and on regional tours fulfilling the university’s mission of enhancing the cultural milieu of the entire Four Rivers area.
Video: Dr. Bradley Almquist conducts the Murray State Concert Choir.
Vox Lumina
The Vox Lumina is a diverse ensemble including singers from all the academic colleges at the university. The non-auditioned choir strives to build a supportive and creative community through the study and performance of exceptional choral music. Vox Lumina offers expressive performances in a wide variety of genres, focusing on elevating and empowering the human spirit.
Una Voce
The Murray State University Una Voice welcomes all students who enjoy singing. It is a non-auditioned tenor/bass choral ensemble. Repertoire spans from traditional tenor/bass chorus standards to contemporary popular song arrangements. Una Voce also performs for campus wide events.
Opera Theatre Ensemble
The Murray State Opera Theatre Ensemble is dedicated to the preparation of students for work on the operatic and musical theater stage. A special emphasis is placed on introducing the novice singer/actor to basic stage movement while singing. Students have the opportunity to audition the Department of Music and the Department of Theatre joint productions of a musical selected from the standard musical theater repertory. Recent shows have included "Into The Woods," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Pirates of Penzance," and "Cinderella." During the semester opposite the main stage musical production students have the opportunity to work alone and in small groups staging arias and scenes from grand opera, operetta and musical theater. Voice faculty members direct these activities sharing their real-life stage experiences with the students in a professional theater environment. These stage experiences are particularly valuable to the singers as they prepare themselves for careers in performance or as music teachers who may, one day, direct their own students in musical theater/operetta productions.
Video: Dr. Maribeth Crawford oversees an Opera Theatre Ensemble production.
EQ Blu
The Murray State University EQ Blu is a contemporary a cappella ensemble. The auditioned ensemble serves as musical ambassadors for the university. EQ Blu studies and performs a wide array of music from popular styles. This ensemble participates in school tours and festival performances throughout the region.