Vocal Ensembles
Welcome to the choral program at Â鶹¹û¶³! Membership in any of the Â鶹¹û¶³ choral ensembles is open by audition to all Moravian students, faculty, and staff, as well as anyone from the Lehigh Valley community.
We have four ensembles available to all students, faculty, staff, and community:
- Blue Stars (treble voices) - 30-60 minutes on Mondays between 4:15pm-6:15pm
- Grey Hounds (tenor and baritone voices) - 30-60 minutes on Mondays between 4:15pm-6:15pm
- Â鶹¹û¶³ Choir* (mixed voices) - Wednesdays 4:15p-6:15pm
- Moravian Chorale* (select mixed voices) - Wednesdays - usually starting around 5:45pm
*Note: you must be in Blue Stars or Grey Hounds in order to sing in the University Choir and Chorale.
Auditions
- Auditions for the fall of 2025 are Monday 25 August from 3:30pm-6:00pm. We ask that you come with a solo song (aria, Broadway, pop etc.) to sing. If you want an accompanist, come with some sheet music for the pianist. If you don't have a solo song, you can sing "The National Anthem" a cappella. We will also lead you through a few vocalizations and sight-singing.
- Interested singers should and.
- Returning members need not audition, but should ontact Dr. Zerkle in advance of the start of the semester and fill out .
- If you have not sung in Â鶹¹û¶³ Choral ensembles before, contact Dr. Zerkle at zerkle@moravian.edu
For further information about the vocal music program at Â鶹¹û¶³, contact the Director of Vocal Music, Dr. Paula Zerkle at zerkle@moravian.edu.
Student Registration
All students who are not music majors, including music minors, who wish to earn M6 (Aesthetic Experience) LinC credit, should register for MUS 150. You will need to participate in the University Choir for six semesters and write a short paper at the end of each term.
All other students (including music majors) in the University Choir should register for MUS 151. Music majors earn credit for ensembles through the Performance Unit, but register in order to have the rehearsal slot appear in their schedule. Students who are not in the music major (including minors), cearn a half unit of elective credit after participating for 4 semesters and a full unit of elective credit after 6 semesters.
If your General Ed curriculum is MILE, the University Choir will also count as an elective credit after 6 semesters of participation.
We have other vocal ensembles available in the music department as well. Contact the director for more information.
University Choir and Moravian Chorale
Director: Dr. Paula Zerkle
Audition Info: Auditions are held on the first day of each semester.
Rehearsals: Mondays/Wednesdays 4:15pm-6:15pm in Peter Hall, South Campus
The Â鶹¹û¶³ Choir (SATB) and its approximately 50 s have been an integral performing ensemble of Moravian's noted Department of Music for over seven decades. They are featured in the December Vespers services and perform a large concert, often with orchestra, in the spring semester.
The choir has sung around the United States, the Caribbean, and in many countries in Europe and the Middle East, including England, France, Germany, Holland, Austria, Russia, Greece, Czechoslovakia and Israel. In January 1998, the choir toured England and Scotland with the Women's Chorus and Wind Ensemble, and in the spring of 2001, the same ensembles toured Germany. They have performed several times at the Czech Embassy in Washington D.C. and at Home Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, N.C.. In 2008, members of the choir had a 12-day performance tour in Germany, Italy, and Austria.
The group consists primarily of Â鶹¹û¶³ students, and although many of them are music majors, many come from varied majors, such as biology, nursing, English, sociology, chemistry, history, education, and math. The ensemble is also open to alumni and members of the Lehigh Valley community. One must be a member of either the Blue Stars or Grey Hounds in order to participate in this ensemble.
The Choir meets on Wednesdays from 4:15pm-6:15pm in Peter Hall on South Campus. Music majors, as part of their Performance Unit, and other majors, who want to earn elective credit or fulfill the Learning in Common M6 requirement, must participate in the Choir and either the Blue Stars or Grey Hounds.
The Moravian Chorale (SATB) is a subset of the University Choir and performs additional more intense, challenging repertoire. They meet on Wednesdays at the end of the University Choir rehearsal time. with occasional sectionals on Mondays. Any singers in the choir may opt to sing in this ensemble, but their participation must be approved by the director. This ensemble is required for alvocal majors.
Blue Stars and Grey Hounds
Director: Dr. Paula Zerkle
Audition Info: Auditions are held on the first day of class in each semester
Rehearsals: Mondays in Peter Hall, alternating times between 4:15pm-5:15pm and 5:15pm-6:15pm.
The Blue Stars (SSAA) and Grey Hounds (TTBB) meet on Mondays and alternate rehearsal times each week in Peter Hall on South Campus. They perform in the Christmas Vespers services in December and in a spring concert in April. Anyone wanting to participate in the mixed ensembles must also sing in one of these ensembles. The ensemble consists of Â鶹¹û¶³ students, alumni, and members of the Lehigh Valley community.
Vocalis
Director: Dr. Paula Zerkle
Audition Info: Members of Vocalis are selected by the director from the Moravian Chorale.
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6:15pm-7:15pm in Peter Hall, South Campus
Vocalis is a small, mixed, a cappella vocal ensemble of 8-10 singers, who perform for functions on- and off-campus. Their repertoire draws from a range of styles, including standard choral repertoire, early music, vocal jazz, and newly composed works.
Opera Ensemble
Director: Suzanne Kompass
Audition Info: Email kompasss@moravian.edu or call 610-861-1650 for more information
Rehearsals: on hiatus