University Choirs and Choruses
The Boston University Choral Program is open to all musicians in the campus community: undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and friends. BU community members sing alongside music performance majors from the School of Music, collectively forming the four distinct choral ensembles at Boston University. Each semester typically features a large choral work, often including orchestra and vocal soloists as well as small concerts of accompanied and unaccompanied music from the Renaissance to Contemporary music including music from diverse genres and cultures as well as standard classical music canon. The ensembles present at least one concert each semester, including an annual performance at Symphony Hall, the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Rehearsals are held in the CFA at 855 Commonwealth Avenue on Monday or Wednesday evenings for BU University Choruses and Symphonic Chorus and Monday/Friday midday for BU Chamber Choir; extra rehearsals are often held as performances approach and will be announced before the start of the semester. Vocal hearings to determine vocal range are generally held at the first and second rehearsals of each semester. Participating BU students/BU community and Boston community members should register for the course, which is offered for either one, half, or zero credits.
Non-degree students, BU community members (staff, faculty, alumni, friends of BU), and greater Boston community members should register via the non-degree application each semester.
Director: Dr. Daniel Parsley (dparsley@bu.edu)
Director of Choral Activities; Director, Graduate Programs in Conducting
Symphonic Chorus (MP 603/MU 099/199)
125-voice symphonic chorus of majors and non-majors across the university. Spring. 2024 Symphonic Chorus highlights included a spring Boston Symphony Hall concert featuring Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé , and a spring concert featuring music across all genres, led by DMA graduate conducting students. Fall repertoire will soon be announced for a collaboration with the BU Symphony Orchestra and BU Symphonic Chorus and a collaborative performance at Boston Symphony Hall for the Boston 250th anniversary All City Concert.
Course Time: Wednesdays, 7:00-10:00 PM
University Chorus: Soprano/Alto Chorus (MP 601A, MU 098A ,MU 198A)
50-voice chorus of soprano/alto voices of majors and non-majors across the university. No audition required. The ensembles rehearse concurrently and often join together for SATB repertoire as well as SSAA and TTBB repertoire. Fall 2025 highlights include a collaborative performance at Boston Symphony Hall for the Boston 250th anniversary All City Concert, a fall family weekend performance, and a collaborative concert with the BU Symphony Orchestra.
Course Time: Mondays 6:30p-9:15p
University Chorus: Tenor/Bass Chorus (MP 601B, MU 098B ,MU 198B)
50-voice chorus of tenor/bass voices (low) of majors and non-majors across the university. No audition required. The ensembles rehearse concurrently and often join together for SATB repertoire as well as SSAA and TTBB repertoire. Fall 2025 highlights include a collaborative performance at Boston Symphony Hall for the Boston 250th anniversary All City Concert, a fall family weekend performance, and a collaborative concert with the BU Symphony Orchestra.
Course Time: Mondays 6:30p-9:15p
BU Chamber Choir (MP 604 A/B)
40-voice mixed chamber choir of majors and non-majors across the university. Audition required. Auditions are held on 9/1/2025 from 2:30-5:30PM. Spring 2024 highlights included a spring performance of J.S. Bach’s St John Passion with Handel & Haydn Society (H+H) and BU Baroque Orchestra. Fall 2025 will include at least one large scale work with the BU Symphony orchestra, opportunities for chamber ensemble work, and a collaborative performance at Boston Symphony Hall for the Boston 250th anniversary All City Concert.
Course Time: Mondays and Fridays 12:20p-2:05p
Contact:
Daniel Parsley
Director of Choral Activities; Chair of Graduate Conducting at Boston University
dparsley@bu.edu
Learn more about Daniel Parsley here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the choirs meet?
BU Symphonic Chorus: 7-10pm every Wednesday night
BU Singers: 12:20-2:05pm every Wednesday and Friday
BU Soprano Alto Chorus: 2:00-3:15pm every Tuesday and Thursday
What is the different between the choirs?
BU Symphonic Chorus is our bigger chorus that performs yearly with our orchestra and requires no audition. BU Singers is a smaller chorus that includes music and music education undergraduates and graduate majors as well non-music major singers from over across campus. BU Soprano Alto Chorus is a SA choir of treble and treble identifying singers that includes music and music education undergraduates and graduate majors as well non-music major singers from over across campus. Across campus, there are also a cappella groups, the BU Choral Society, BU Graduate Singers Ensemble, a Marsh Chapel Choir, Seminary Singers, and a Gospel Choir. Email Dr. Parsley at dparsley@bu.edu to find out more about these opportunities.
How often (and where) do we perform?
Symphonic Chorus performs 1-2 times a semester. Each semester alternates with a performance in the College of Fine Arts Concert hall (usually our Fall concert), outside venues, as well as a performance with the orchestra in Symphony Hall (usually one of the Spring concerts). BU Singers and BU Soprano Alto Chorus each perform twice per semester in the CFA Concert Hall, Marsh Chapel and other venues in the Boston area.
Is there an audition for Symphonic Chorus or Soprano Alto Chorus?
No singer will be turned away from Symphonic Chorus or BU Soprano Alto Chorus. However, each new member of Symphonic Chorus and BU Soprano Alto Chorus will do a simple voicing at the end of their first rehearsal in a group to assess vocal range and vocal color. This will help us place you in a voice part that is comfortable for you and where you will help the chorus sound at its best.
How do I get involved with BU Singers
BU Singers is open to all singers across the BU community. Rehearsals are WF from 12:20-2:00 PM. All BU Singers also sing in Symphonic Chorus or Soprano Alto Chorus. Email Dr. Parsley at parsleyd@bu.edu for more information on how you can join!
What songs do we sing?
In Symphonic Chorus, most of our repertoire is from the Symphonic literature, for chorus and orchestra. In BU Singers and BU Soprano Alto Chorus, we explore choral music of a variety of styles including works from across the world, both with orchestra, accompanied, and unaccompanied.
Can I join BU Symphonic Chorus, BU Soprano Alto Chorus, and BU Singers if I am in Medical / Law / Business school or other graduate program?
Yes! We have many graduate students from across campus that join us from across all 17 colleges at Boston University.
If I am a BU alum and still in the area or a Boston region resident, may I join BU Symphonic Chorus, BU Soprano Alto Chorus, and BU Singers?
We often have signers from the Boston area and alumni join our choruses, though you do need to sign up as a non-degree student. Please visit
this page to find out more.
I am excited to join the choruses. How do I get more information on our first rehearsals?
If you register for the class, you will receive emails from the BU Choral team! Visit
this page to find out where how to register.
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What if I want to sing in Symphonic Chorus but I have no credits left in my load?
Course CFA MU 099 is a 0-credit option that you can sign up for.
How are we graded in the choirs and do we have a final?
Your grade is determined by you showing up on time for rehearsals and performances. Your attendance at performances are considered your finals. Choruses do not meet after your last performance, so there is no ‘final’ during finals week.
Will I be graded differently if I am taking the class for 1 or 0 credits?
No, we have the same expectations for those who take the class for 1 or 0 credits and grade them the same way. There is no difference in the different call numbers.
Are there any leadership opportunities for me in the choruses?
Yes! We have section leaders, publicity and marketing chairs, culture chairs, and other assistants that help run the ensemble that are pulled from volunteers in the chorus.
Why are Symphonic Chorus rehearsals held late in the evening?
In order to accommodate the schedules of both undergraduate and graduate students, unfortunately we cannot start the rehearsal earlier. We know this is a long evening, so we encourage you to bring water and rest during our breaks. Music and singing is proven to change our bodies and our brains! We hope the music you will sing in Symphonic Chorus and the friends you will make will be an uplift for the rest of your busy week.
