Contact Faculty:
Matthew Abernathy, Director of Choral Studies
Hein Jung, Director of Vocal Studies
The University of Tampa is an outstanding place to study vocal music. Whether your interest is in music education, solo performance, opera, musical theatre, group performance or applied instruction, UT has numerous vocal opportunities right for its students. A gifted, dynamic and committed faculty, a superb library, strong and varied performing ensembles and numerous performance venues combine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere to provide an ideal location for musical life.
Solo Voice
Voice students at The University of Tampa have a number of opportunities to develop their technical skills and to improve their ability to present music in public performance. Each of our professors provides students with individual lessons. Other performance opportunities include optional recitals of solo and chamber repertoire and required degree recitals. All students who opt to study private voice instruction must participate in a vocal ensemble.
Class Voice
Students who wish to study beginning voice can opt to enroll in class voice. Class voice is a small, friendly environment where students learn singing techniques in a small group session. The course is designed with an emphasis on solo technique in a weekly master class setting. Students sing solos at the semester’s end.
Choral Music
The University of Tampa offers singers a variety of options in choral ensembles. Students may wish to audition for Chamber Singers, Opus or Opera Workshop. The Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs are choral ensembles open to all singers with no audition required. All choral ensembles are open to UT students regardless of academic discipline.
The choral ensembles are designed to accomplish three major goals, focusing on performance, the individual and service.
- Choirs at UT provide students the opportunity to rehearse and to perform quality choral repertoire at the highest level.
- Choirs at UT are also designed to encourage each individual to attain his/her greatest potential as an ensemble singer. Students are encouraged to explore all timbres of their voice, listen to each other and work together as a cohesive ensemble with a unified sound.
- Choirs at UT are designed to serve the school and the community. This in turn helps to recruit new students and audience members to the Department of Music.
Choral Ensembles
Chamber Singers
Chamber Singers is The University of Tampa's premiere, mixed vocal ensemble (24-30 members). Entrance is by audition only. Designed to perform advanced choral repertoire of all style periods, Chamber Singers serves as the flagship vocal ensemble of the University. As ambassadors of the Department of Music and The University of Tampa, Chamber Singers give numerous performances on campus and off-campus and tours regularly. Singers possessing superior vocal and sight-reading skills are invited to audition. Auditions are usually held at the beginning of the fall semester and priority is given to members who can commit to an entire academic year. The course may be repeated. MUS 293, 0-1 credit, audition required. Contact conductor, Ryan Hebert. Information about the choir and audition information can be found on the Chamber Singers page.
Camerata
The University of Tampa Camerata is a select chamber choir for women's voices (16-20), and membership is by audition only. The group performs challenging repertoire for women's voices of all genres and historical periods. The group sings with and without a conductor and regularly performs on and off-campus. Auditions are held at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. The course may be repeated. MUS 246 0-1 credit, audition required. Contact conductor, Ryan Hebert.
University Chorus (Sopranos and Altos)
The University Chorus - Sopranos and Altos is an open-enrollment vocal ensemble. Students who have an interest in singing, regardless of major, are invited to enroll without audition. The University Chorus - Sopranos and Altos will perform one or two concerts per semester. The course will focus on the development of healthy vocal technique, sight-reading skills and performance skills. The course may be repeated. MUS 295, 0-1 credit, no audition required. Contact conductor, Deah McReynolds.
University Chorus (Tenors and Basses)
The University Chorus - tenors and basses is an open-enrollment vocal ensemble. Students who have an interest in singing, regardless of major, are invited to enroll without audition. The University Chorus - Tenors and Basses will perform one or two concerts per semester. The course will focus on development of healthy vocal technique, sight-reading skills and performance skills. The course may be repeated. MUS 297, 0-1 credit, no audition required. Contact conductor, Rodney Shores.
OPUS
Opus is a small (12 to 20 member) auditioned ensemble of mixed voices that primarily performs Broadway and popular repertoire. The concerts are comprised of group numbers as well as solo and small ensemble performances. MUS 294, 0-1 credit. Auditions are at the beginning of each semester. Extra performances and rehearsals may be required. Contact conductor, Tara Swartzbaugh.
Opera Workshop
Opera Workshop is an auditioned ensemble. It is open to vocal performance majors and students enrolled in voice lessons during the semester. Individuals will perform in staged ensemble scenes representing various style periods, which will be assigned according to students’ voice type and technical ability. This performance class is also designed to do outreach concerts. Under the subtitle of the “opera for the community,” this ensemble will perform for museums, schools and public places to fulfill our mission of spreading the beauty of classical music to the community and the University. MUS 307, one credit. Contact director of vocal studies, Hein Jung.
