KU Chamber Choir
KU Chamber Choir is the flagship choral ensemble at the University of Kansas and is composed of 30-40 singers. Comprised mostly of music majors but also of specially selected non-music majors, the choir studies and performs choral literature of the highest caliber from the Renaissance times until our days.
Several great artists/teachers have conducted the choir over the years, including James Ralston (1960-1993), Simon Carrington (1994-2001), John Paul Johnson (2002-2008), and Paul Tucker (2008-2020). Dr. Eduardo García-Novelli has been the Director of Choral Studies and the KU Chamber Choir conductor since the fall of 2021. The choir has toured the US extensively, Central America (2018), Europe (1998, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2010), Brazil (2002), Australia (2020), and it has recorded 4 CDs. The group was selected to perform for the National Convention of the ACDA in 2001 and for several other local and regional conferences and important events over the years.
In July of 2023, KU Chamber Choir competed at the Preveza International Choir Competition in Preveza, Greece, where the choir received the following awards:
- First Prize for the Mixed Choir Category
- First Prize for the Free Program Category
- Special prize for Best Program
- Special prize for Best Conductor
In February of 2024, KU Chamber Choir offered the President’s Concert at Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) annual convention.
In June of 2025 KU Chamber Choir competed at the Cracovia Cantans International Choir Competition in Krakow, Poland, where the choir received the following awards:
- First Prize and Gold Medal in the Sacred Music Category
- First Prize and Gold Medal in the Mixed Choir Category
- And the coveted GRAND PRIX, which qualified the choir as a finalist for the World Choral Championship, together with choirs from Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan.
On October 5, 2025, the ensemble released a recording of Maurice Duruflé's exquisite Requiem Op. 9 with renowned organist and long-time KU Professor Dr. James Higdon, under the Post House Acoustic label and in several platforms.
In June of 2026, KU Chamber Choir competed at Voce Magna International Choir Competition in Žilina, Slovakia, where the choir received the following recognitions:
- First Prize and Gold Medal in the Mixed Choir Category (Euro 800)
- GRAND PRIX (Euro 2,000)
Rehearsal Time
MWF 1:00 - 2:50 p.m.
Rehearsal Location
Murphy Hall, Room 328