Boston University Choral Consortium

Boston University Choral Consortium
Name	Boston University Choral Consortium
Origin	Boston
Genre	Choral music
Years active	1990s–present
Associated acts	Boston University School of Music, New England Conservatory, Boston Symphony Orchestra

Boston University Choral Consortium is a collegiate choral organization centered at Boston University that brings together multiple ensembles, directors, and singers for large-scale choral projects. The Consortium mounts performances in venues such as Symphony Hall (Boston), Cutler Majestic Theatre, and Huntington Theatre Company spaces, and collaborates with institutions including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the New England Conservatory. Its activities intersect with the musical life of Boston and academic programs at Boston University School of Music, supporting repertoire from Gregorian chant to contemporary works by John Adams (composer), Eric Whitacre, and Arvo Pärt.

History

The Consortium emerged in the 1990s amid a resurgence of choral activity in Boston led by figures associated with Boston University School of Music, Tufts University, and Harvard University. Early projects tied to anniversaries at Boston University and collaborations with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops Orchestra established the Consortium's profile. Over decades the group has presented masterworks by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, and Igor Stravinsky, while commissioning new compositions from composers linked to Tanglewood Music Center and the New England Conservatory. Institutional connections with festivals such as the Boston Early Music Festival and events at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum shaped its programming and community presence.

Organization and Membership

The Consortium functions as a coalition of choirs drawing singers from Boston University, regional conservatories like the New England Conservatory, colleges such as Wellesley College, Brandeis University, Northeastern University, and community choirs including Cantata Singers and Chorus pro Musica. Administrative oversight involves faculty from Boston University College of Fine Arts, collaborations with staff from Symphony Hall (Boston), and partnerships with presenters like Celebrity Series of Boston. Membership includes undergraduate students, graduate singers, faculty, and professional choral artists who have affiliations with ensembles such as Boston Camerata and Boston Cecilia. Governance typically features a board with representatives from the Boston University School of Music, donors associated with the Boston Musical Intelligencer, and liaisons to municipal arts agencies in Massachusetts.

Repertoire and Performances

Repertoire spans canonical works including Bach’s Mass in B minor, Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, Mozart’s Requiem (Mozart), Verdi’s Requiem (Verdi), Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, and Handel’s Messiah (Handel), as well as contemporary pieces by Caroline Shaw, Osvaldo Golijov, and Arvo Pärt. The Consortium has staged staged semi-staged works in collaboration with opera programs at Boston Lyric Opera and presented premieres in partnership with Tanglewood Music Center composers and ensembles from the New England Conservatory. Performances have been held at venues that include Symphony Hall (Boston), Jordan Hall, and university chapels on the campuses of Boston University and Harvard University, often featuring soloists affiliated with Metropolitan Opera programs and conductors with ties to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and San Francisco Symphony.

Education and Outreach

Educational activities connect with academic curricula at Boston University School of Music, training programs at New England Conservatory, and community initiatives led by organizations such as Community Music Center of Boston and Boston After School & Beyond. The Consortium runs workshops, masterclasses, and clinics featuring guest artists from institutions like Tanglewood Music Center, composers from Bang on a Can, and conductors associated with Gotham Chamber Opera. Outreach includes collaborations with schools in the Greater Boston area, joint projects with youth choirs such as Boston Children’s Chorus, and partnerships with cultural institutions like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to broaden access to choral music.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The Consortium’s partnerships involve presenters and institutions including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, New England Conservatory, Boston Lyric Opera, and the Celebrity Series of Boston. Collaborative projects have linked the Consortium with ensembles like Boston Baroque, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Cantata Singers, and guest artists from the Metropolitan Opera and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Funding and residency relationships have included grants and partnerships with foundations and festivals such as Tanglewood Music Center, the National Endowment for the Arts, and local arts councils tied to Massachusetts Cultural Council programming.

Recordings and Media

The Consortium’s recorded output includes live performance recordings, broadcast collaborations with local stations linked to WBUR (FM) and classical outlets, and digital releases showcasing works by Bach, Mozart, Whitacre, and contemporary composers associated with New Amsterdam Records and Nonesuch Records. Media exposure has featured reviews in publications such as the Boston Globe, coverage on classical radio programs, and streaming releases tied to collaborations with university media centers at Boston University and public platforms supported by arts presenters in Boston.

Notable Conductors and Alumni

Conductors and music directors associated with Consortium projects include faculty and guest conductors drawn from Boston University School of Music, alumni who have held positions at ensembles like Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Notable alumni have gone on to careers with organizations such as Boston Lyric Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, and teaching posts at institutions including the New England Conservatory and Yale School of Music. Guest artists and conductors who have appeared with the Consortium include figures linked to Tanglewood Music Center, the Royal College of Music, and international festivals such as the Aldeburgh Festival.

Category:Music organizations based in Boston Category:Choirs in Massachusetts