Singing has a unique way of lifting the human spirit, not only for the singers but for those who listen as well. Choral performance has the ability to delight and enlighten concertgoers with a unique combination of harmony, poetry and stories. This distinct power of choral music will be on full display this season with performances offered by Michigan State University.

The first choral concert of the season presents MSU’s State Singers and University Chorale on Saturday, October 28 at 8:00 p.m. in the MSU Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre. The program includes alternating choruses of Vivaldi’s two settings of Gloria. A unique highlight of this concert will feature conductors Sandra Snow and Derrick Fox. For Dr. Snow, a national choral leader who has taught at MSU for years, it will mark her first concert since taking over as Director of Choral Programs in the College of Music. For Dr. Fox, this will be his first concert since returning to MSU as the new Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Creative Endeavors in the college.

“We are thrilled to have Derrick Fox join our choral faculty this year. I think people attending this first choral concert of the year will immediately recognize his skill and enthusiasm,” Dr. Snow said. “We have so many high-quality singers in University Chorale and State Singers, and we are looking forward to bringing out the best in them as we present some very powerful and beautiful music.”

Additional performances of MSU choral ensembles for the fall semester include:

• Carmina Burana with MSU’s University Chorale, State Singers and Choral Union, and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Friday, November 10th, 7:30 p.m. Cobb Great Hall, Wharton Center
• Chamber Choir, Choral music of J.S. Bach and more accompanied by the Red Cedar Organ, Tuesday, November 21, 7:30 p.m. MSU Alumni Memorial Chapel
• Viridis and Campus Choir, choral repertoire for treble voices, and musical stories of Indigenous American children. Saturday, December 2nd, 8:00 p.m. Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
• Mosaic and Singing Spartans, repertoire for treble and tenor-bass voices, Tuesday, December 5th,
  7:30 p.m. Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
• Holiday Cheer with MSU Symphony Orchestra and Choirs present Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Handel’s Messiah, Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, and a singalong, Saturday, December 12th, Cobb Great Hall, Wharton Center. Part of the MSUFCU Showcase Series.

General admission seating for this and other choir ensemble performances are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 60 and older), and free for students and those under 18 with valid ID (excluding Nov. 10 with LSO). Tickets can be purchased online (music.msu.edu), by calling (517) 353-5340, or at the door. More information on these and other events in of the 2023–2024 Season of Music can be found at music.msu.edu/events

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Press materials

View or download the press release (PDF)
Contact Michael Sundermann, 517-353-2043, sunderm7@msu.edu 

Long-time Professor of Choral Conducting Sandra Snow is now the Director of Choral Programs at the MSU College of Music.

Derrick Fox, MSU Alumnus and newly appointed MSU Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Creative Endeavors comes from the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he was Director of Choral Activities and Distinguished Professor of Music.