Vocal Program

Whether your interest in singing is professional, educational, or simply recreational, URI offers many opportunities to sing, from ensembles to opera, as well as applied lessons with faculty artists and courses focused on choral and vocal music.

University Chorus

This large ensemble regularly performs major works such as Vivaldi’s Gloria, Shubert’s Mass in G, and Durufle’s Requiem with full orchestra and soloists. The group also explores interesting repertoire written for larger chorus from various times and nationalities. Open to all students who wish to participate as well as to community members, this non-auditioned chorus performs several times per academic year including at least one concert with the URI Orchestra.
Elizabeth Woodhouse, Director

chorusURI Concert Choir

This select group specializes in the performance of the great choral repertoire from the Renaissance to the present. The URI Concert Choir has performed in Ireland and Italy and recently made its Carnegie Hall debut as part of a larger choir directed by its conductor, Mark Conley. The ensemble has also been contracted to perform for professional events, such as Star Wars in Concert. Renowned for its innovative programming and advocacy of contemporary music, the group presents concerts regularly before the University and community audiences, as well as singing on regional and international tours. The Concert Choir has performed at the Eastern MENC Regional Conference. An audition is required to become a member of this ensemble.
Mark Conley, Director

Lively Experiment

A small choral concert group that explores the gamut of choral and vocal chamber repertoire, embracing many styles from Medieval to vocal jazz, this ensemble of top talent made their debut performance at the Rhode Island Statehouse before a joint session of the state legislature. An audition is required for this very select ensemble.
Mark Conley, Director

URI Opera Workshop

Open to students and select community members, this ensemble offers the opportunity to explore operatic repertoire ranging from arias and scenes to one-act operas, operettas, and full operas from the Baroque to the modern American eras. Students learn the basic technique of opera, sing on stage, and prepare arias, scenes, and full-scale productions, participate in every aspect of opera production. Recent performances before University and community audiences have included The Medium, Gianni Schicchi, a world premiere of Dr. Know-It-All, a full staged production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneus, and scenes from The Marriage of Figaro, The Tales of Hoffman, and Falstaff.
Rene de la Garza, Director