Exploring the Repertoire of the Bard College Choir: A Comprehensive Guide

Bard College offers a rich and diverse musical environment for students interested in vocal performance and choral music. This article provides an overview of the repertoire explored by the Bard College Choir, along with insights into the audition process and the broader musical opportunities available at the college.

Auditioning for Vocal Programs at Bard College

Prospective students interested in joining the Bard College Choir or pursuing vocal studies need to navigate a structured audition process. This process generally involves submitting a prescreening recording, and for some, a final audition.

Prescreening Requirements

Applicants typically submit a prescreening recording along with their Conservatory application by January 1st. These recordings, submitted online as either audio or video, serve as an initial assessment of the applicant's musical abilities.

The prescreening repertoire varies depending on the specific program. For example, applicants might be asked to submit:

An étude
A concerto movement
A work of their choice

Composition applicants must submit a portfolio of scores and recordings representing their creative potential. Harp applicants may submit two pieces of a specified difficulty level, such as Bach/Grandjany études or works by Marcel Tournier, Nina Rota, or Handel. Percussion applicants may submit a mallet solo, a timpani étude, and a snare drum étude. Vocal applicants must submit two contrasting selections from the operatic or art song repertoire and two contrasting works from the concerto or instrumental duo repertoire.

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Final Audition Requirements

Final auditions are typically by invitation only, and shortlisted applicants will receive an invitation to either schedule an audition or submit new recordings by January 15. Live auditions are held in February and March at Bard College Conservatory of Music.

Similar to the prescreening stage, the final audition repertoire varies by program, and may include:

An étude
A concerto movement
A 20th-century work
Two orchestral excerpts of the applicant's choice (e.g., Beethoven - Symphony No.)

Harp applicants may be asked to perform two contrasting solos and two orchestral excerpts. Percussion applicants may be asked to perform a marimba solo, a timpani étude, a snare drum étude, and sight-read chamber music excerpts. Vocal applicants must present two contrasting selections from the operatic or art song repertoire and two contrasting works from the concerto or instrumental duo repertoire.

General Audition Considerations

Bard College welcomes auditions with repertoire that best represents the applicant as a player, even if it deviates from the typical requirements. Percussion applicants, for example, can submit orchestra excerpts, steel drum playing, multiple percussion solos, drumset performances, or performances on other instruments.

Choral Repertoire and Performance Opportunities

The Bard College Choir offers students numerous opportunities to engage with a diverse range of choral repertoire. The choir performs vocal music from the Middle Ages to contemporary a cappella madrigals. Chorus is open to all students and community members by audition, and some music-reading ability is desirable.

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Bard Baroque Ensemble

The Bard Baroque Ensemble provides Bard College and Bard Conservatory musicians with the opportunity to explore early repertoire from the Medieval through the late Baroque and early Classical periods. The ensemble takes a leading role in an annual series of Bach cantata presentations in the Chapel of the Holy Innocents at Bard College and other venues in the Hudson Valley region. The Baroque Ensemble collaborates with other Bard programs, including the Chamber Singers, Preparatory Division Chorus, and Graduate Vocal Arts Program.

Vocal Arts Program

The Bard undergraduate classical vocal program is deeply committed to the development and nurturing of young singers while providing them with the tools they require for a professional career in music or vocational aspirations beyond college. Studying Classical Vocal Performance, students are educated in musical history, theory, languages, movement, and stagecraft. Performance opportunities include fully staged opera excerpts with orchestra, recitals, performance workshops, and the baroque ensemble, and choral concerts featuring a wide range of repertoire.

Performance Requirements

Vocal majors are required to take private lessons every semester, individual coaching, and performance class for each semester of private lessons. They must also complete both semesters of Pronunciation and Diction for Singers, three semesters of music theory and music history, and one class in composition. Students must perform two songs/arias every semester, excluding the final semester for graduating seniors or those preparing a Moderation or Senior Project.

Moderation and Senior Projects

Moderation and Senior Projects provide students with the opportunity to showcase their musical abilities and creative sensibilities. Moderation Projects consist of a concert of approximately 25 minutes, while Senior Projects consist of two concerts of approximately 35 to 45 minutes of music each, or one concert of approximately 60 minutes of music. Students are encouraged to choose repertoire that is meaningful to them and that offers an interesting variety of styles.

Broader Musical Studies at Bard College

Beyond choral and vocal performance, Bard College offers a comprehensive music program encompassing various disciplines.

Music Theory and History

The theory sequence moves through harmonic, contrapuntal, and analytic units. Students can earn additional credit for solo performances and advanced study. Courses cover topics such as:

Tonal harmony
Counterpoint
Analysis of musical forms
History of Western music

Ethnomusicology

The comparative musicology sequence (ethnomusicology) starts with Music in World Cultures and continues with various special courses (i.e., Music of India).

Applied Music Program

The Applied Music Program offers instruction and performing opportunities. Students can take lessons on a graded basis by submitting a form to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Ensembles and Courses

Bard offers a variety of ensembles and courses, including:

Chorus
Chamber ensembles
Orchestral ensembles
Jazz ensembles
Electronic music courses
World music courses

Noteworthy Figures

Bard College has been associated with several noteworthy figures in the music world. Lucy Fitz Gibbon, a graduate of Bard College-Conservatory’s Graduate Vocal Arts Program, is a dynamic musician known for her “dazzling, virtuoso singing”. Frederick Fisher Hammond, Professor Emeritus, was a distinguished scholar of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music and a renowned authority on the music of Girolamo Frescobaldi.

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