Harper College has a vibrant and growing vocal program offering opportunities for student and community vocalists at all levels, from beginning to advanced, to participate in ensembles.
This mixed group performs a wide ranging classical repertoire, from plainchant through to the twentieth century. The choir appears in concert in the Performing Arts Center once each semester, and the group sometimes tours.
Besides performances at Carnegie Hall and on radio and television at home and abroad, the group has sung with the Elgin Symphony, the Chicago String Ensemble, the Harper Symphony Orchestra and the International Festival of Choirs in Sienna and Florence, Italy. The group has also performed in Austria, the Czech Republic, England, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Scotland and Wales. Harper's Concert Choir appeared in the culminating concert of the 2008 Summer Olympics Fine Arts Festival in Beijing and Shanghai, China prior to the 2008 Olympic Games. The choir and its members regularly participate in American Choral Directors Association festivals, honor/demonstration choirs, and clinics at the state, division and national levels.
SPECTRA is Harper's select chamber ensemble for more advanced singers. The group performs works from all periods and cultures, from medieval to contemporary, with a focus on American composers of classical, jazz, Broadway, opera and popular music. SPECTRA is open to Harper students. A preliminary audition with Timothy Filliman is required (tfillima@harpercollege.edu).
Students may audition with a prepared piece of their choosing. Memorization is not necessary.
To schedule an audition appointment, contact Timothy Filliman at 847-925-6566 or by email to: tfillima@harpercollege.edu
Festival ChorusConducted by Gregory Tipps, the Festival Chorus is a non-audition mixed ensemble that welcomes vocalists who love to sing, like a little challenge and want to have fun. The Chorus rehearses on Monday evenings during the fall and spring semesters; sings a repertoire of classical, pop, and Broadway; and performs two concerts a year (December and May) accompanied by a professional orchestra.
An outreach program of our Continuing Education Community Music Center, the Chorus is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. The group is open to the community. To learn more visit festivalchorus.org or call 847.925.6659 to join.
