Choirs

Chamber Choir

The Bob Cole Chamber Choir performing Sydney Guillaume’s Tchaka

The Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir is the premier choral ensemble at CSULB. Described by composer Eric Whitacre as "The gold standard of American University Choirs," the ensemble was named "Choir of the World" in 2016 at the Welsh National Isteddfod. Comprised of the top singers at the University, the Chamber Choir tours yearly and has concertized throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and China. The Chamber Choir is committed to performing the greatest works from the choral canon and premieres by composers both emerging and world famous. The Chamber Choir performed at the National Collegiate Choral Organization Conferences at Yale in 2009, at the College of Charleston in 2013, at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in 2021, and at Western ACDA Conventions in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2022. Alumni of the Chamber Choir are teaching K-12 music in schools throughout California, running collegiate choral programs of nationwide importance, leading worship in church and synagogue, and are currently under contract as singers with the Metropolitan, San Francisco, Wolf Trapp, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles Opera.

Since its inception in 1949, the ensemble has been conducted by a distinguished line of nationally recognized conductors, including Frank Pooler, Ed Thompson, Leland Vail, Lynn Bielefelt, and, since 2000, Jonathan Talberg.

University Choir

University Choir is a select ensemble of 55-75 voices. The University Choir has appeared before regional and national conventions of the ACDA, MENC, and CMEA, demonstrating its versatility in presenting works from the Renaissance through the 21st century. The choir has recorded extensively and appears on soundtracks for film and video games. The University Choir was the first American choir to tour Scandinavia, and has toured extensively on 4 continents. It is conducted by Jonathan Talberg and the extraordinary students of CSULB’s Master’s Program in Choral Conducting.

ConChord

ConChord is a non-auditioned choir open to all students at CSULB. The ensemble is a place for communal music-making across the whole CSULB campus. Its mission and name come from the word concord, meaning "harmony between people." In pursuit of this mission, ConChord serves as an artistic space that presents programming to promote how we as a CSULB community work to build a better world.

ConChord Choir meets Tuesday nights from 7-9:45 PM. Register for Music 100E or 300E for ConChord Choir.

Bel Canto

Bel Canto is an auditioned ensemble that provides soprano and alto vocalists with a unique and thrilling experience performing the rich repertoire of music composed especially for treble voices, from the Middle Ages to the present. The ensemble performs two concerts each semester. Register for MUS 200/400 Q. For more information please contact Dr. Jonathan Talberg.

Cantus

Cantus is an auditioned ensemble open to all tenors and basses at CSULB interested in performing various choral repertoire, while acquiring basic vocal technique and musicianship skills. The ensemble will have several performance opportunities throughout the academic year, including combined concerts with ConChord, Bel Canto, University Choir, and Chamber Choir. Register for MUS 200/400 I. For more information please contact Dr. Jonathan Talberg.