Choir

 The history of music at the University of Dubuque goes back to the early part of the 20th century. As early as 1918, there was a men's glee club, a co-ed choral music ensemble, a band, and an orchestra. Beginning in the 1920s, the concert choir toured regularly. Concerts were performed in churches and schools throughout the Midwest.

During the 1950s, the choir made LP recordings and was invited to sing in a program broadcast nationally on CBS called Church of the Air. The choir also sang at a national Presbyterian gathering in Chicago.

The choir continued to travel in more recent decades with tours throughout the United States as well as Guatemala and Canada.

Today the University of Dubuque Choir is growing in numbers and expanding its performance schedule. Recently, the choir has added several new events to their calendar including an annual fall retreat where choir members get better acquainted and focus on learning much of the year's repertoire.

Fall Convocation is an opportunity for UD Choir to join with the seminary choir as part of the opening celebration of the academic year. In October, the choir performs several times during homecoming weekend.

The fall semester concludes with the choir leading the annual Christmas on the Quad celebration at the University of Dubuque. This has drawn capacity audiences and has become an important tradition at UD.

In the spring, the choir prepares for the annual UD Arts Celebration and is frequently invited to perform off-campus in the Dubuque Community.

The University of Dubuque Choir has performed concerts in 38 states and Puerto Rico over the past eight years. The Choir has enjoyed visiting New York City, Boston, Gettysburg, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami Beach, New Orleans, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, San Juan and Honolulu during these tours.

Dr. Charles Barland is in his tenth year as conductor of the University of Dubuque Concert Choir.  For more information about Dr. Barland, please select the faculty link at the top of the page.

Local Performances:

Fall Semester 2011

Wednesday, September 21 at 7 p.m.:  Day of Peace Celebration (9/11 tenth anniversary), Loras College, Dubuque, IA

Friday, October 7 at 4:30 p.m.:  Homecoming Alumni/Open House, Alumni Hall, University of Dubuque

Sunday, October 9 at 3 p.m.:  Pops Concert ($$), Blades Chapel, University of Dubuque (Pops Concert $$)

Wednesday, October 19 at 8 p.m.:  Faculty Recital "Music of Germany and Austria" (Organ/Choral Recital), St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 1199 Main Street, Dubuque, IA

Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m.:  Messiah Concert (with orchestra), Nativity Catholic Church, 1225 Alta Vista Street, Dubuque, IA

Sunday, November 13 at 2 p.m.:  Messiah Concert (with orchestra), Queen of the Rosary Chapel, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI

Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m.:  Christmas on the Quad, McCormick Gymnasium, University of Dubuque

Spring Semester 2012

Tuesday, February 14 at 7 p.m.:  Hymn Festival, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1755 Delhi Street, Dubuque, IA

Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m.:  Spring Concert, Blades Chapel, University of Dubuque

Sunday, April 15 at 3 p.m.:  Spring Concert, Queen of the Rosary Chapel, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI

University of Dubuque National Choir Tour 2012:  TBA (will include New York City and Washington, D.C.)