Welcome to the Wright State Choirs!

WSU offers a broad and diverse range of choral experiences for all members of the university and greater Miami Valley.  Whether you are interested in concert choral music, choral masterworks with orchestra, gospel choir, or vocal chamber music, WSU has a choir for you (and you don’t have to be a music major to join!).

Presently, Wright State has six ensembles: the Collegiate Chorale and Chamber Singers (both conducted by Dr. Dahlman), the Women's Chorale and University Chorus (both conducted by Mr. Collins), the Men's Chorale (conducted by Dr. Tipps), and the Paul Laurence Dunbar Chorale (conducted by Dr. Ellis).

Artist Series

The Wright State University choral program regularly invites world-reknowned guest ensembles, conductors and composers to perform on our campus, work with our ensembles, and teach our students. This has included:

King's Singers (1993)
Anonymous 4 (1997)
Moses Hogan Chorale (1999)
Cantus (2000)
Rose Ensemble (2001)
Vancouver Chamber Choir (2002)
Drakensberg Boys Choir of South Africa (2003)
U. S. Air Force Singing Sergeants (2004)
St. Olaf Choir (2005)
Ensemble Amarcord (2006 & 2008)

Charlene Archibeque, conductor
Simon Carrington, conductor
David Conte, composer
Eph Ehly, conductor
James Gallagher, conductor
Neal Gittleman, conductor
Marvin Hamilisch, composer/conductor
Moses Hogan, composer/arranger
Jefferson Johnson, conductor
Sigrid Johnson, conductor
Richard Mathey, conductor
Earl Rivers, conductor
Andre Thomas, conductor/composer/arranger
Jon Washburn. conductor/arranger
Steven Winteregg, composer
James Yeager, composer

 

Majors & Degrees

Wright State University offers several degree options related to choral music, including undergraduate majors in vocal performance and education, as well as the Master's degree in choral conducting.

For more information, contact Dr. Hank Dahlman.

 

History of Leadership

Since its founding in 1967, Wright State University has been served by many distinguished choral conductors, beginning with Mr. Paul Magill, who directed the WSU University Chorus and Men's Glee Club. Dr. William Fenton, chair of the Department of Music, began the WSU Chamber Singers in 1974.  Dr. Martha Wurtz succeeded Dr. Fenton as conductor of the Chamber Singers in 1977.  Dr. Gwendolyn Brubaker was appointed as Director of Choral Activities in 1985 upon the retirement of Mr. Magill and Dr. Wurtz.  Dr. Brubaker was succeeded in 1991 by Dr. Richard Mallonee.  The first WSU Gospel Choir was founded by Mr. James Johnson in 1986.

Dr. Hank Dahlman was appointed as Director of Choral Studies and conductor of the Chamber Singers in 1992.  Dr. James Tipps joined the faculty that same year as conductor of the University Chorus.  Dr. Brenda Ellis joined the faculty in 1995, and founded the Paul Laurence Dunbar Chorale, successor ensemble to the Gospel Choir.  In the same year, Drs. Dahlman and Tipps founded the WSU Women's Chorale and Men's Chorale.  The WSU Collegiate Chorale was founded by Dr. Dahlman in 2002.  Mr. Leon Wilkinson became Director of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Chorale in 2005, and Mr. Drew Collins joined the faculty as Associate Director of Choral Studies in 2006.