Chorale & Chamber Singers

Tim Harbold, conductor

For a quick overview of the Wheaton Chorale and Chamber Singers, take our 6-minute tour:

Wheaton is a great place to enjoy choral singing! Under the direction of Prof. Tim Harbold, the larger Wheaton Chorale and the small, selective Chamber Singers aspire to choral excellence as they perform music ranging from classical to world folk songs to spirituals and jazz. Enhancing the experience, dynamic artists visit each year to share their expertise in genres such as Brazilian jazz, Bulgarian folk singing, and African American gospel music.

In recent years, Wheaton’s choirs have performed in master classes with Simon Carrington, the King’s Singers, Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Rockapella, Take 6, and Roomful of Teeth. Choral collaborators have included the New England Conservatory Camerata, Emmanuel Music, the Oure Pleasure Singers and many other groups.

Wheaton’s choirs are open to all students by audition, regardless of major. In additional to exploring choral literature, chorus members work to improve their vocal training, music reading, and ensemble skills. Students also enjoy gaining insights into the study of conducting by working with student Assistant Conductors. Outside of rehearsal, many chorus members also sing in Wheaton’s a cappella groups, often serving as directors and arrangers.

Learn more about joining the Chorus

Listen to Wheaton’s Choirs

Visit our Youtube Channel

A few of our Virtual Choir Projects from 2020-21

Audio from Chorale and Chamber Singers

Go, Lovely Rose (Whitacre)

Beatus Vir from Solemn Vespers (Mozart)

Wade in the Water (Hogan)

They Can’t Take That Away from Me (Gershwin/Shaw)

Kaki Lambe (arr. Tate) excerpt


Ave Maria (Gallus)

Lammaa Badaa Yatathanna (arr. Abu-Khader) excerpt

Just as the Tide Was Flowing (Vaughan Williams)

Johannespassion #1 (Bach) – with Emmanuel Music

Look Where the Lord Has Brought Us From (Speed)


Dirait-on (Lauridsen)


Kala Kalla (Whitacre)


Johannespassion #39 (Bach) – with Emmanuel Music


Roll, Jordan, Roll (Dilworth)

Soon Ah Will Be Done (Dawson)


Visiting Artists and Master Classes

  • Karan Casey (Irish folk singing, September 2019)
  • Donnell Patterson (Guest gospel concert director, April 2019)
  • Skylark Vocal Ensemble (Master class and collaborative performance, April 2019)
  • Dominique Eade  (Choral jazz improv, March 2018)
  • Jonathan Singleton  (Guest gospel concert director, March 2017)
  • Hanna Khoury  (Arabic vocal traditions, November 2016)
  • Tatiana Sarbinska  (Bulgarian folk singing, October 2016)
  • Renaissance choral specialists  (April 2016)
  • Roomful of Teeth  (Master class, October 2015)
  • Emmanuel Music  (Bach’s St. John Passion, March 2015)
  • Tim Ericksen  (Shape note singing, September, 2014)
  • Dominique Eade  (Choral jazz improv, March 2014)
  • Donnell Patterson  (Guest gospel concert director, April 2013)
  • Celia Malheiros (Brazilian Jazz, March 2012)
  • Dawn Upshaw (Master Class and Concert, October 2011)
  • Tatiana Sarbinska  (Bulgarian music, October 2011)
  • Bobby McFerrin (Concert, April 2011)
  • Phillip Woods (Guest Gospel concert director, March 2011)
  • Rockapella (Master Class and Concert, October 2010)
  • Donnell Patterson (Guest Gospel concert director, March 2009)
  • The King’s Singers  (Master Class and Concert, February 2008)
  • Orchid Ensemble  (Guest performers of East Asian music, October 2007)
  • Hobert Yates  (Guest Gospel concert director, March 2007)
  • Simon Carrington  (Guest director of Choral Festival, February 2007)
  • Valerie Naranjo (Guest director of Native American and African music)
  • Take 6 (Master Class and Concert, February 2006)

Recent Styles and Countries

Jazz •  Gospel • Spirituals • Vocal improv • America • Argentina • Armenia • Australia • Brazil • Bulgaria • China • England • France • Germany •  Haiti • India • Ireland • Israel • Italy • Japan • Mexico • Mongolia • Nigeria • Poland • Puerto Rico • Mongolia • Russia • Senegal • Sierra Leone • South Africa • Spain • Taiwan • Ukraine

Recent Composers

Bach • Beethoven • Belmont • Berlin • Brahms • Britten • Convery • Corigliano • Dawson • Dilworth • Dove • Dufay • Fauré • Gershwin • Hampton • Handel • Haydn • Hensel • Hildegard • Hindemith • Hogan • LaBarr • Lauridsen • Mendelssohn • Morley • Mozart • Nehylbel • Orff • Palestrina • Persichetti • Powell • Praetorius • Purcell • Ravel • Rutter • Senfl • Susa • Thompson • Ticheli • Vaughan Williams • Walker • Waller • Whitacre

Recent Major Works

  • Mozart Requiem (April 2020)
  • Monteverdi Magnificat from Vespers of 1610 (December 2019)
  • Work Plain Chant for America (April 2019)
  • Fauré Requiem  (April 2018)
  • Orff Carmina Burana  (April 2017)
  • Mozart Vesperae Solennes de Confessore  (May 2016)
  • Bach Johannespassion  (March 2015)
  • Whitacre Five Hebrew Love Songs (December 2014)
  • Britten Ceremony of Carols (December 2013)
  • Haydn Theresa Mass (April 2013)
  • Vivaldi Gloria (December 2012)
  • Beethoven Mass in C (May 2011)
  • Brahms Liebeslieder (April 2010)
  • Vaughan Williams Five English Folk Songs (April 2010)
  • Bach Cantata 131 (April 2010)
  • Fauré Requiem (May 2009)
  • Corigliano Fern Hill (May 2009)
  • Haydn Mass in Time of War (April 2008)
  • Handel Messiah Part I  (December 2006)
  • Mozart Requiem (May 2006)
  • Orff Carmina Burana (May 2005)