Swarthmore has a vibrant, inclusive, high-quality music program. Ensembles sponsored by the Music department range from small chamber groups to the 75-member College Chorus. From lunchtime mini-concerts in Parrish Parlors to evening concerts in the 450-seat Lang Concert Hall, students in these groups have many opportunities to share their talents with the college community. Students who play traditional band or orchestra instruments can join the Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble or Orchestra. The Chorus & Garnet Singers are the two main vocal music options. There are also musical ensembles that you might never have experienced before (Chinese Music Ensemble) or even heard of (Gamelan Semara Santi). I have enjoyed expanding my musical horizons by going to performances of all of these groups.

I sing soprano in the College Chorus (featured above, picture courtesy of Bob Williams). I’ve been in the Chorus for three semesters so far. For two of those semesters, we were wearing masks, even for performances. It felt really good to perform maskless in our most recent concert! I’ve also experienced two different directors – Dr. Nathan Reiff came to Swarthmore and became the director of the Chorus and Garnet Singers in Fall 2023. The Chorus rehearses as a whole group on Wednesday evenings from 7-9 pm, and we have sectionals on Thursday evenings. We do one concert at the end of each semester. Traditionally, the fall concerts have been a mix of “short” pieces with piano or organ accompaniment, and the spring concerts have been a large musical work with accompaniment by the College Orchestra. Last spring we sang Faure’s Requiem. This fall we sang a collection of pieces with organ accompaniment to showcase Lang Concert Hall’s newly renovated pipe organ. (The organ is built into the wall beside the 20-foot windows overlooking Crum Woods that form the back of the Concert Hall stage.) 

Here are some things that I love about being a part of the Chorus:

1) It’s a low-stress, high-reward activity. I love the feeling of working together to learn challenging pieces step-by-step. I give 100% focus to the music while I’m in rehearsal, but I appreciate that Chorus doesn’t have the out-of-class requirements of my other classes.

2) It’s a mix of students from all majors, dorms, affinity groups…. We’re simply united by our love of singing.

3) It includes non-student singers. Last semester, one of my professors was in the soprano section with me. Some of the professors and community members have been in the Chorus for decades, which brings a sense of continuity to the group. It’s a nice opportunity to interact with people from around and beyond campus in a different way.

4) Performing in such a large ensemble, especially with a whole orchestra, is an amazing experience. The feeling of being one tiny part of a beautiful whole is so positive and powerful. 

I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had so far in the College Chorus and I’m looking forward to more singing in the future!