Montclair Choral

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Montclair Choral

Promoting events & performances of the Montclair State University Choral Activities program!

Follow us for updates from University Singers & Chorale, and get a sneak peak of behind the scenes events, rehearsals & all the fun we have making music together!

11/24/2025

2 WEEKS! Our Winter Choral Concert LIGHT & LOVE is Saturday, December 6 and 8:00pm in the Alexander Kasser Theater! At 7:00pm, ACDA will host a Pre-Concert Presentation “Meet-The-Composers” featuring Ian Kearny and Bill Payn. Bring your friends and family because this is one night you don’t want to miss!

Under the baton of Dr. Heather J. Buchanan accompanied by Gregory A. Stout, we have:

❄️Vocal Accord: World Premiere “There Will Come Soft Rains (Ian Kearny, ‘25)

❄️University Singers- Highlights from Handel’s Messiah Part 1 featuring soloists: Jeffrey Castellano (tenor), Arianna Joseph (mezzo-soprano), Joey Staltari (baritone), Taryn Spoto (soprano), Brianna Coppolino (soprano), Jenna Ferrera (soprano).

❄️Chorale: NJ Premiere of LOVE (William A. Payn) featuring soloists: Vasilisa Pjevovic (soprano), Alan Pinzon (bass/baritone), Gabrielle Guida (mezzo-soprano), Isaac Rodriguez (tenor), Victoria Mango (soprano) and poetic readers: Hannah Kemp, Gabrielle Cintron, Emma Hinz, Denise DeMaio, Jake McCreery

✨Guest Artists: Indigo Quartet and Chorale Chamber Orchestra!

🎫: $25 online or at the door (Online highly recommended due to limited space. Link in the bio)
📍: Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University. 1 Normal Ave, Montclair NJ
⏰: 8:00 pm Concert; 7:00 pm Pre-Concert

11/17/2025

We are proud to present renowned conductor, distinguished educator, and choral icon Dr. Anton Armstrong as part of our 2025-26 Cali Immersive Residency program! Join us to learn from Dr. Armstrong’s extensive career experience as he shares pedagogical and artistic insights. This event promises to be enlightening and inspiring, and is designed to energize choral conductors, choristers, and aspiring choral music educators from all aspects of the choral field! 🎶🌟

📍Friday, March 20, 2026 @ 9:30 am – 3 pm, Leshowitz Recital Hall/Chapin Hall, MSU.
**RSVP: January 26, 2026, or until places are filled. Contact Dr. Heather J. Buchanan ([email protected]) with questions.**
📲Register via https://forms.gle/rCV4jXqwjFE86HyD7

A day of exploration and inspiration for choral directors, emerging and pre-service choral music educators, and community/church choristers via interactive workshops:

🫂Understanding & Performing African American Spirituals
🫀Body – Mind – Spirit – Voice: Our Calling as Arts Educators in the 21st Century

🎵Music (yours to keep)
🥪Boxed lunch provided
💰Cost $20
🚗Paid parking in Red Hawk Deck, adjacent to Chapin Hall
🎤Co-hosted by Montclair State ACDA chapter

10/30/2025

🎶 It’s concert time! 🎶

Get ready for an afternoon of powerful harmonies, breathtaking choral music, and unforgettable moments with the John J. Cali School of Music! 🍁✨🎼

The Choral Fall Concert brings together the incredible voices of Vocal Accord & University Singers for a program that will move, inspire, and spark chills in the best way.✨

📅 Sunday, Nov 2, 2025
⏰ 3:00 PM
📍 Alexander Kasser Theater

We’re thrilled to welcome alumna guest artist Maegan Hoogerhyde ’20 (Soprano) 🌟 and feature Greg Stout in his first fall concert performance with us as choral accompanist! 🎹

Bring your friends, your family, your music-loving bestie — this is the fall concert you’ll be talking about long after the final chord fades. 💛🎵

Tickets are on sale now online and at the box office!! 🎫🎵🎤

10/24/2025

✨🎶Kaleidoscope was nothing short of breathtaking🎼❤️

Two phenomenal performances filled with talent, energy, and heart! Every musician on that stage shined and brought the music to life in such a powerful way! 💫🎵

A special congratulations to Chorale and University Singers, who gave some absolutely unforgettable performances! You all were AMAZING!!! ❤️🎤

We are still riding the high from these concerts and can’t wait to show off what’s next! 🎵✨ Keep an eye out for upcoming posts about our next performances and events! You won’t want to miss it! 👀❤️✨

09/30/2025

9.10.25 ~ U/Singers Annual Fall Retreat🌞🎶🫧🫂🌈

Huge thank you to our extraordinary director, Dr. Buchanan, for the best body mapping/grounding exercise to start the day. Shout to our hardworking Section Leaders and our Kindness Crew for setting up and making the day run smoothly (and fun)!! Finally a grand welcome to our new and amazing accompanist, Greg Stout! Enjoy a few clips of him receiving the full experience of being in our spectacular community. 🎶❤️

We’re so excited to show everyone what we worked on, stay tuned!

09/12/2025

🎶 Meet your 2025-26 Choral Student Leadership Team! 🎶

We’re SO excited to lead, create, and sing our hearts out with all of you this year at Montclair State! ❤️🤍

A HUGE thank you to every student who makes this program so special—your talent, energy, and dedication are what keep the music alive! 🎵✨

Let’s make this year unforgettable... LET’S GO REDHAWKS!! ❤️🦅

09/03/2025

Welcome back, Redhawks! We hope you had a wonderful and relaxing summer, and are ready for a terrific year of singing🎶❤️

There are many treats in store for this coming up 2025-26 school year! We start off on Oct. 3 & 4 with our annual Cali Kaleidoscope, transitioning into our Fall and Winter Concerts in November and December. To end off the semester, we’ll be performing the wonderful Handel’s Messiah with the under the baton of Anthony Parnther for 3 nights, Dec. 19 & 20 at Richardson Auditorium, Princeton and on Dec. 21 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark.

In Spring 2026, we introduce our IMR, Dr. Anton Armstrong, to MSU choral activities, and a performance under his baton at on Sat. March 21 in Alexander Kasser Theater at 8pm. Later in the season, we will be performing Mozarts Requiem under the baton of with the , along with Fauré’s lyrical Pavane on April 16, 18 and 19 ( more details to come). To end the year we have our Spring Concert, Sat. April 25th @8 pm which highlights this year’s motif, Sky Above Me - Earth Below Me - Fire Within Me.

We wish everyone good luck throughout this school year🎶🌟

05/05/2025

As the 24’-25’ academic year comes to a close, let’s take a look at our recent concerts and celebrations: The Jake Runestad Immersive Residency Event and our “Celebrating Stevie” Spring Concert! 🎶💛

🎓Congratulations to our graduating and continuing students for all of their accomplishments this year, we couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you for all you’ve done and brought to this program, you’ve changed the MSU Choral Program for the better! And a shout out to for the insight, knowledge and warmth you’ve brought to our campus. The choral community here just loves you!🎶💞

That’s a wrap for this year, enjoy the summer! 🎶☀️🌻

📸:

04/17/2025

🎶 Experience the Music of a Master Composer! 🎶

Join us at Montclair State University from April 23–25 for an immersive residency with Jake Runestad—an Emmy Award-winning, Grammy-nominated composer hailed as a “choral rockstar” by American Public Media. 🎼

🗓️April 23 | 2:00–3:00 PM
Cali Midweek Series: Power of Music for Positive Change
Join us as Jake Runestad offers an inspiring introduction to his work, whose music powerfully speaks to social issues and deeply authentic human experiences. Through his compositions, Runestad invites listeners to reflect, connect, and act.

🗓️ April 24 | 7:30–9:00 PM
Cali Conversations
Engage in an evening of captivating performances by University Singers, Vocal Accord, and the Graduate String Quintet, followed by an interactive talkback session with Jake Runestad.

🗓️ April 25 | 11:30 AM–1:10 PM
The Artistry of Jake Runestad
The grand finale performance! Witness a powerful collaboration featuring University Singers, Vocal Accord, and the MSU Chorale, under the baton of Dr. Heather J. Buchanan and Jake Runestad himself.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the artistry of one of today’s most celebrated composers! ✨🎵

04/15/2025

✨ A Joyful Night to Remember ✨
Still basking in the profound experience of performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the New Jersey Symphony. It was an extraordinary honor to bring this timeless masterpiece to life alongside such passionate musicians in and under the direction of the remarkable . Beethoven’s Ode to Joy reminds us of the enduring power of music to unite, uplift, and inspire — a message that feels especially meaningful in today’s world. Grateful for this unforgettable opportunity and the shared spirit of joy and connection that filled the hall.

📸:

Stay tuned for information about our upcoming concerts and immersive residency with the phenomenal and Grammy-nominated Jake Runestad!! 🎶

03/31/2025

🎶🎵 On the last day of March, let’s take a look back on the huge success that was March Madness Week! 🎵🎶
From the grand stage of Carnegie Hall to concerts at our home stage at Montclair State, we filled the week with incredible music! 🎤👏🎶
First, at Carnegie Hall where many of our own joined the spectacular festival chorus conducted by our very own Dr. Heather J. Buchanan .j.buchanan.7 who conducted The Breath of Life by Dan Forrest on March 17th, along with a spotlight performance from our University Singers.🌟
We then brought the power of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony to life alongside our very own Montclair State Symphony Orchestra, led by the amazing Kyle Ritenauer , on March 22nd 🎻🎶. The week concluded with a stunning performance on March 23rd featuring Vocal Accord, University Singers, and guest choirs—Nutley HS Honors Choir & the Princeton Girl Choir for ! 🌟
Finally, a huge congratulations to Arianna Joseph , Jenna Ferrera , Dean Tarriff , and Thalia Suleymanov for their outstanding performances and wins at NATS this past weekend! 🎤✨🎵
What an unforgettable March Madness Week of choral excellence 🎶✨🎵 Thank you to everyone who made it so special! 🎶❤️

03/21/2025

Calling all Cali Choral Alumni!

After 19 years with the MSU Choral Program, Stevie Ryan is retiring at the end of this academic year. To honor his incomparable dedication, piano accompanying skills, and collaborative partnership over these many years, the Spring Choral Concert on Saturday, April 26, 2025 @ 8 pm will be titled, Celebrating Stevie. Our plan is to assemble an Alumni Choir of “Stevie fans” who return to campus to celebrate him, as well as present him with some surprise gifts!

Alumni interested in participating in the Alumni Choir shouldfill out the Alumni Choir Registration Google Form with your Name, Graduation year(s), Contact information, and Divisi Voice Part (link in bio!). The registration deadline is Monday, March 31.

Can’t attend the concert, but still want to be a part of Celebrating Stevie? Contribute to his Memory Book with your message and a photo using this link: https://www.newlywords.com/celebrating-stevie or donate to his named seat in Leshowitz Recital Hall! Contributions for the named seat are tax deductible and are best made via the link below. On the donation page, enter your amount for a “one time” donation, and at the bottom in the “In Honor of” section write “Stevie Ryan.” https://crowdfund.montclair.edu/project/35585/donate?amount=2000&lvid=102617

Please contact Choral Alumni Liaison, Alexa Tammone ([email protected]) or Dr. Buchanan ([email protected]) with any questions. Feel free to help us spread the word and share this information widely with any alumni contacts you have – we would love to include as many alumni as possible!

Address

College Avenue
Montclair, NJ
07043

Website

https://www.montclair.edu/john-j-cali-school-of-music/, https://linktr.ee/montclairstatechoral?utm_source=linktree_profi

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