Iowa State University – A National Leader in Choral Music
Above: Choirs and orchestra performing Carmina Burana in Stephens Auditorium
The Top 10 reasons why Iowa State choirs are your best choice:
1. National Accolades
The Iowa State choirs have been greeted with cheers and standing ovations at all of their ACDA National Conference appearances. Our choirs have sung at six of the last eight ACDA National Conferences – a national record of achievement that is unmatched.
- 2005 – Iowa State Singers (Los Angeles)
- 2009 – Iowa State Singers (Oklahoma City)
- 2013 – Cantamus (Dallas)
- 2015 – Iowa State Singers (Salt Lake City)
- 2017 – Cantamus (Minneapolis)
- 2019 – Iowa State Singers (Kansas City)
Above: Cantamus poses after its ACDA National Conference appearance in Dallas
2. What people are saying…
“A world-class choir.”
-Eric Whitacre, composer, California
“Fantastic! Wonderful repertoire. Everyone sings with such passion.”
-Dale Warland, Dale Warland Singers, Minneapolis
“One of the best concerts I have heard in years. Your performance at the recent ACDA National in Salt Lake City was extraordinary!”
-Brad Ellingboe, University of New Mexico
Above: Iowa State Singers receiving applause at the National ACDA in the Salt Lake Tabernacle
3. Incredible performance opportunities
Distinguished regional and national music conferences.
National venues, such as Carnegie Hall, Salt Lake Tabernacle, Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis and Chicago).
International tours to Norway (2018), Italy (2015), Korea (2011), China (2006), Baltics (2003).
Above: Iowa State Singers in Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
4. Training in conducting
Students gain expertise in choral conducting and repertoire. Music major Shelby VanNordstrand (pictured with James Rodde, Director of ISU Choral Activities) won first place at the 2005 ACDA National Conducting Competition for Undergraduate Students, competing in Los Angeles with student conductors from major universities across the country.
5. Voice instruction
Iowa State’s voice faculty are internationally acclaimed performers and highly experienced teachers. Healthful, expressive vocal production is always a standard at ISU.
All voice students receive instruction from caring, nurturing voice professors including Simon Estes, world-renowned bass-baritone, and ISU’s F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Artist in Residence (pictured below).
6. Solo performances
All ISU choir members, regardless of their year in school or major field of study, enjoy opportunities to sing solos with orchestra in oratorio, opera, and musical productions.
Based on the training and experience they received at ISU, our alumni regularly perform as soloists on the world’s opera, concert, and musical stages, from Broadway to Berlin, Branson to Barcelona.
Above: Dress rehearsal of Oklahoma! (Nate Camm/Iowa State Daily)
7. Financial support
Iowa State is strongly committed to the arts and humanities as evidenced by the one million-dollar Moen-Hamilton Chair in Music, held by Dr. James Rodde, and earmarked specifically for choral activities. Through this and other funding, ISU choristers enjoy exceptional performance opportunities every year.
Above: Cantamus celebrates after its National ACDA performance in Minneapolis
8. The campus
Iowa State is annually honored as having one of the most beautiful university campuses in North America. ISU offers big school opportunities, yet a nurturing, small-school atmosphere in the Department of Music and Theatre.
Above: The Iowa State University Campanile
9. Campus-wide diversity
Nearly 400 students annually participate in the four major ISU choirs: Iowa State Singers, Cantamus, Statesmen, and Lyrica. Approximately 85% of the singers are not music majors, but rather come from all corners of the campus, sharing one common interest – a love of singing. Be it a large or small ensemble, the choirs at ISU make you feel like you are part of a close-knit family.
Above: Iowa Statesmen in the Recital Hall
10. Our students
ISU students develop life-long friendships singing in the choirs…
“Being involved in Iowa State Singers has been the highlight of college for me. As a non-music major, I have had the opportunity to create beautiful music, go amazing places, and make wonderful friends.”
- Elizabeth Dahlstrom, Nutritional Science
“Many of my fondest memories and best friendships from the past four years at Iowa State have resulted directly from my involvement in the choral program.”
- Tom Stroman, Physics
“I auditioned for Singers without knowing what I was getting into. It has honestly turned out to be one of the greatest experiences I have had.”
- Eric Swanson, Civil Engineering
“Singing in the choir is always the highlight of my day.”
- Jessica Maves, Political Science
“I had no idea what it would be like… but joining choir was one of the best decisions I made in college.”
- Ben Dankle, Microbiology
Above: Choir members celebrate after their performance in Carnegie Hall
JOIN AN IOWA STATE CHOIR!
Contact: Dr. James Rodde, jrodde@iastate.edu, (515) 294-0395
Dr. Jennifer Rodgers, rodgersj@iastate.edu, (515) 294-7447