The TSO Chorus is directed by Dr. Bruce Chamberlain, Director emeritus of Choral Activities at the University of Arizona.
During the 2019–20 season, the TSO Chorus will be singing selections from Handel’s Messiah, works by Rossini, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2.
TSO Chorus Earns Rave Reviews
“Choral music has always been a passion of mine. I am fortunate to have conducted so many of the world’s top choruses in popular operas. Now I’m looking forward to hearing the power of the TSO Chorus, one reason I wanted to do Beethoven’s magnificent Symphony No. 9, ‘Choral,’ in my inaugural season. There may be no better way to showcase their talents than the ‘Ode to Joy.’”
– José Luis Gomez
“The TSO Chorus showed off a maturity in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony that puts them in the league of big-deal symphony choirs, the kind that come with accolades like ‘superb,’ ‘stupendous,’ and ‘monumental.’”
– Arizona Daily Star
“The addition of the TSO Chorus is always a pleasure. The group has been created, honed and voiced by Director Bruce Chamberlain into a first class vocal ensemble. The unison singing in both the Beethoven and the Bernstein pieces was incredible.”
– Green Valley News & Sun
Verdi’s Requiem “was prepared to exacting standards of perfection”
– Arizona Daily Star
Mozart’s Requiem “was nothing short of spectacular.”
– Arizona Daily Star
Bruce Chamberlain, TSO Chorus Director
Bruce Chamberlain, professor emeritus of music at the University of Arizona, retired in May 2018 after 41 years as a Director of Choral Activities in higher education. This legacy includes Trinity University (TX), Murray State University (KY), the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music, where he also served as the Associate Director. During his distinguished career he has conducted choirs with numerous international orchestras in the world’s finest concert venues, including the Musikverein in Vienna, the Rudophinum in Prague, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, the Art Hall in Seoul, Jerusalem Theatre in Israel, Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center and New York City’s Carnegie Hall. His choirs have given performances at national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, the American Guild of Organists and the National Association for Music Education. Since arriving at the University of Arizona in 2000, his graduate students have been finalists and/or winners of the ACDA National Conducting Competition seven times in row. He has over 65 DMA/MM students conducting and teaching in colleges/universities, secondary schools, churches, professional and community choirs in the United States and on five of the seven continents.
His distinguished teaching career has been recognized by the University of Arizona as the winner of the Fred Fox School of Music Maestro Award recognizing outstanding student achievement, the College of Fine Arts James R. Anthony Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching and the University of Arizona Humanities Seminars Program’s Shirley and Ted Taubeneck Outstanding Teacher Award for his course on the Russian ballets of Igor Stravinsky which led to sold out performances of Les Noces with the UA School of Dance. This record of outstanding pedagogy has led to summer faculty appointments at the Varna International Academy in Bulgaria and the International Conducting Institute at the Westminster Choir College.
Professionally Bruce has been the Music Director of the San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers, the Monroe Symphony Orchestra (Louisiana) and continues as the director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus which he founded in 2003. The TSOC has given critically acclaimed performances of Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Missa Solemnis, Berlioz’s La Damnation du Faust, Mozart and Brahms Requiems, Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3, “Kaddish” and Orff’s Carmina burana. He has also collaborated with virtually every major arts producer in Tucson including UA Presents, Artifact, TSO and landmark performances of Martin’s Mass, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and a blockbuster Verdi Requiem with True Concord.
Bruce and his wife Peggy enjoy traveling, but always look forward to returning to their home in Oro Valley and spending time with their adult children and granddaughter.
Welcome! This is your chance to sing choral repertoire with a full orchestra and fellow chorus members.
Chorus Auditions
When: Monday, September 16, 2019 beginning at 7:00pm
Time: Schedule your audition time by emailing auditions@tucsonsymphony.org (no phone calls, please)
Where: Tucson Symphony Center, 2175 N Sixth Avenue, 85705
Requirements: Singers should have basic musicianship and be able to adapt to various repertoire.
Preparation: Download the 2 choral audition excerpts here. Also be prepared to sing an art song, folk song, hymn or something from opera or oratorio repertoire.
Rehearsal schedule: Chorus rehearsals are held Monday evenings at 7:00pm at Tucson Symphony Center throughout the season.
For questions, please contact TSO Chorus assistant conductor John McMeen by email or phone at (737) 704-8840.