Choral Studies
The Choral Department at College of the Canyons, under the direction of Lori Marie Rios, Professor of Choral/Vocal Music, and Kris Ornelas, Adjunct Professor of Choral/Vocal Music, is a thriving community which boasts several award-winning choirs. The choral program provides students with a well-rounded music education, and fosters the development of creativity, collaboration, musicianship, and technique. At the core of our philosophy is the acknowledgement that music enriches the lives of both its participants and its audience, and that music makes us better people by making us more considerate, empathic, and introspective.
College of the Canyons currently offers four choral ensembles in which to enroll:
- Chamber Singers
- Les Chanteuses
- Just Jazz
- Voices of the Canyons
The Chamber Singers, an advanced mixed-voice ensemble, is smaller in size and works on music more suitable for small, intimate gatherings. This ensemble performs a variety of traditional and contemporary choral genres including classical, folk, gospel, spirituals, and musical theater. Chamber Singers meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12 PM - 1:50 PM in PCOH-219 with an additional hour of required sectional time during the week. Auditions will be held during the first class meeting and consist of singing (in quartets) a section of choral music selected by the instructor.
Email Lori Marie Rios (lorimarie.rios@canyons.edu) with any questions.
Student Learning Outcomes: Compare and contrast different genres of choral literature and performance practice techniques. Demonstrate proper vocal techniques, including posture, breathing, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, and tone production, in a variety of languages and styles.
Les Chanteuses is a treble (SSAA) choir which meets on Thursday evenings from 6:45pm to 10:35pm in PCOH-219. This ensemble performs a variety of traditional and contemporary choral genres including classical, folk, gospel, and musical theater. Auditions for this ensemble will occur on the first day of class and consist of simple vocalizations for the purpose of testing vocal range and vocal control. No solo or quartet singing is required as part of this audition. All treble singers are welcome to audition!
Email Lori Marie Rios with any questions.
Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to sing a voice part suitable for his/her vocal range as a member of a section within a larger ensemble by demonstrating fundamentals of effective breathing, intonation, blending, balance, timbre, diction, and musical expression.
Just Jazz is an advanced, award-winning vocal jazz choir at College of the Canyons. Just Jazz is open to advanced singers with an interest in learning challenging jazz literature. The ensemble is accompanied by a jazz rhythm section (piano, bass and drums) in performance. Auditions are held during the first class meeting and consist of singing (in quartets) a section of choral music selected by the instructor. This group meets Monday evenings from 6:45 - 10:35PM in PCOH-219.
Email Kris Ornelas (kristofer.ornelas@canyons.edu) with any questions.
Student Learning Outcomes: Perform jazz arrangements in a variety of styles, including swing, be-bop, samba, bossa nova, New Orleans street beat, shuffle, funk, jazz waltz, and ballad.
The Voices of the Canyons is a large, beginning/intermediate mixed-voiced community choir which meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:45pm to 10:35 PM in PCOH-219. This ensemble is open to students and non-student community members. VOTC performs a variety of traditional and contemporary choral genres including classical, folk, gospel, and musical theater. Auditions for this ensemble will occur on the first day of class and consist of simple vocalizations for the purpose of testing vocal range and vocal control. No solo or quartet singing is required as part of this audition. All singers are welcome to audition!
Email Kris Ornelas (kristofer.ornelas@canyons.edu) with any questions.
Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to sing a voice part suitable for his/her vocal range as a member of a section within a larger ensemble by demonstrating fundamentals of effective breathing, intonation, blending, balance, timbre, diction, and musical expression.