Welcome
The Choral Ensembles of North Carolina Central University are a broad assortment of vocal music groups offered on NCCU's campus.
Choral Ensembles
NCCU Choir
The NCCU Choir is an ensemble of vocalists that welcomes both music majors and non-music majors. The choir is open to all academic disciplines campus-wide and is comprised of voice concentration music majors by registration and instrumentalists and non-music majors by audition.
The University Choir performs a diverse repertoire of music, including classical, sacred, secular and the music of the Negro spiritual. The choir prides itself on being a community-oriented organization, receiving invitations to perform at the Carolina Theater and churches in and out of the state of North Carolina. Invitations for collaborative concerts include the Choral Society of Durham, Durham Symphony Orchestra, Mid America Music and North Carolina Master Chorale.
Become a Member of the NCCU Choir
The NCCU Choir is open to all students. Music majors with vocal performance, music education or industry and technology as their concentration are required to participate in the choir, while non-music majors are given entrance to the choir via audition. The ability to read music is not required to perform in the choir.
To join the NCCU Choir, you must:
- Be enrolled at North Carolina Central University
- Complete an audition, if required:
- Audition required: music major instrumentalists and non-music majors
- Audition not required: vocal music majors
Frequently Asked Questions
Info Accordions
No, the choir is open to all NCCU students, both music majors and non-majors alike. Participants do not need to know how to read music.
Music majors earn one credit hour per semester. Non-music majors earn two credit hours. The University Choir is also a service-learning opportunity and can help students earn community service hours.
NCCU Operatorio Performance Ensemble
The NCCU Operatorio Performance Ensemble brings opera and oratorio together, celebrating and performing compositions representing both of these traditions.
The Operatorio Ensemble performs opera highlights and scenes from operas such as Hanzel and Gretel, Carmen and Porgy and Bess, and oratorios such as Handel's Messiah. Participation in the Operatorio Ensemble is by audition invitation.
Become a Member of the Operatorio Performance Ensemble
To join the Operatorio Performance Ensemble, you must:
- Be enrolled at North Carolina Central University
- Audition (by invitation only)
NCCU Kizazi Chorale
The NCCU Kizazi Chorale is a small chorale of singers selected from the University Choir. Their name comes from the Swahili word “kizazi,” defined by director Roberta Laws as “legacy.”
This select group of singers is a smaller component of the University Choir. Participation in the ensemble is by invitation.
Become a Member of the NCCU Kizazi Chorale
To join the NCCU Kizazi Chorale, you must:
- Be enrolled at North Carolina Central University
- Audition (by invitation only)