The Concordia Choir

The Concordia Choir of Concordia University, Irvine, maintains a distinctive tradition of excellence with performances throughout the United States, Western Europe, Asia, and South America. The critically-acclaimed ensemble of fifty voices performs a diverse selection of the finest sacred choral literature from a variety of cultures and historical eras. The Concordia Choir performs before large audiences in the beautiful acoustics of the Concordia Center of Worship and Performing Arts. Their annual performances include the popular Concordia Christmas Concerts, a Fall Festival of Hymns, national tours, and a MasterWorks Concert series with professional orchestra.

The Concordia Choir has been featured in concerts tours throughout the world, including the countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland, and Hungary. Three years ago the choir was invited to participate in the centennial celebrations of the Lutheran Church of Brazil, where they gave a stirring performance of "A Mighty Fortress" before an audience of over 10,000 and standing-room-only crowds in the cathedrals of Brazil. During their most recent international tour, The Concordia Choir was featured during services in the historic cathedrals of Rome, Florence, Assisi, and St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice.

The Concordia Choir of Concordia University, Irvine is comprised of excellent singers from around the United States. Half of its approximately fifty singers are from the state of California, the rest represent 14 different states. Music majors make up a third of the ensemble, while others include majors in elementary education, business, pre-med, history, math, theatre, and English. Other students are preparing for church work as pastors, youth directors, and music directors.

Each spring the choir presents a major choral-orchestral work with professional orchestra as part of its MasterWorks Concert series. Past MasterWorks Concerts have included performances of Bach cantatas, F.J. Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Honegger's King David, Schubert's Mass in G, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Mozart's Grand Mass in C minor, F.J. Haydn's Te Deum, Bach's Magnificat, Vaughan Williams' Dona nobis pacem, Duruflé's Requiem, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem, and J.S. Bach's Mass in B Minor. This April will feature a performance of Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio, St. Paul.