University Choir

It is the official choir of the University. The choir, which is supported at institutional level, has the dual purpose of serving the university providing a musical background at official events (inauguration of the academic year, open meeting of the University, and so on) and offering music education in a social, open and inclusive way. That is why the choir is completely managed and run by internal staff (all singers and members are from the university).

 

Given the primary aim of the choir, our official repertoire is mainly focused on three pieces: Gaudeamus igitur, the Italian national anthem and the European Union anthem. However, the choir is also working on a repertoire for concerts. In the first semester, we will practice on pieces that are hardly ever performed by university choirs. The Laude filippine from the XVI century, for instance. The choirmaster, prof. Gozzi, is working on some other ideas. Come find out more! However, the repertoire also depends on the composition of the choir: we currently have some 150 singers, and female voices outnumber the males. We also must keep in mind that there will be a steady turnover.

 

The choir is open to all students of the University, Erasmus students, teaching staff (tenured and contract), research fellows, PhD candidates, technical and administrative staff, former students and those who are working with the University on other types of contracts, there are no age limits. There's no need to be able to read music, but some basic musical training is well appreciated: singers just have to sing in tune and music is learned by ear and by repetition. If you wish to join the choir, please write an email to the following address corale.polifonica [at] unitn.it. Applicants will be invited to an audition, usually on Thursdays at 19.45. The audition song is “Tanti auguri a te” (Happy birthday to you). Singers who successfully pass the audition will be invited to join the rehearsals immediately, and those who fail can try again. Candidates who want to prepare before singing in the choir can join the class for beginners.

 

It is important that singers attend rehearsals every week, from early October to the beginning of June, on Thursdays from 20.00 to 21.45, at the Auditorium of the Department of Humanities (Via Tommaso Gar, 14). Rehearsals might take place twice a week in exceptional cases, before important events or for other urgent matters. Performances will be decided based on requests, the quality of the choir and singers availability. We recommend singers to practice their part individually, and not only in group. There are no registration fees or other charges.

 

At the moment, a certain degree of commitment is necessary, but choir members participate on a free and voluntary basis. Therefore no university credits, awards or scholarships will be granted to participants. Currently, singers only receive music sheets and the University official folder. No uniform will be issued (but singers are required to wear black at concerts). However, being part of the choir will give singers the opportunity to grow personally and to develop their musical skills: at rehearsals they will learn to breath and use their voice, which are essential abilities for a quality performance. More advanced vocal techniques will be taught if, with time, the choir will reach a very high level of artistic performance. Those who are only starting to sing and need some help with singing in tune and using their vocal skills can join the choir class for beginners.

 

Contact the choir conductor, prof. Marco Gozzi (Department of Humanities, marco.gozzi [at] unitn.it) if you have questions concerning musical matters and the repertoire; or the coordinator, prof. Massimo Zortea, (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, massimo.zortea [at] unitn.it) for questions or proposals concerning organization, logistics, and the class for beginners.