{{Short description|American collegiate choir}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Concordia Choir | image = Cord-living water.JPG | caption = The Concordia Choir performing during the annual Christmas Concert | origin = Moorhead, Minnesota, United States | genre = Choral music | years_active = 1920–present | associated_acts = Concordia College (Minnesota), Concordia Orchestra, Chapel Choir, Kantorei | website = {{URL|https://www.theconcordiachoir.org}} }}
'''The Concordia Choir''' is an elite collegiate choral ensemble from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Founded in 1920, the choir is composed primarily of undergraduate students and has been involved in regional, national, and international choral performances. The ensemble performs both sacred and secular repertoire and participates in annual tours and seasonal concert programs.
==History== The choir was founded at Concordia College in 1920. From 1937 to 1986, it was directed by Paul J. Christiansen, a figure associated with the continuation of choral traditions developed by his father, F. Melius Christiansen, at St. Olaf College.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Armstrong |first=Anton |title=The Christiansen Tradition in Sacred Choral Music |journal=Word & World |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=250–255 |year=1992 |url=http://www.luthersem.edu/word%26world/Archives/12-3_Music/12-3_Armstrong.pdf |archive-date=June 4, 2010 |access-date=March 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604024338/http://www2.luthersem.edu/word%26world/Archives/12-3_Music/12-3_Armstrong.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Christiansen family's influence is frequently cited in discussions of Minnesota’s choral development during the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |last=Combs |first=Marianne |title=State of the Arts: Choral Music |url=https://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/programs/wordofmouth/statearts/choral.shtml |website=Minnesota Public Radio}}</ref>
René Clausen directed the choir from 1986 to 2020. During his tenure, the choir undertook national and international tours and produced numerous recordings. Clausen’s compositional style and educational methods have been discussed in publications by the American Choral Directors Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rene Clausen's "Crying for a Dream" |url=https://acda-publications.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/choral_journals/October_2008_Aitken_P.pdf |website=The Choral Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rene Clausen interview |url=https://neverstopsinging.org/images/stories/rene%20clausen.pdf |website=Never Stop Singing Project}}</ref>
In 2020, Dr. Michael Culloton, a Concordia alumnus, became the ensemble’s fourth conductor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Concordia Choir comes full circle with new conductor |url=https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/concordia-choir-comes-full-circle-with-new-conductor |website=InForum |date=March 9, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>
==Tours and performances== The choir conducts annual tours across the United States and international tours on a rotating schedule. Past destinations have included Germany and Italy, with performances in both liturgical and concert settings.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Concordia Choir |url=https://www.concordiacollege.edu/student-life/music-ensembles/choirs/the-concordia-choir/ |website=Concordia College |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>
In March 2024, the choir was reviewed in ''The Munro Review'' following a tour concert in California. The performance was noted for its program variety and ensemble coordination.<ref>{{cite web |title=A must-hear concert for choral music fans: Concordia College’s famous choir makes a tour stop in Fresno |url=https://munroreview.com/2024/03/13/a-must-hear-concert-for-choral-music-fans-concordia-colleges-famous-choir-makes-a-tour-stop-in-fresno/ |website=The Munro Review |date=March 13, 2024 |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>
==Recordings and broadcasts== The ensemble produces recordings through the Concordia Recordings label. A 2016 concert was broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio’s *Choral Stream*, including works by Bach, Stephen Paulus, and René Clausen.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hear Concordia Choir on Choral Stream |url=https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2016/10/25/hear-concordia-choir-on-choral-stream |website=YourClassical (MPR) |date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>
==Christmas concert== The choir participates annually in Concordia College’s Christmas Concerts, which also feature the college's orchestra and other vocal ensembles. These performances are held in Moorhead and Minneapolis and have been broadcast on public television stations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Concordia's 98th Christmas Concert, Gladiator 2 Review & News Recap |url=https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/main-street/2024-12-05/concordias-98th-christmas-concert-gladiator-2-review-news-recap |website=Prairie Public Broadcasting |date=December 5, 2024 |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref> The concerts have received regional recognition, including Upper Midwest Emmy Awards for televised productions.
==Academic relevance== The choir’s former conductor René Clausen has been the subject of academic study, particularly in relation to his choral composition and conducting pedagogy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rene Clausen's "Crying for a Dream" |url=https://acda-publications.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/choral_journals/October_2008_Aitken_P.pdf |website=The Choral Journal |date=October 2008 |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>
==External links== *[http://www.TheConcordiaChoir.org The Concordia Choir] *[http://www.concordiacollege.edu Concordia College] *[http://www.concordiarecordings.com Concordia Recordings]
==Notes== <references/>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Concordia Choir}} Category:Choirs from Minnesota Category:American university choirs Category:Musical groups established in 1920 Category:Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota)