Love to sing? Love the joy of singing with other people? The Occidental College Chorus brings students, alumni, faculty, and others together to sing every Monday night. Come join the fun!
In College Chorus, singers learn and perform music from a variety of traditions, including classical, world music, musical theater, and pop. Occasional collaborations with other Occidental ensembles provide additional musical enrichment. The College Chorus rehearses once a week on Monday evenings from 7:15-9:45 and performs on campus once each semester. It is a 1-unit course, MUSC 120, and enrollment is for one or both semesters. First meeting of the 23-24 year: Monday, September 11, 7:15 PM.
Although there is no formal audition, interested singers are encourage to sign up for an audition time on the door of Booth 220 to meet the director and have their voice part determined.
All concerts are held in beautiful Herrick Chapel on the Occidental College Campus.
College Chorus repertoire
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
About the Director
Désirée LaVertu is the Director of Choral & Vocal Activities at Occidental. She conducts the Oxy Glee Club and College Chorus and teaches voice classes, choral conducting, and voice lessons. She also administrates the applied music program with the Director of Instrumental Activities. Additionally, she is co-Director of the Festival Chorus of the Idyllwild Arts summer program, where she teaches advanced masterclasses and presents high-level choral concerts as well as opera scenes performances. Previously, she was Director of the Glee Clubs at Caltech, and was on the voice faculties of Chapman University and the summer graduate program at CSU Los Angeles.
As a soprano, Prof La Vertu specializes in the oratorio repertoire, and made her Walt Disney Concert Hall debut in 2005 as soprano soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria, conducted by Grant Gershon. Other solo performances include Vaughan Williams/Dona Nobis Pacem and Faurė/Requiem at Disney Hall, Brahms/Ein Deutches Requiem, Haydn/Lord Nelson Mass, Bach/Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio, Vivaldi/Gloria, Handel/Messiah, and Mozart/Solemn Vespers and Requiem.
Prof LaVertu maintains a busy private voice studio; her students have sung in professional touring companies of Rent and Hamilton and at Austin Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Opera Philadelphia, and for the LA Master Chorale, Pacific Chorale, and Les Arts Florissants. She also works with actors in film and TV, most recently working with several cast members of Amazon Prime’s hit show The Boys.
Her Bachelor of Music degree in Accompanying is from CSU Fullerton. She received her Master of Music in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Contact Desiree La Vertu at lavertu@oxy.edu.
