Department of MusicVocal Ensembles
Nothing Left UnsungOur Ensembles
Guided by a distinguished faculty of performing artists, teachers, composers and scholars, our students take advantage of the cross-disciplinary opportunities of the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities—a place where music, dance, theatre, and visual arts intersect in a dynamic, creative community.
Our ensembles include Choral Union, Infinitus, the Rivertones, and University Singers, and are open to all students by audition.
Find your ensemble.You Belong
Our vocalists come from all walks of life and academic backgrounds. Many participate in multiple ensembles respective to their schedules and their career interests. Here's what makes each ensemble distinct:
Choral Union
Choral Union is an ensemble that truly lives up to its name. Bringing together all constituencies of our university community, this choir welcomes students of all majors, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and neighbors. We sing a wide variety of repertoire and frequently join with other JU ensembles to present major works.
Infinitus
Infinitus is a choral collective that has no single artistic director but makes both artistic and executive decisions through conversation and consensus. Members include student singers, conductors, and composers who also manage behind-the-scenes elements including publicity, repertoire selection, outreach projects, logistics, and more.
The RiverTones
The RiverTones is a highly auditioned ensemble that specializes in vocal jazz, pop, and contemporary a cappella music. In addition to their signature annual events, the Vocal Jazz Festival and SpringSing, they perform frequently across our city and region.
The University Singers
The Jacksonville University Singers perform an eclectic and challenging repertoire spanning the centuries and the globe including Renaissance polyphony, Baroque and Classical masterworks, folksongs, music theatre, opera and new music by living composers. They regularly perform on tour, internationally, and for a variety of conferences.
Calling All Tenors and BassesAnnual TeBa Day Festival!
The second annual TeBa (Tenor/Bass) Day is coming soon!
Join us on April 4, 2024 in Terry Concert Hall to celebrate the power and artistry of lower voices. Tenors and Basses in grades 6-12 are welcome to participate in a one-day festival including mass choir rehearsals, solo masterclasses, and a fabulous performance. Repertoire for the day will include selections from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and a Barbershop collaboration with The Big Orange Chorus. No advanced preparation is required; we will learn everything the day of the performance! Thanks to a generous grant from PNC Bank, participation costs only $5 per student.
Online registration starts January 8, using this form. For more info, visit www.ju.edu/music or contact Julian Bryson at jbryson@ju.edu. Don't miss this opportunity!
Directors
Julian Bryson, Director of Choral Activities
"I really see music as a mirror. It shows us another angle or another perspective on the things that are giving us trouble elsewhere in our lives. It gives us time to process and consider, and I think that's where hope lives. In many ways, music provides an opportunity to practice living without the risk of dying; to explore, to take risks, to challenge ourselves."
Dina Barone, Director of the RiverTones
"The goal of my teaching is promote active and holistic learning in my students. One of the ways I do this is to help students take control of and become active participants in their own learning. Knowledge gained through active participation is knowledge that will last a lifetime."
Jay Ivey, Director of Vocal Studies
"The human voice is one of the smallest instruments we have, yet it is able to communicate and express the entire history and empathy of humanity. I keep this in mind when I am teaching and impart to students just how powerful and expressive their voices can be. I approach voice lessons as a positive voyage of self-discovery, always asking questions and helping singers develop an awareness of what is going on within their instruments. Authoritarian dogma doesn’t have much place in the modern voice studio. Although basic technique applies to all singing, each student is different and requires a tailored approach to voice lessons. The best teachers teach students to teach themselves, and I hold to that philosophy. By helping students understand their own voices, we all learn something—even the teacher. The voice is a physical and emotional extension of the self. A coordinated instrument that responds to your imagination and expression is the goal—liberating singers to express themselves without fear is rooted in technique and imagination. I instill both into my teaching. I am grateful to work at Jacksonville University where we teach many styles and genres of vibrant storytelling through song, all rooted in technique."
Kimberly Beasley, Music Department Chair
"As a singer, understanding the importance of being able to access all vocal styles within my technique is the thing that has empowered me both as a performer and a teacher. That our students are trained as crossover artists that are both technically sound and stylistically flexible is paramount and will ensure their longevity in the profession, be they singers or instrumentalists or both. We take seriously the training of this next generation of musicians, and the music degree programs at Jacksonville University provide this training and preparation for their chosen profession."
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For questions about Choral Union, Infinitus, or University Singers, contact Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies, Dr, Julian Bryson at jbryson@ju.edu.
For questions about The RiverTones contact Director of the RiverTones at dbarone@ju.edu.
For questions about private vocal lessons, musical theatre, or voice performance contact Dr. Jay Ivey at jivey1@ju.edu and Prof. Kimberly Beasley at kbeasle@ju.edu.
Contact Information Music Department
Phillips Building
Jacksonville University
2800 University Blvd N
Jacksonville, FL 32211