Our Story
The Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum, Harvard’s nationally acclaimed mixed-voice choir, performs dynamic and innovative repertoire ranging from classical masterpieces to new compositions by renowned, emerging, and student composers. Collegium has served as a joyful and vibrant community on Harvard’s campus since 1971, uniting students of all backgrounds and academic interests through their shared love of exceptional and meaningful choral singing. Uniquely situated as an accredited course at Harvard College and a student-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Collegium fosters a passionate community of student musicians through collaborative projects, tours, and community engagement.
Collegium studies, develops and performs works from the fifteenth-century to the present both on-campus and across the globe. Additionally, Collegium frequently partners with the other Harvard Choruses--the Harvard Glee Club and the Radcliffe Choral Society--to perform large-scale choral-orchestral works. Though the sixty members of the ensemble span the full range of academic concentrations at Harvard, they are united by the joy of singing in community and the desire to sustain and advance the choral art through dynamic performances, adventurous collaborations, and thoughtful music-making.
Collegium studies, develops and performs works from the fifteenth-century to the present both on-campus and across the globe. Additionally, Collegium frequently partners with the other Harvard Choruses--the Harvard Glee Club and the Radcliffe Choral Society--to perform large-scale choral-orchestral works. Though the sixty members of the ensemble span the full range of academic concentrations at Harvard, they are united by the joy of singing in community and the desire to sustain and advance the choral art through dynamic performances, adventurous collaborations, and thoughtful music-making.
Most recently, the choir has been exploring the centuries-old traditions of choral masterworks such as Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Mass in B Minor, and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, while also adventuring into the newest, most powerful choral events of the twenty-first century, such as Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard and Dale Trumbore’s How to Go On. Critics have hailed recent performances as “richly moving,” and “coolly beautiful” with an “ideal balance of transparency and warmth” (Boston Globe; Boston Musical Intelligencer; Boston Classical Review). In the summer of 2019, Collegium embarked on an international tour across South Africa, engaging with local communities to learn about and share in the rich traditions of black South African choral music.
Collegium is proud to foster a tradition of excellence through community, as reflected in its institutional collaboration, alumni engagement, earnest inclusivity, and lifelong bonds between members. As an independent 501(c)(3) organization managed and overseen entirely by undergraduate students, Collegium provides valuable experience in arts administration, concert production, marketing, tour planning, and other facets of non-profit leadership, and many of our graduates are inspired to embark on related careers in public service, arts advocacy, and music education.
To keep up with Collegium and our upcoming projects, visit our Facebook page.
"Thrilling and deeply moving"
--Boston Classical Review
"Ideal balance of transparency and warmth"
--Boston Globe
"Heartfelt"
--Boston Musical Intelligence
History
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The Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum was founded in the fall of 1971 to coincide with the coeducational merger of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges. The group garnered critical acclaim under its first conductor, F. John Adams, and in 1978, direction of the group passed to Jameson Marvin, who led the chorus to even greater heights. Currently, Collegium is conducted by Andrew Clark, Director of Choral Activities at Harvard, and Jonathan Mott, Resident Conductor.
Historic Holden Chapel (right) in Harvard Yard has been the primary home of Collegium since 1971. |
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