Welcome to Chicago Master Singers University (CMS University)!


CMS University premiered during the 2020-2021 season as a series of seminars hosted by Music Director John Hughes. Sessions were originally presented via YouTube livestream, but recordings are available on the CMS YouTube channel and individual sessions are linked below. Topics are of interest to veteran CMS patrons and musicians, as well as those who are just discovering the chorus. Enjoy!

​August 24: The Scandal and Intrigue Surrounding Mozart’s Requiem

August 31: The Requiem Genre Before and After Mozart

September 8: Musicianship: Melody

September 14: Musicianship: Rhythm

September 21: Musicianship: Harmony
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September 28: Intonation in Choral Ensembles

October 5: In Conversation: Composer Elaine Hagenberg
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October 12: Vocal Health and Warm-Ups

October 19: Auditioning Confidently

October 26: ​Gregorian Chant

November 2: Poetry and Text Setting

November 9: Conductors’ Silent Processes

November 16: Little-Known Unaccompanied Gems

November 23: Little-Known Accompanied Gems

November 30: In Conversation: Composer Philip Stopford
​January 11: Inside the Score: Mozart’s Solemn Vespers

January 18: Spirituals: Development, Evolution, and Transformation

January 25: In Conversation: CMS Soloists Discuss Their Craft

February 1: Approaching Music from Different Time Periods

February 8: Inside the Score: Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms

February 15: Singing Over a Lifetime

February 22: The Lutheran Reformation and its Influence on Music

March 1: The Bach Family
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March 8: The Music of John Alden Carpenter

March 15: Inside the Score: Fauré’s Requiem

March 22: Practical Uses of IPA for Choir Members

March 29: The Making of a Modern Edition

April 5: The Estonian Choral Tradition

April 12: Choral Legacies: The History and Influence of Famous US Choral Ensembles

April 19: Inside the Score: Handel’s Messiah

Intro to CMS University