Northeastern University Choral Society

The Northeastern University Choral Society is a group of talented vocal musicians who meet every Wednesday night from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. A smaller group of singers (usually 30 singers) comprise the Chamber Chorus, which meets afterwards until 9:30 pm.

The NUCS holds performances near the end of the fall, winter, and spring quarters in the Student Center or nearby St. Ann's church.

Some of the past NUCS concerts have included

MP3 Files of Recent Performances:

“O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana (Orff)

“Gloria in Excelsis” from Christmas Cantata (Pinkham)

Spring 2002 Syllabus (PDF Format)

The CONCERT CHORUS is open to all qualified singers by audition. Rehearsals are held generally on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The CHAMBER SINGERS is an ensemble of 24-32 singers who are chosen by audition. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday nights from 8:30 to 9:30.

AUDITIONS are held after and during rehearsals for the first few weeks of the quarter, or by appointment. To audition successfully, a singer must display good vocal quality, a good sense of pitch, and the ability to sing his/her own part confidently.

Besides being an enlightening musical experience, the choral society is also a fun way to meet people with at least one common interest. Most quarters we also have outings to places such as the NUHOC lodge , and most Wednesday nights find the members of the chorus at Uno's or Hubbs for a little nocturnal post-rehearsal libation.

“N.U. Choral Society's music director Joshua Jacobson has been doing effective work with his student singers; the performance was a pleasure; the quality of the music making was good. The chorus produces a robust, unforced sound. And the singing had accuracy of rhythm and pitch. Jacobson conducted the chorus and an orchestra of local free-lancers in a shapely, solid performance.”

Anthony Tommasini, The Boston Globe, May 25, 1993.

“Joshua Jacobson, a choral conductor of fine technique and warm sensibilities, got a lot out of his forces. The Northeastern University Choral Society came forth with transparently blended sonorities and moreover were induced to phrase gracefully.”

Richard Buell, The Boston Globe, March 12, 1985.

Joshua Jacobson, director

Joshua R. Jacobson holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Harvard College, a Masters in Choral Conducting from the New England Conservatory, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Jacobson is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern University, where he served nine years as Music Department Chairman and six years as the Bernard Stotsky Professor of Jewish Cultural Studies. He is Adjunct Professor of Jewish Music at Hebrew College.

He is also the founder and director of the Zamir Chorale of Boston, a world-renowned ensemble, specializing in Hebrew music. He has conducted workshops on choral music for various groups, including the American Choral Directors Association, and has guest conducted a number of ensembles, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Symphony and Chorus, the New England Conservatory Orchestra and the Boston Lyric Opera Company. He has also written articles on various aspects of choral music, and compositions and arrangements which have been published and performed throughout the world.

He has also written articles on various aspects of choral music, and compositions and arrangements which have been published and performed throughout the world. In 1989 he spent four weeks in Yugoslavia as a “Distinguished Professor” under the auspices of the Fulbright program. In 1994 he was awarded the Benjamin Shevach Award for Distinguished Achievement in Jewish Educational Leadership from Hebrew College. Prof. Jacobson is past President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is the conductor and host of the PBS film, “Zamir: Jewish Music Returns to Poland.”