About Us
The Northeastern University Choral Society fosters aesthetic and educational experiences through the rehearsal and performance of choral music, and promotes harmonious social interaction among members of the Northeastern community. Members of the Choral Society come from all backgrounds and majors, and any interested member of the NU community (student, faculty, staff) is eligible to join.
At Northeastern University, there are three choral ensembles for students to participate in. The choirs at NU performs a wide variety of repertoire, spanning from Renaissance to present time, and with special focus on global repertoire.
All ensembles are directed by Dr .Katherine Chan, director of choral activities. Participation requires class registration and successfully completing an audition.
CHORUS
(MUSC 1904)
An auditioned 85-100 mixed-voiced ensemble, and is taken as a​ free 1-credit elective by registering for MUSC1904. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:30 pm in the Fenway Center.
CHAMBER SINGERS
Chamber Singers is an auditioned ensemble of approximately 32 members. The ensemble rehearses on Tuesdays from 8:15pm to 9:30pm in the Fenway Center. Singers in this ensemble must also sing in either Mosaic Ensemble or Chorus
MOSAIC
Advance Treble Ensemble
(MUSC 1915 - 06)
Mosaic is an advance soprano and alto vocal ensemble that presents choral programs of classical, folk, popular and global repertoire. Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays from 4:35-5:40pm in Ryder Hall. Register for MUSC 1915, Section 06, listed under Chamber Ensemble.
Faculty
Dr. Katherine Chan
Director of Choral Activities & Assistant Professor of Music
Contact: k.chan@northeastern.edu
Australian conductor, Dr. Katherine Chan, is known for her energy and enthusiasm on the podium. As Director of Choral Activities and Associate Teaching Professor of Music at Northeastern University, Dr. Chan conducts the Northeastern University Choral Society (Chorus), Chamber Singers, Mosaic Advance Treble Ensemble, and teaches courses in conducting, music theory, and piano. A sought-after choral clinician, Dr. Chan also serves as the Artistic Director of Boston Choral Ensemble.
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Dr. Chan has presented and performed at prestigious international festivals and conventions, including: Australia National Choral Association (ANCA) Choralfest National Convention and state conventions, National Conductors’ Symposium, Canada, and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Conventions (graduate conducting masterclass with John Nelson, and placed among the top four finalists at the National Graduate Conducting Competition 2017) and All- State Honor Choir conductor . Chan has also been a conducting scholar with Maestro Helmuth Rilling, conducting at Oregon Bach Festival, Taipei Bach Festival and Hong Kong SingFest. Other notable engagements include work with Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Minnesota Chorale, Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Cantata Singer & ensemble, Back Bay Chorale, Xi’an Symphony Chorus (China), and selection as one of the top-12 finalists at the 2019 World Choral Conducting Competition, Hong Kong.
Prior relocation to the United States, Dr. Chan was extensively involved in Australia’s choral community. She held positions on National Council, and Queensland & Northern Territory State Committee for Australian National Choral Association (ANCA). She held numerous positions throughout Australia including as the musical director of Choral Connection, choir director St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Brisbane, and musical director of the Queensland Chapter of Australia Youth Choir (a division of the National Institute of Youth Performing Arts Australia).
In addition to conducting, Dr. Chan also actively performs as a soprano and pianist/accompanist. As a soprano, she toured Italy with the Brisbane Concert Choir, and performed as a core member of Fusion Vocal Ensemble, performing at the 10th World Choral Symposium in South Korea in 2014. As a pianist/accompanist, Chan has also been a collaborator for Queensland Opera and The Queensland Pops orchestra.
Dr. Chan received her Bachelor of Music Performance and Pedagogy in piano from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University, and won numerous awards including the Brisbane Women’s Club and Yvonne Hayson Bursary, the Ruby C. Cooling Piano Bursary, and M. K. Lassell Piano Scholarship. She received her Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the University of Washington, and Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Minnesota (UMN) under the mentorship of Kathy Saltzman Romey and Matthew Mehaffey.
Justin Blackwell
Accompanist
Justin Thomas Blackwell is the associate director of music at Marsh Chapel, Boston University, and is the principal organist for the University’s Sunday morning service. His concert repertoire draws heavily on the works of Bach, Mendelssohn, and Schumann, while his repertoire as a continuo organist includes the principal works of Bach and Handel. He is a Teaching Fellow for the Harvard Choruses, a member of the Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra, and the rehearsal accompanist for the Jameson Singers. In addition, he performs regularly with Miami-based Seraphic Fire. At Marsh Chapel, he is also the operations manager and continuo keyboardist for “Music at Marsh Chapel,” a large concert series that includes annual performances of four Bach cantatas and one large work of Bach or Handel. As a pianist, he can be heard on Seraphic Fire’s recording of Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem (4-hand piano version), which was nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance. He holds a BM in organ performance from Furman University (SC) and a MM in conducting from Boston University.
