Collegiate Singers – Anima (SSAA)

Amanda Quist, Conductor

Anima (formerly Women’s Chorus/Cantus Femina) is Western Michigan University’s treble chorus. Anima is an auditioned ensemble for soprano and alto singers open to all undergraduate and graduate students from around the university, regardless of major or class year. The ensemble meets four times weekly; Monday through Thursday from Noon to 12:50 p.m. Students receive academic credit for participation in this choir (MUS 1070).

Anima performs at WMU and in the surrounding communities every year, tours every 3-4 years, premieres new works for SSAA voices and participates in annual recording sessions. Under the direction of Dr. Dee Gauthier, the choir was featured in performances at National Collegiate Choral Organization conventions (2008, 2012), the ACDA Regional convention (2012), and at the State ACDA convention (2004, 2010, 2014).  The choir has performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra on three occasions.  The chorus also joins the University Chorale, Amphion, and Campus Choir in the annual WMU Choral Holiday Concert and the annual Homecoming Choral Showcase.

Each year, Anima joins with the singers in Amphion (tenor and bass voices) to form Collegiate Singers, a mixed ensemble of 60-100 singers. Collegiate Singers performs several selections on the annual Choral Christmas concert in the fall and presents a choral masterwork performance each spring.

Students in Collegiate Singers (Anima and Amphion) sing in a variety of languages and in a full range of styles. The rehearsal process for this ensemble develops general musicianship and provides training in vocal technique while achieving high standards as a performing group; in this way, Collegiate Singers balances musical training with a performance-based curriculum. The group performs at every major choral concert on WMU's campus and gives outreach concerts within the Kalamazoo community.