Now more than 100 voices strong, the WashU Concert Choir is expanding opportunities for creative expression and connection within and beyond the university.
One of junior Kiersten Anderson’s most cherished memories of her first year at WashU was with the WashU Concert Choir, but it wasn’t a rehearsal or performance. It was the end of her first semester, which happened to also be choir director John McDonald’s first at the helm.
“We had an intimate, Thanksgiving-style potluck. Dr. McDonald brought desserts that he and his wife had cooked,” she said. “We ate food and sang Christmas songs and just laughed together for a couple of hours. It’s one of my favorite experiences of community here.”
Community is a word that comes up frequently when people talk about the WashU Concert Choir. Led by McDonald, director of choir and vocal studies and a senior lecturer, the choir is open to students, staff, faculty, and members of the St. Louis community who love to sing. The ensemble performs music that spans time periods and genres, including an annual collaboration with the WashU Symphony Orchestra. Beyond music, it offers a creative outlet that nurtures joy and expression while fostering friendships that reach across campus and into the wider St. Louis community.
Though it counts as a credited music course for undergraduates, the choir welcomes people with all levels of experience. Alongside music majors and minors are students from nearly every school and discipline, creating a vibrant mix of perspectives. The ensemble brings together undergraduates, grad students, and international students from around the world, all united by a shared love of singing.
The choir performs everything from folk music and musical theater to complex orchestral pieces with the WashU Symphony Orchestra. “We try to tailor the repertoire to be both challenging to those who are there to be challenged, but also open to those who are new to the art form,” McDonald said.
Under McDonald’s direction, the choir has expanded and grown in size, from a membership low of 30-35 right after the pandemic. He moved rehearsals from twice weekly during the day to once a week in the evening, making it more accessible to students, and welcomed members from the wider St. Louis community. At the end of the semester last spring, when the choir had 85 members, McDonald told the group he’d love to get to triple digits this fall. Their last rehearsal had 109 singers show up, and McDonald believes it’s just the start.
For him, the choir is about more than music, it’s about connection. “It's a great opportunity to use the creative side of your brain and to have an outlet for social-emotional connection,” McDonald said. “Singing can be cathartic, and the music we often do has an optimistic message.” For students spending countless hours in the library or in front of a computer screen, it's healthy for them to get out, stretch their creativity, expand beyond their comfort zone, and get to know new people.”
Intergenerational interaction and mentoring also naturally happen in the choir. Deb Grossman, a retired attorney and long-time WashU volunteer, has formed lasting connections with students. In 2023, she hired senior Anya Coughlin through the Environmental Studies IMPACT Internship program after seeing her dedication in choir.
“There’s no formal choir mentoring program, but it happens organically,” Grossman said. “If I can connect students with opportunities or offer guidance, I’m glad to do it. The relationships are always mutually beneficial.”
For many singers like Anderson, the choir’s greatest gift is the joy of making music together. Performing her favorite piece, Jonathan Reid’s “Measure Me, Sky,” can be deeply moving. “When I walk into the choir room, all my worries and stresses fade away,” she said. “For two hours, I can focus on making music with amazing people.”
