Our Choirs

  • The Davidson College Chorale is the premier choral ensemble at Davidson College. Comprised of skilled singers from multiple disciplines, the Chorale draws students from across campus with fervent commitment to the choral arts regardless of major. The ensemble performs several concerts every semester and embarks on frequent tours, with programs that include standard choral repertoire, newly composed and commissioned literature, and works from a broad array of diverse musical and cultural traditions. Chorale prizes the social responsibility of music making, and the importance of our discipline within contemporary socio-politics and the broader liberal arts. Rehearsals are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. There are also rotating sectionals on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m, but you will not be called weekly for those.

    Auditions for Davidson College Chorale are held during the first week of classes during the fall term.

  • Choral Arts Society of Davidson (CASD) is a symphonic chorus open by audition to members of the Davidson College and wider communities. CASD performs both a cappella choral literature and choral orchestral masterworks. Recent performances have included: Duruflé's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Bach's Mass in B Minor, Vaughan Williams's Dona Nobis Pacem and Serenade to Music, Haydn's Creation, Constant Lambert's Rio Grande, John Corigliano's Fern Hill, Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem, Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil, and Karl Jenkins's The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Rehearsals are held on Mondays from 6:30 - 8:00/30 p.m. from September through early December and mid-January through late April.

    Auditions for Choral Arts Society of Davidson are held in late August, and on a case-by-case basis by appointment in January. We look forward to working together!

  • Davidson College Chamber Singers are a small, project-based ensemble engaged in cross-campus collaboration. Rehearsals (Mondays from 4:30 - 5:40 p.m.) mimc that of a semi-professional vocal ensemble. Performances occur in traditional venues and atypical spaces across campus. Repertoire ranges from early medieval chant to newly commissioned works.

    Chamber Singers is by invitation only, however those interested are most encouraged to share their interest with the Director.

Meet the Team

  • Director of Choral Activities

    Appointed in 2022, Renata Berlin is the Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Practice. Originally from the Windy City, Renata studied music education at DePauw University and choral conducting at Eastman School of Music. Renata then taught the choral arts at Princeton University. Highlights from this time include managing an international artist series, preparing choruses for guest conductors like James Burton (Tanglewood Festival Chorus and BSO Choral Director), and premiering a selection of pieces from a new, 1741 Dublin version of Handel’s Messiah with conductor Malcolm Bruno. An advocate for music education, Renata worked at the Castleton Festival (founded by the late, great Lorin Maezel) as their Director of Community Engagement.

    Uniquely, Renata spent four years living in Ethiopia and Tanzania, where her work founding and directing the Ethiopian Peace Choir earned her nominations by two U.S. Ambassadors for the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad. The choir of 80, the first of its kind in the Horn of Africa, brought together multiple ethnicities together to promote unity and develop musical literacy. Recent engagements include guest conducting at the Unimus Festival in Koblenz, Germany, and serving as a conducting fellow with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. Renata is pursuing her Doctorate of Arts in Music Education at Boston University.

    reberlin@davidson.edu
    Sloan 102**

    **Tea always readily available during office hours

  • Pianist

    Dr. Tomasz Robak is a versatile keyboard artist, in demand as a solo pianist, duo partner, chamber musician, vocal coach, and organist. A winner of the Grand Prix in the 32nd Piano Tournament in Antonin, Poland, he has performed solo recitals and concerti across the United States and in Poland, Austria, and Germany. His collaborative performances include concerts as a member of the Luna Nova Ensemble in Memphis, TN, performances with members of the Charlotte Symphony, frequent duo recitals at Davidson College, and orchestral keyboard performances with the Charlotte Symphony and Winston-Salem Symphony.

    He earned his BM and BA from Rice University and his MM and DMA degrees from Peabody Conservatory. His postgraduate work was at the Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland as a Fulbright grantee. In addition to his work as the Artist Associate in Accompanying and Instructor of Organ for the Department of Music at Davidson, he also serves as organist at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

  • Claire Hankins '27

    President

    Hi, my name is Claire Hankins and I am a senior, Class of 2027, originally from Bristol, TN. I am an English major on the Pre-Health track, pursuing a PhD in Clinical Child Psychology. I am the President of Chorale Council, overseeing planning for events, promoting Chorale’s social activities, providing support to each council member, and being a main point of contact between our director, Council, and all Chorale members. What I love most about Chorale is that it is open to all majors! This means that every person who is in this ensemble is here because they genuinely love making music and desire a community where they can help create something truly magical.

  • Meghan DuPuy '28

    Vice President

    My name is Meghan DuPuy, and I am an Educational Studies and Psychology double major! I am a junior (‘28) originally from Charlotte, NC, and I have been a part of Chorale and Chamber Singers since my freshman year.


    I am Vice President of Chorale Council, which means that I provide assistance to everyone on council based on what projects they are working on and how much help they need, and I communicate with the President, council, and the rest of Chorale on important subjects.


    My favorite Chorale experience was traveling to Poland for our international tour in January of my freshman year! The tour gave me the opportunity to bond with members of Chorale and to learn about the history and culture of Poland, which is now one of my favorite places I have ever visited. Each day, we had such meaningful and fulfilling experiences, and I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life.


  • Logan Bryant '29

    Council Secretary

    Hi, my name is Logan and I am a sophomore. I am a chemistry major, and am involved in many campus organizations. I am the council secretary, which means I take notes at all of our meetings, as well as manage our funds. What I love most about chorale is the moment when a piece really comes together for the first time and that feeling of everyone putting forth their best effort to contribute to something greater than themselves.

  • Sydney Nicklas '29

    Recruitment Chair

    My name is Sydney and I am a sophomore from Leesburg, Virginia. I am the Recruitment Chair, which involves planning recruitment activities and creating a welcoming environment for new Chorale members. What I love most about Chorale is singing with such a kind and supportive group of people!

  • Akeelah Romeo '28

    Social Chair

    My name is Akeelah Romeo and I’m from Bear, DE. I’m double majoring in Music and Theatre and I’m in the class of 2028. I am the Social Chair this year. My favorite moment from chorale was when we got to work with the American Spiritual Ensemble (InChoir Guest Artist 2026).

  • Caroline Pielop '29

    Concert & Tour Chair

    My name is Caroline, and I am your Tour/Concert Chair! I am from Houston, Texas. I am a sophomore intending to major in Public Health and English. As tour chair I work with Renata to plan and execute a fun tour for chorale in January! My favorite thing about Chorale is definitely the community we get when we come together to sing, because there is something really special about making music together.

  • New List Item

    Emma McDonnell ‘27

    I’m Emma McDonnell, a senior from Chevy Chase, Maryland. I am a Studio Art Major and Theater minor. I am a member of Chorale and Chamber singers, and served as Concert Director last year, and this year serve on the council as Alumni Chair. In addition to Chorale, I take voice lessons, design sets for theater performances, and work as an intern at the Van Every|Smith Art Galleries. I am a member of the Disability Alliance, ODK, Phi Beta Kappa, and Turner Eating House. My favorite Chorale memories are from our Halloween costume parties.  My favorite chorale piece is My Spirit Sang All Day by Gerald Finzi.