The mission of the Smith College Alumnae Chorus is to foster connections between alumnae of all the choral programs at Smith College. The SCAC provides opportunities to advance music education, music appreciation, cultural exchange, and charity by performing concerts domestically and abroad.
The Chorus made its debut in 2010 at campus celebrations for the 125th anniversary of the Glee Club, and in 2011, the ensemble toured Sicily, performing the Mozart “Requiem” with local musicians. In 2013, the SCAC completed its second international tour, this time to Latvia, Estonia, and Russia. During this tour, the ensemble performed Beethoven’s “Mass in C” and “Choral Fantasy” in Tallinn (Estonia) and Saint Petersburg (Russia). The SCAC gathered in Northampton for “A Weekend in Song in Celebration of Alice Parker’47.” Parker conducted the singers in a selection of her own works, and the SCAC also performed Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Autumn” from the Folk Songs of the Four Seasons. In 2018, the SCAC joined with the Glee Club and the Pennsylvania State University Men’s Glee Club to perform Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem” at The Iva Dee Hiatt Memorial Spring Oratorio.
In 2016, the SCAC traveled to Cuba for its third international tour with performances of Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” and Vivaldi’s “Gloria” in Havana and Matanzas. Like the previous tours, this performance was also a collaboration with local musicians.
The SCAC’s most recent international tour was to Slovenia (July 13-21, 2019). Joining with local men’s choirs and musicians, the SCAC performed Haydn’s “Missa in Angustiis” (or “Lord Nelson Mass”) and Duruflé’s “Requiem” in Koper and Ljubljana.
The singers of the Chorus represent a wide range of graduating classes, and come from many different states and countries. There is no fixed number of members; each event has included a different configuration of singers. The SCAC is open to anyone who supports its mission and the work of the SCAC, regardless of their Smith affiliation. Click here to learn more about joining the SCAC.
For more information, write to us at smithalumchorus@gmail.com.