ABOUT
The Men's Chorus
The Brigham Young University Men’s Chorus is thought to be the largest collegiate male choral organization in the country. Founded in 1901 as the Male Glee, it has steadily grown in size and reputation from humble beginnings into a premier 180-voice ensemble. As a result of its versatile literature and engaging performance style, the BYU Men’s Chorus has captured the admiration of audiences throughout the Western United States and beyond.
Each year the choir includes a diverse and unique representation of the university community. Choir members originate not only from the United States and Canada, but from countries throughout the world. Of the 180 members only a few are music majors with the remainder drawn from every college and department of the university.
They have earned their popularity through hours of dedicated rehearsal, diverse repertoire, and a uniquely powerful and unified sound. Because of this, Men’s Chorus performances showcase the talents of individual choir members through vocal solos, instrumental accompaniment, and movement. As such, being selected from classical, spiritual, hit, and folk pieces, the music in a Men’s Chorus performance is sure to please all ages.
Our Conductor: Dr. Brent Wells
Dr. Brent Wells, Associate Professor of Choral Conducting and Ensembles, is the director of the Brigham Young University Men’s Chorus and Concert Choir. Prior to his appointment at BYU, he served as Director of Choral Activities at the College of Idaho and as conductor of Treasure Valley Millennial Choirs and Orchestras™. He has also led choral programs at the secondary level.
Dr. Wells received his DMA in choral conducting at Michigan State University, where he studied with David Rayl, Sandra Snow, and Jonathan Reed. He earned his BM in music education and MM in choral conducting at Brigham Young University under the tutelage of Ronald Staheli, Mack Wilberg, and Rosalind Hall.
Wells’ scholarship and creative activity focus primarily on hymnody and the folksong. He has published a series of articles in the Choral Journal discussing the folk-based compositions and collecting methodology of Percy Grainger and is also active as a composer and arranger. Wells is published by Walton Music and earthsongs, having arranged selections from the sacred harp repertory, the treasury of the African-American spiritual, and the folk traditions of Appalachia, England, Germany, Poland, Vietnam, China, Armenia, and the country of Georgia.
As a bass vocalist, Dr. Wells has performed as a featured soloist and enjoyed membership in many acclaimed choral ensembles. He has sung professionally with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Tennessee Chamber Chorus, Boise Baroque Orchestra, and Redlands Choral Artists. He also performed the Berlioz Grande Messe des morts, Op. 5 with the Carnegie Hall Festival Chorus under the direction of Robert Spano.
Auditions
Men’s Chorus is an auditioned choir, held at the beginning of each fall/winter semester.
