Sing. Connect. Excel.
A nationally recognized choral program where students from all majors perform at a high level, build community, and grow as musicians and leaders.
Generous scholarships available for talented singers—no music major required.
Choral Program
The choral program at Hanover College includes Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Hanover College Ringers, and Private Voice and Piano Studios.
Under the leadership of Dr. Madlen Batchvarova, the program has earned regional and national recognition for its artistic excellence and distinctive programming. Hanover choirs have performed at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Central Division and the Indiana Music Educator Association conferences, appeared at professional sporting events, and toured locally, nationally, and internationally.
Signature events such as the Music Department’s holiday gala Christmas at Hanover are cultural highlights that draw large audiences each year.
At Hanover, choral music is both artistically rigorous and broadly accessible, offering meaningful musical experiences for students across disciplines. Ensemble rehearsal schedules within the Music Department are carefully arranged to allow interested students to participate in both vocal and instrumental core ensembles.
Why Hanover Choir?
- Choral Scholarships Available – Generous awards recognize talent and commitment, making high-level choral singing accessible to students from all majors.
- High-Level Performance and Touring Opportunities – Perform on campus, on regional and national/international stages, including music conference appearances.
- Open to All Majors – Continue your passion for singing alongside any academic path.
- Global Repertoire – Explore diverse musical traditions with nationally recognized leadership in world musics and cultures.
- Individual Attention – Develop your voice in a close-knit, supportive program.
- Strong Community – Join an ensemble culture built on collaboration, discipline, and shared purpose.
What Sets the Hanover Choral Program Apart
Hanover’s choral program combines the performance level of a larger institution with the personalized experience of a liberal arts college. Students work closely with an internationally active conductor while benefiting from individual attention and mentorship.
A defining strength of the program is its commitment to access and excellence through choral scholarships, allowing talented singers—regardless of major—to continue performing at a high level.
With a repertoire that spans major choral masterworks and global traditions, and with performances that extend from campus to national stages, the program prepares students to be versatile, thoughtful, and engaged musicians.
Latest Choir News & Videos
Follow the Choral program on Facebook or Instagram.
APPLY FOR A CHORAL SCHOLARSHIP
Take the next step—join a community where your voice is valued.
Concert Choir
The Hanover College Concert Choir is the flagship choral ensemble, open to students from all academic disciplines. Rooted in a strong and evolving tradition of musical excellence, the choir brings together singers from across campus to engage in meaningful, high-level music-making.
The ensemble performs a wide range of repertoire – from the Renaissance to the present day. Programs include both a cappella literature and extended works for chorus, soloists, and orchestra, offering students a rich and varied performance experience.
The ensemble has appeared at invited performances for civic and professional events for the state of Indiana, toured regionally and internationally, and performed at professional state music conferences. In addition to performing established repertoire, the Hanover College Choral Program is committed to the creation of new music and regularly commissions and premieres works by contemporary composers.
Among the extended choral works the choir has performed are Handel’s Messiah, Missae breves by Haydn and Mozart, Vierne’s Messe Solennelle, Schubert’s Mass in G, Chilcott’s Nidaros Jazz Mass, and Janáček’s the Lord’s Prayer.
The Concert Choir performs multiple times each semester, participates in Baccalaureate and Commencement, and tours during select Winter Breaks.
Rehearsals: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 5:00–6:15 PM
Chamber Singers
The Hanover College Chamber Singers is a select ensemble of 16–24 singers, chosen by audition from the Concert Choir. Its members—often music scholarship recipients, majors, and minors—represent the highest level of choral artistry at Hanover.
Building on the foundation of the larger ensemble, the Chamber Singers offer a more intimate and refined musical experience. The group explores a diverse range of repertoire, from Renaissance motets to spirituals and contemporary works, with a particular emphasis on a cappella performance. Known for its precision, blend, and stylistic clarity, the ensemble strives to create performances that are both artistically compelling and deeply expressive.
A hallmark of the Chamber Singers is its engagement with multicultural repertoire and music of the world. The ensemble frequently presents works that reflect a wide range of cultural traditions, often bringing fresh perspectives and vibrant energy to the stage. Programming also includes American premieres of world music, underscoring the ensemble’s commitment to both tradition and innovation.
Through its focused rehearsal process and high artistic expectations, the Chamber Singers cultivates a collaborative environment in which singers refine their musicianship, deepen their expressive range, and contribute to a distinctive and dynamic choral sound.
Rehearsals: Tuesday (4:00–6:00 PM) and Thursday (4:00–5:00 PM)
Hanover College Ringers (if available, include a colorful picture)
The Hanover College Ringers is a hand chimes ensemble drawn primarily from the Chamber Singers, while welcoming any student interested in learning to ring.
The ensemble provides a unique opportunity to develop precision, listening skills, and ensemble coordination in a focused and collaborative setting.
Rehearsals: Select Tuesdays, 5:20–5:50 PM
Voice and Piano Studios
The Voice and Piano Studios at Hanover College offer individualized instruction for students at every level—from beginners discovering their potential to advanced musicians refining their artistry. Whether you plan to pursue music as a major or simply want to continue developing your musical skills alongside another field of study, you will find a supportive and inspiring environment here.
Both the voice and piano studios, led by Dr. Batchvarova, are grounded in a commitment to artistic excellence and individualized instruction. The voice studio emphasizes the bel canto tradition, focusing on healthy, beautiful tone, technical freedom, and expressive performance. Singers develop both confidence and versatility as they explore a wide range of repertoire and styles.
In the piano studio, students develop their keyboard skills through focused work on stylistic interpretation, phrasing, touch, technique, and musical expression. Pianists are guided to become thoughtful, expressive musicians with strong technical foundations.
A distinctive feature of these studios is the opportunity to engage with Russian and Bulgarian solo literature, alongside core Western repertoire—offering students a broader artistic and cultural perspective.
Students explore stimulating repertoire that includes:
- Art songs in Italian, German, French, Spanish, and Latin
- Opera and Oratorio literature
- Bulgarian and Eastern European vocal traditions
Performance is central to the studio experience. Students regularly appear as soloists in choral concerts, present solo recitals, participate in studio masterclasses, and collaborate in interdisciplinary events across campus.
Recent studio productions include An Evening at the Opera, Magical Mozart Night, and Under the Tuscan Sun: Italian Art Song, showcasing the creativity, versatility, and artistry of Hanover’s student performers.
The Choral Program at Hanover also offers advanced singers additional opportunities to perform in small-ensemble settings. Through chamber vocal ensembles—duets, trios, and quartets—students, members of the Voice Studio and Chamber Singers, deepen their musicianship, independence, and collaborative artistry in a focused and expressive environment.
Similarly, smaller groups such as the Women’s and Men’s Ensembles, drawn from the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, highlight the versatility of Hanover’s choral program. These ensembles provide further opportunities for student singers to explore a wide range of repertoire and to perform in varied and engaging vocal combinations.
Interested in Joining the Concert Choir?
Students from all majors are encouraged to audition. Many singers balance choir with a wide range of academic interests.
Time Commitment:
Three weekly rehearsals and regular performances throughout the semester.
Financial Commitment:
No dues or participation fees. Students provide the formal performance attire; the College covers most travel costs during the fall and winter terms.
The Audition Process
Auditions are brief and supportive, designed to assess your voice and musical background.
They include:
- Pitch matching
- Vocal Range assessment
- Basic music reading
- A short conversation
If you can sing in tune, you are ready to join us!
College Credit
Concert Choir and Chamber Singers are offered for academic credit (.25) and can contribute toward the Core Curriculum Requirement in the Arts (LA).
About the Director
Dr. Madlen Batchvarova, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Programs, is a GRAMMY Award–winning conductor, educator, and scholar known for her work in both classical and global choral traditions.
A native of Bulgaria, she performed and recorded with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under Robert Shaw and has conducted and presented at major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein in Vienna, and the Royal Academy of Music in London.
She serves as National Chair for World Musics and Cultures for the American Choral Directors Association and is recognized for her leadership in culturally informed choral performance and education (see full faculty profile – link this to my profile on the faculty page).
Start your journey with Hanover Music today.
Ready to sing at Hanover? Reach out to schedule your audition or learn more about joining the choir.
Contact Dr. Madlen Batchvarova
Director of Choral Programs
batchvarova@hanover.edu
