A-State Choirs

The A-State Concert Choir has long been known in the southern United States for choral excellence. The A-State Choirs are currently led by Dr. Ryan Sullivan and Dr. Marques J. Ruff. A-State Choirs are committed to making dynamic and impactful connections with the university campus, the community, and larger MidSouth region.

Each year. the A-State choirs host educational and community events for singers and audiences alike. The banner concert each year is "Sounds of the Season," a holiday event for audiences to begin the Christmas season by attending in person, online, or television broadcast. The Choirs have also collaborated with a diverse group of arts organizations such as the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, Delta Symphony Orchestra, with the A-State Theatre for a production of Considering Matthew Shepard, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, performances of The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass with Monroe Crossing, as well as solo musicians and conductors from across the country. Outside of traditional concerts, the A-State Choral Invitational, All State Prep Clinic, and professional development sessions for choir directors, are staples for our partners in education throughout the state.

In June 2023, the Concert Choir made its debut in Portugal as part of the Lisbon International Music Festival with performances in Lisbon, Batalha, and Porto.The choirs have performed at National and Regional ACDA conferences, at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, as well as international tours in countries such as Czech Republic, Poland, and Ireland. The A-State Concert Choir tours annually throughout Arkansas and the MidSouth.

A-State Choirs are regularly engaged in performing new and recent works. Recent and current commissions include: I Would Like by Nell Shaw Cohen (2024), Wild Nights! by Dana Wilson (2023), Altar of Night by James Eakin III (2022), These Are Enough by Derek Jenkins (2020), and an upcoming project by the ACDA Advanced Treble Choir Consortium in 2025. The Choirs are also committed to encouraging student composers through readings and performances of their work with feedback from students and conductors.

A-State Choir Alumni have held state, regional, and national leadership positions in professional music organizations. We are proud of the impact that members of our choirs have made on their musical communities in Arkansas and throughout the country. We are equally proud of our alumni who have served their communities in business, healthcare, civil service, whether you are a student or community member wanting to sing in the A-State choirs, or want to attend concerts throughout the year, we hope you will connect with us.  We are better together!