<p>Are there any co-ed sing groups that include Smith students ?</p>
<p>Yes. There are two Five-College Medieval/Renaissance choirs - one of which is coed, and one of which is all-women. (In addition, you can audition to join any of the choirs you like.)</p>
<p>Which of the choirs is considered the best? And which is considered the most fun? And for that matter, which of the five has the best music department?</p>
<p>My d. is a music double major, so this is what she has told me over the past two years. Amherst has by far the smallest music department (not counting Hampshire), the smallest (and worst) orchestra. Don't know about the choir. UMass probably has the largest orchestra. The co-ed Renaissance choir usually practices at UMass; my d. says the all-female one (which splits its time between Smith and Mt. Holyoke, is actually higher in quality). The Smith Choir is likely now the best choir, and has majorly suped up its repertoire in the last several years, as has the orchestra. The orchestra also forms the backbone of a semi-professional one which has performed the Verdi Requiem relatively recently. Both choir and orchestra went to Carnegie Hall last year (for the orchestra's 100th anniversary) to perform Beethoven's 9th. </p>
<p>There are also like 9 a capella groups on campus, which are reported to be great fun!</p>
<p>Smith has the largest music department, though UMass has a graduate program, and some very fine composition faculty.</p>
<p>Actually, the Smith College Glee Club is the premier large choral group at the school. It is only open (by audition) to upper-classmen, while the Chorus is open to all classes. Chorus members who do not become Glee Club members may choose to continue singing in the Chorus. </p>
<p>It was the Glee Club and Chorus that performed at Carnegie Hall, along with the Orchestra, but the Glee Club does more touring performances, such as at the Naval Academy this past spring. The Glee Club also does a Commencement concert. Several other choral groups perform throughout the campus on Illumination Night. I have attended all of the mentioned performances, as well as many other choral performances at Smith.</p>
<p>Recently announced was an initiative to develop a Smith Alumnae choral group, to have its first meeting this coming September. I know that the Glee Club alumnae, in particular, have strong loyalty to their group. At the end of the Commencement Concert those Glee Club alumnae who traveled back to campus for the event are invited to join in for the final piece. </p>
<p>The Choir and Chamber Singers are small ensemble groups.</p>
<p>See <a href="http://www.smith.edu/music/groups_vocal.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.smith.edu/music/groups_vocal.php</a> for descriptions of these groups and links to their websites. On some of them, notably the Glee Club one, you can also order recordings of their performances.</p>
<p>There are also like 9 a capella groups ]]</p>
<p>Is that counting this one? My favorite :)</p>
<p>Crapapella Gourp</p>
<p><a href="http://sophia.smith.edu/crapapella/%5B/url%5D">http://sophia.smith.edu/crapapella/</a></p>
<p><em>LOL</em> Crapapella, I love em'. We heard them during one of our visits, and they are funny as hell! My D, who can't sing worth a lick, is interested in joining just for the laughs.</p>