Veritas

Veritas is a new vocal ensemble for young men ages 14 - 20.  Scroll down to learn more about this exciting new opportunity for 2009!

Mission

Veritas is dedicated to exploring the versatility and expressiveness of the male voice to uncover the true essence of choral music.

Purpose

To offer the advanced singer an opportunity for further study
To further connect the UMKC Conservatory to the music community in Kansas City
To serve the Conservatory's musical needs
To expose talented young men to the rich choral traditions at the Conservatory
To provide a next step for young men in the Kansas City Children's Chorus
To serve as an ambassador for UMKC at city, state, regional and national venues

About Veritas

Young men in the ensemble range in age from 14 – 20.
Strenuous auditions are held, and participation is limited to advanced singers.
Students pay a yearly participation fee of $400 and for performance and travel costs. 

The choir performs a wide variety of choral repertoire from around the world.
Enrollment in a school ensemble is strongly encouraged.

Artistic Director

Jennifer Benjamin, a native of Los Angeles, earned a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Loyola Marymount University in 1992 where she studied conducting with Paul Salamunovich. She moved to Kansas City in 1993 to study at the UMKC Conservatory of Music where she earned her M.M. in Music History and Literature and her M.A. in Music Education. At UMKC, she studied conducting with Charles Robinson and Eph Ehly. Jennifer is an active member of ACDA at the state and national level and is a graduate of the Rene Clausen Choral School. She taught music history and music appreciation at UMKC, Rockhurst University and Johnson County Community College from 1996 to 2000. She then went on to serve as the music director at St. Teresa's Academy from 2000 to 2005 where her ensembles consistently received "I" ratings at district and state festivals and a "Gold" rating at the Chicago Heritage Festival in 2003. Under her direction, the St. Teresa’s Academy A Cappella Choir performed at the MMEA Conference in Osage Beach, Missouri, in 2004 and the ACDA National Convention in Los Angeles, California, in 2005. She currently serves as artistic director of Canta Filia, an ensemble of young women in 9th-12th grades at the UMKC Conservatory's Community Music & Dance Academy. She is also active as a clinician in the Kansas City Metro Area.

Please call 816-235-2741 to set up an audition time.
For more information:

Phone: (816) 235-2741
E-mail: music-ce@umkc.edu