chamber choir

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A small group of trained singers who perform classical music, often without instruments or with a few players.

   Grammar: Countable: a chamber choir, two chamber choirs; it can take a singular or plural verb when talking about the group.

   Patterns

   • sing in a chamber choir
   • join a chamber choir
   • a chamber choir performs something

   She sings alto in a chamber choir that performs Renaissance music.

   The chamber choir gave a quiet concert in the old church.

   Our town has a chamber choir of about twenty singers.

2. 2nouncountable

   The group of singers itself, considered as an organization or ensemble.

   Grammar: When you mean the organization, use the with a singular verb: The chamber choir is auditioning singers.

   Patterns

   • the chamber choir is auditioning
   • the chamber choir tours

   The chamber choir is holding auditions next month.

   The chamber choir toured three cities last spring.

Word forms

Common combinations

sing in a chamber choir

He has sung in a chamber choir since he was a student.

a chamber choir concert

We went to a chamber choir concert at the cathedral.

join a chamber choir

She decided to join a chamber choir to improve her sight-reading.

a professional chamber choir

The festival hired a professional chamber choir for the opening night.

Synonyms and how they differ

chorale

Chorale often refers to a choir or a piece in a German Protestant tradition, so it is narrower than chamber choir.

vocal ensemble

Vocal ensemble is broader and can include pop or jazz groups, while chamber choir suggests classical repertoire and a small size.

Word family

choir noun

A group of singers, usually larger and often connected to a church.

choirmaster noun

The person who trains and conducts a choir.

Commonly confused: chamber choir or chamber orchestra?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “chamber choir”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words