Chapel Musicians Ensemble (formerly Chapel Choir) focuses on supporting the music of public chapel worship services at Conrad Grebel University College. The Chapel Musicians Ensemble invites all singers, keyboardists, string, guitar, and woodwind players at the University of Waterloo and beyond to join us as we serve Grebel Chapel services through our musical leadership and sacred music offerings, with a focus early western music repertory and other acoustic church music traditions. Chapel Musicians are assigned to groups that rehearse together on Monday evenings and at a time convenient to the members once a week, and each group performs three times in the Grebel Chapels on Wednesdays, 4:30pm-5:20pm. Groups that audition together will perform at least once together during the term. The Chapel Musicians Ensemble is led by Dr. Kate Steiner.
1. Participant form
To participate in the Chapel Musicians Ensemble, fill out the Participant Form. There is no LEARN for Ensembles, so this is a crucial step. ALL STUDENTS, including returning students, need to fill out the Participant form. For further questions, please email Sonja Seiler, Ensemble Coordinator.
2. Audition
If you have not participated in Chapel Choir previously, you will need to sign up for an audition. Acceptance into the ensemble is by audition and at the discretion of the director. Email Kate Steiner if you have specific audition questions. Auditions will take place on the following dates:
- Wednesday, September 9th from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.
- Friday, September 11th from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.
All auditions take place in the Grebel Chapel. Please learn the following voice or instrumental party of the piece, Amazing Grace, to prepare for your audition. The audition time link will be sent out in the confirmation message from the Participant form.
3. Quest
Register on Quest if you are taking the Ensemble for credit. Please note that MUSIC 416 and 417 have been added to the Ensemble Course list. Also note it is your responsibility to drop the course on Quest if you do not pass the audition or choose not to participate. An Ensemble credit is 0.25 units AND you can add this on a normal course load or ask your advisor for permission to override your course limit.
4. Course requirements
- In-person rehearsals on Mondays 6:00pm-7:30pm most weeks in the Grebel Chapel.
- Monthly participation in the Grebel Chapel service (Wednesdays from 4:30pm-5:15pm)
- Monday, September 14, 2026 at 6:00pm will be the first full rehearsal session
- Other singing opportunities in local congregations and elsewhere may also be arranged.
- See Chapel Musicians Ensemble Information Sheet for more details
The Agnes Giesbrecht Choral Music Scholarship is normally awarded in the spring for the upcoming year.
New Award: The Helen Martens Choral Music Award
This award is open to students enrolled in one of the Music department choirs (e.g. Chamber, University or Chapel Musicians Ensemble)
The Chapel Musicians Ensemble has established an ongoing series of CDs with recordings every few years.