The East Carolina University Chamber Singers is the most selective of four university choral ensembles at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. Consisting primarily, but not exclusively, of undergraduate music majors, the ECU Chamber Singers is enjoying a growing reputation as evidenced by recent juried invitations to perform for state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, including, most recently, an appearance at the ACDA National Convention in Miami, Florida, in March 2007. A champion of 20th- and 21st century music including recent commissions and premieres, the ECU Chamber Singers also collaborates regularly with the ECU Early Music Ensemble. Recent and upcoming performances with that ensemble include Israel in Egypt and Messiah by G. F. Handel, and the Ascension Oratorio of Bach, BWV 11. Since 2001, the ECU Chamber Singers has been under the direction of Daniel Bara, and has sung on concert tours in North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Florida, and New Jersey.

Daniel Bara is associate professor of music and the director of choral activities at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. A recent recipient of the Robert L. Jones Award for Outstanding Teaching, Dr. Bara heads ECU’s program of four university choral ensembles, administers the Master of Music degree in choral conducting, and is the founder of the East Carolina University Summer Choral Conducting Institute. Dr. Bara holds organ and conducting degrees from The University of Michigan and the Eastman School of Music and was awarded the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize at Eastman in May 2001. That year he also won the ACDA National Student Conducting Competition (Graduate Division). Bara is president of NC ACDA, and has served on the faculties of Interlochen Arts Camp, The Eastman Summer Conducting Institute, and is the artistic director of the New York State Summer School for the Arts—School of Choral Studies. Dr. Bara is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan.