Dinosaur Choir Unveils How Dinosaurs Might Have Sounded

Dinosaur Choir, a project using 3D models of dinosaur skulls, offers a glimpse into how dinosaurs might have sounded. Recognized at Georgia Tech’s 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, this innovative instrument blends scientific research and musical expression. By simulating the vocal tract of the Corythosaurus, it produces sounds more akin to deep wails than the roars depicted in movies. The project leverages computational models to explore different vocal mechanisms, acknowledging the scientific uncertainty surrounding dinosaur vocalizations.

Have you ever wondered what dinosaurs really sounded like? The Dinosaur Choir, a groundbreaking musical project, is bringing us closer to answering that question. Using 3D models of ancient skulls, artists Courtney Brown and Cezary Gajewski have developed an innovative instrument that reconstructs the vocal tract of the Corythosaurus, a duck-billed dinosaur known for its distinctive crest. Unlike the roars we hear in movies, the sounds produced by this instrument resemble deep wails, offering a more accurate representation of dinosaur vocalizations.

The Dinosaur Choir was recently recognized at Georgia Tech’s 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, where it stood out for its unique blend of scientific research and musical expression. The journey to create this instrument began in 2011 when Brown was inspired by a visit to a dinosaur museum. Over the years, she collaborated with paleontologists and used the latest CT scans to build a life-sized replica of a Corythosaurus head, complete with intricate nasal passages.

The project leverages computational models to simulate the dinosaur's vocal box, allowing for real-time experimentation with different vocal mechanisms. This approach acknowledges the scientific uncertainty surrounding dinosaur vocalizations, as soft tissues like vocal cords rarely preserve in fossils. Brown's work is informed by recent research suggesting that non-avian dinosaurs might have had a syrinx similar to birds, rather than a larynx like mammals and crocodiles.

Currently, the Dinosaur Choir features models based on the syrinx of a raven and a dove, with plans to explore other dinosaurs and vocal mechanisms. This innovative project not only enriches our understanding of dinosaur sounds but also highlights the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration between science and the arts.

As the Dinosaur Choir continues to evolve, Brown is eager to expand the choir to include more dinosaurs, such as the nodosaurus and even the iconic T-Rex. This ongoing research promises to deepen our appreciation of these ancient creatures and their possible vocalizations.