Ensembles
Instrumental Ensembles
Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra:
Sey Ahn
The Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra performs works from all musical periods. Its commitment to artistic excellence has allowed the Orchestra to collaborate with such acclaimed musicians as Dawn Upshaw, Armando Ghitalla, Awadagin Pratt, Laszlo Varga, Peter Schickele and others. The Orchestra’s annual Concerto-Aria concert showcases the School’s finest musicians.
Wind Ensemble:
Sey Ahn
This elite auditioned group of students specializes in advanced contemporary wind
band repertoire and provides an environment for musical growth by helping students
learn to play expressively and with passion.
Symphonic Winds:
Brad Regier
The Symphonic Winds is one of two concert wind ensembles in the School of Music. This
ensemble performs fun and challenging works from the wind band repertoire. Open to
any student by audition or with permission of instructor, the Symphonic Winds performs
two to four concerts each year, often sharing concerts with other university ensembles
and occasionally performing off-campus.
Titan Band:
Ed Risinger
The Illinois Wesleyan Titan Band provides music and entertainment at the football
and basketball games. The Band has had the honor of performing at the NCAA Division
III Final Four basketball tournament at IWU’s Shirk Athletic Center, and at Final
Four tournaments in Salem, Va., and in Hope, Mi. The Titan Band provides work study
and payroll positions when available. This ensemble is open to any student; no audition
is required.
Choral Ensembles
Collegiate Choir:
J. Scott Ferguson
The Collegiate Choir has collaborated with renowned professional ensembles such as the King’s Singers and the Orchid Ensemble. The Choir is composed of student musicians representing the School of Music and other areas of the University, and is dedicated to the performance of the finest sacred and secular choral music spanning six centuries and a variety of languages. Students in the choir are selected by audition and maintain a rigorous rehearsal schedule in preparation for their annual spring concert tour and other engagements throughout the year. The choir has presented concerts in Italy, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Spain, Germany, France, and South Africa. The Choir appears frequently at the Illinois Music Education Conferences (IMEC) and was selected to perform at the 2008 and 2012 ACDA Central Division Conferences. The Choir participated in the prestigious invitational choral festival Universitas Cantat in Poznań, Poland in May 2019 and was the first American choir invited to perform at the renowned Woordfees cultural arts festival in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2020. The Choir commissions a new choral work every year attracting composers from around the world to participate in the oldest collegiate Commission Series in the United States.
University Choir:
J. Scott Ferguson
This ensemble is open to all students by placement hearing and performs on campus
throughout the academic year. The Choir performs sacred and secular music from a variety
of styles and historical periods.
Opera Theatre:
Robert Mangialardi
The Opera Theatre course seeks to develop experience and training in all aspects of
opera through the performance of two fully-staged operas each year. Every opera is
cast by audition. Recent productions include The Elixir of Love, The Medium, La Bohme, Iolanthe, Die Fledermaus and Too Many Sopranos.
Jazz Ensembles
Jazz Ensemble:
Glenn Wilson
The emphasis of the Jazz Ensemble is to develop skills that make a student competitive
in the jazz/ commercial playing field, as well as competent in conducting ensembles
of their own. Literature for the Ensemble includes a wide array of styles from traditional
and modern jazz to progressive rock, Latin and beyond! The Jazz Ensemble has performed
concerts nationally and internationally and is open to all students of the University
by audition.
Jazz Lab:
Glenn Wilson
This ensemble is available to all students without an audition. Secondary instruments
are welcomed in the band, and all music education majors are encouraged to participate
to gain jazz experience
Unlicensed Syncopation
*not offered Fall, 2020
Unlicensed Syncopation is a vocal ensemble dedicated to the performance of jazz and jazz-influenced music in large and small ensemble settings, as well as solo settings. The group was chosen to perform at the 2016 Illinois Music Education Conference.