Ensembles

Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra

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

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.

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.

 

 

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 Ensemble

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

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.