Music Education

CONCERT CHOIR

The premier choral ensemble at Muskingum University, the Muskingum Concert Choir performs sacred and secular music from a variety of cultures and historical periods, and maintains an active schedule of touring, recording, and commissioning and premiering new works. Recent national and international tours have included performances at the National Cathedral (Washington, DC), Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago), the Thomaskirche (Leipzig, Germany), and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Berlin). The Concert Choir also performed for the 2017 conference of the Ohio Music Education Association. The Muskingum Concert Choir is open to all students by audition.

CHAMBER SINGERS

The Muskingum Chamber Singers are auditioned from within the membership of the Concert Choir, and specialize in music suited for chamber chorus. The Chamber Singers were featured at the 2015 conference of the Ohio Choral Directors Association, and the nationally televised memorial service for Senator John H. Glenn, Jr., in December 2016.

CHORAL SOCIETY

The Muskingum Choral Society is a “town and gown” choir, open to Muskingum students, faculty, staff, and members of the surrounding community. The Choral Society focuses on the preparation of large-scale choral works and frequently performs with the Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra, the Muskingum Concert Choir, and other ensembles. Recent concerts have featured Handel’s Messiah, the Fauré Requiem, the Rutter Gloria, and Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Lord Nelson” Mass.

MUSICAL THEATRE ENSEMBLE

The Musical Theatre Ensemble provides a creative approach to musical theatre and operatic scene study and performance. Repertoire from musicals, operettas, and operas is studied each term and presented in a public performance. Full musicals are regularly prepared and performed in collaboration with the Department of Theatre. The Musical Theatre Ensemble is open to all students.

OTHER VOCAL ENSEMBLES

Other choral ensemble offerings — such as Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Campus Choir, and Compline Choir — vary by semester and year.

WIND ENSEMBLE

The Muskingum Wind Ensemble is the premier wind band at Muskingum, and is open to all students by audition. The Wind Ensemble draws its repertoire from both the classic wind band literature and contemporary works, regularly commissioning or co-commissioning new pieces by prominent band composers. Each year the Wind Ensemble presents numerous formal concerts, an annual tour, and performs for academic ceremonies and civic events. Recent tours have taken the Wind Ensemble to New York City, Nashville, and Chicago.

SOUTHEASTERN OHIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (SEOSO)

The Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra is a regional orchestra whose home is Muskingum University. Students may join the orchestra through audition. SEOSO performs five major concerts each year, including an annual Christmas Pops concert, a spring children’s concerts, and frequent collaborations with the Muskingum Choral Society and Concert Choir. More information is available at the SEOSO website (www.seoso.org).

MUSKINGUM VALLEY SYMPHONIC WINDS

The Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds is comprised of professional and talented amateur musicians from throughout southeastern Ohio. The Symphonic Winds performs a wide variety of music in a yearly concert series funded in part by the Ohio Arts Council. Open to Muskingum faculty, staff, students, and community members through audition.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE

The Jazz Ensemble is devoted to the study and performance of this uniquely American art form. A variety of ensemble configurations, from small combos to a full “big band,” perform repertoire including jazz standards, blues, smooth jazz, and everything in between. Students have opportunities for improvisation and solo performances.

SPIRIT BAND

The Muskie Spirit Band is a pep band that performs for all home football games during the fall semester, and at other athletic events. Open to all students.

CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

Various chamber ensembles are offered each year, including Percussion Ensemble, Steel Drum Band, Flute Choir, Brass Quintet, Clarinet Choir, Saxophone Ensemble, and more. Chamber ensembles are coached by applied music faculty and perform at least once each semester.

To hear more, visit the Department of Music's YouTube page.