[ Music ]

Performing Ensembles

Whether you play the tuba or sing the blues, Elmhurst has a performing ensemble for you. Several of our ensembles go on regular tours of the nation or the world, and are nationally and internationally known. The Jazz Band, for example, has made numerous tours of both Eastern and Western Europe, twice at the invitation of the U.S. State Department, and appears frequently with such well-known jazz artists as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicholas Payton, Clark Terry, and Randy Brecker.

Performing ensembles at Elmhurst include:

Choral Ensembles
Chamber Singers
Concert Choir
Choral Union
Women’s Chorus

Concert Bands
Wind Ensemble
Symphonic Band
Varsity Band

Guitar
Guitar Ensemble (Classical)
Gretsch Electric Guitar Ensemble
Electric Guitar Collective

Jazz Ensembles
College Jazz Band
College Jazz Lab Band
Late Night Blues–Vocal Jazz
Blue–Vocal Jazz

Orchestra
Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra
Chamber Orchestra

Chamber Ensembles
Jazz String Ensemble
Flute Quartet
Clarinet Quartets
Trumpet Ensemble
Trombone Choir
Tuba Quartet
Percussion Ensemble
Jazz Combos

Choral Ensembles

Chamber Singers
The Chamber Singers is an ensemble that specializes in advanced choral literature from the Medieval through the Classical period with an emphasis on a capella singing. The group performs several times a year on campus and off campus at banquets, restaurants, nursing homes and private parties, especially during the Christmas season. Membership is gained through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. Director: Susan Moninger

Concert Choir
The Choir is a well-known and active organization that performs a wide variety of choral literature. It takes an extended tour each spring. The group also presents concerts and sings for worship services on campus and in the Chicago area. Membership is gained through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. Click here to visit the Concert Choir's Website. Director: Susan Moninger

Elmhurst Choral Union
The Elmhurst Choral Union is a community-based oratorio society with membership ranging in age from 18 to 87. Membership is gained through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. For more information, see the Choral Union's Web site.

Women's Chorus
The Women's Chorus performs choral literature from a variety of historical periods. Emphasis is placed on vocal technique for the female voice and vocal pedagogy. This group performs several times a year with the choir. Membership is gained through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. Director: Donna Peterson Tallman

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Concert Bands
The Elmhurst College and Community Bands are outstanding ensembles of college students and community members. These groups present formal concerts on-campus and off-campus, performing traditional, contemporary and popular works. Each fall the bands feature a guest appearance by a prominent composer such as James Curnow, Sam Hazo, and William Himes, Robert Jager, Francis McBeth, Alfred Reed and Robert Sheldon.

The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band tour each fall and spring. Membership is open to all students and community members. Auditions are held the first Monday of each semester for placement. Conductors: Professor Judith Grimes, Tara Cappelletti, and Ross Kellan

Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is comprised of members who have attained the highest level of proficiency on their instruments. Performing challenging repertoire, the ensemble’s performances include two/three concerts and a tour each semester. Fulfills major ensemble requirement. Prerequisite: audition and consent of instructor, Professor Judith Grimes.

Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band maintains full concert band instrumentation for the study and performance of standard and contemporary band repertoire. The band performs two/three concerts and a tour each semester Fulfills major ensemble requirement. Prerequisite: audition and consent of instructor, Ross Kellan

Varsity Band
The Varsity Band is for students who wish to gain additional band experience and/or music education majors who desire to build proficiency on a secondary instrument. The band performs a concert each semester.  Fulfills major ensemble requirement. Prerequisite: audition and consent of instructor, Tara Cappelletti

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Guitar

Guitar Ensemble (Classical)
The Guitar Ensemble performs classical repertoire at festivals and concerts throughout the year. This small group provides an intimate performing experience for four or five guitarists. Open by audition. Director: Steve Suvada

Gretsch Electric Guitar Ensemble
The Gretsch Guitar Ensemble performs music by musicians such as Frank Zappa. The group, which is open by audition, includes seven to eight guitarists and a rhythm section. Director: Mike Pinto

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Jazz Ensembles

Jazz Band
The Elmhurst College Jazz Band has gained international acclaim as a truly outstanding collegiate jazz ensemble. Under the direction of Doug Beach, the band has received outstanding ratings at jazz festivals from many jazz greats including Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Conte Candoli, Pete Christlieb, Greg Hopkins, Jiggs Whigham, Rob McConnell, and Bob Brookmeyer.

The band has toured 17 nations and has twice been honored with invitations from the U.S. State Department to tour Europe. Frequent performances with well-known guest artists are a regular part of the band's schedule. Recent artists have included Bobby Shew, Louie Bellson, Pete Christlieb, Conte Candoli, Diane Schuur, Terry Gibbs, Lee Konitz, Denis DiBlasio, Clark Terry, Chris Vadala, and Frank Mantooth. In addition, the band has commissioned a number of original works from such well-known composers as Bill Holman, Alan Broadbent and Denis DiBlasio.

The band also hosts the annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, a major event that attracts the best jazz bands from around the country and is adjudicated by the greatest names in jazz today. The band has produced numerous recordings, all available on CD.

The Jazz Band is open by audition. For more information about the Jazz Band, see our recent article in Prospect (pdf format). Director: Doug Beach

Vocal Jazz Ensemble
The Vocal Jazz Ensemble, also known as Late Night Blues, is an internationally acclaimed group that performs a variety of styles of music including jazz, funk, swing, and pop. The students' non-stop energy, talent and professional standards have brought the group elite status as one of the most exciting collegiate vocal jazz ensembles in the United States.

Late Night Blues has won numerous honors and awards at the Collegiate Showcase Festival in Chicago. In addition to giving concerts frequently in the Chicago area, the group has been invited to perform at the International Association of Jazz Educators Convention, the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Music Conference, and John Jacobson's "America Sings" Festival. Audition required. Director: Susan Moninger

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Orchestras

Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra
The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra is an 80-member student and community organization that rehearses and presents concerts on campus. For more information, see the Elmhurst Symphony's web site.

Chamber Orchestra
The Chamber Orchestra is an ensemble that provides string, wind, and percussion players the opportunity to perform in a chamber orchestra setting. Standard and contemporary literature from orchestral repertoire is performed. This ensemble is open to any major with performances are both on and off campus. Does not fulfill the music major ensemblerequirement until four terms of choir, concert band, or orchestra have been fulfilled. For string players, it meets the requirement if their audition for the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra has been denied. Prerequisite: audition and consent of instructor. Ken Haebich

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Chamber Ensembles

Percussion Ensemble
The Elmhurst College Percussion Ensemble was formed in 1993 with the goal of introducing its members to high-quality music written or transcribed for percussion instruments. The ensemble presents concerts both on and off campus. Director: Bob Rummage

Jazz Combos
In Jazz Combos, student musicians come together in small-group settings to perform a variety of jazz styles. Students are placed in an appropriate group after audition, and all the combos perform each semester at the Silverado Grill in Elmhurst. Director: Doug Beach

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