Choirs

A tradition of choral excellence has long been a part of Millikin's history. With more than 200 singers, the choral program now includes four traditional choirs led by a nationally recognized staff of conductors. Music majors and non-majors alike count their choral experience as among the most profound during their college years. In addition to their own performance schedule choirs have opportunities to perform together for large-scale choral/orchestral works in the spring. All participate together for Vespers, the largest single event on Millikin's campus drawing 6,500 people annually. Recordings of the choirs may be purchased through First Step Records, Millikins' student led label.

  • The flagship of the Millikin choral fleet, the University Choir features 43 upper-class students from a variety of majors. Membership in the choir places high demands on students who travel extensively throughout the United States representing the university in a variety of settings. In recent years, the choir has also toured internationally to Spain, Ireland, Scotland, England, China, Taiwan, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. The Millikin University Choir has gained national recognition, due in part to six invitations to perform at national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Their performances have fostered new conversations in response to their approach to tone, style and programming. The choir has six recordings on Millikin's FirstStep Records label.

  • Collegiate Chorale, under the direction of Nate Widelitz, is an upper-class select mixed ensemble exploring all forms of choral music, both from within and outside the traditional canon, of the last 500 years. It emphasizes the development of musical skills through the exploration of choral music from a wide range of historical, cultural, and geographic backgrounds. The choir tours annually throughout the region and has been invited to perform for the Regional Conference of the American Choral Directors Association. Collegiate Chorale is open to all majors and non-majors. 

  • Treble Choir, under the direction of Nate Widelitz, is an all-gender ensemble exploring all forms of choral music, both from within and outside the traditional canon of the last 500 years. It emphasizes the development of musical skills through the exploration of choral music from a wide range of historical, cultural, and geographic backgrounds. The choir has a long-standing tradition of excellence at Millikin, performing throughout the community and having received special invitations for performances statewide. 

  • Fifty-five voices strong, the True Blue Choir sings a broad variety of repertoire. Whether before a crowd of 70,000 for the national anthem at a Chicago Bears game, before an audience of conductors at the IL-MEA Conference or in front of an audience of high school choristers at the annual Millikin Vocal Festival, the True Blue are a favorite wherever they perform.

  • Vespers

    Kirkland Fine Arts Center 

    December 6 | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 

    December 7 | 2 p.m.

     

    Vocal Festival Finale

    University Choir and the Millikin Vocal Festival Choir Kirkland Fine Arts Center 

    September 29 | 4 p.m.

     

    University Choir Tour Finale

    University Choir

    St. Patrick Church

    January 18 | 2 p.m.

     

    With a Voice of Singing

    Treble Choir and TrueBlue Chorale

    Central Christian Church

    March 8 | 4 p.m.

     

    Spring Sing

    TrueBlue Chorale, Treble Choir, Collegiate Choir and

    University Choir

    Central Christian Church

    April 26 | 4 p.m.


    University Choir and the Millikin Vocal Festival Choir

    Kirkland Fine Arts Center

    September 29 | 4 p.m.

     

    Collegiate Chorale and Treble Choir

    Central Christian Church

    October 19 | 2 p.m.

    October 19 | 4 p.m.

    March 8 | 4 p.m.

    April 26 | 4 p.m.