About Our 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.

University Choir

Brad Holmes, Conductor

The flagship of the Millikin choral fleet, the University Choir features 45 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 throughout the United Kingdom, the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, China, Taiwan, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic and most recently to Spain. 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 seven recordings on Millikin's FirstStep Records label.

Collegiate Chorale

Benjamin Hawkinson, Conductor

The Collegiate Chorale is a 60 voice, upper-class mixed ensemble of a variety of majors. This ensemble performs music from a diverse selection of cultures, regions, and historical periods. With a focus on community music making, each January the choir tours regionally collaborating with local high schools. The Collegiate Chorale performs can be seen performing in the Millikin Vespers in Decemeber, and in large scale choral-orchestral works in the Spring. 

The Millikin Women

Beth Holmes, Conductor

Millikin Women has a long-standing tradition of excellence at Millikin University. This ensemble is a select group of 65 singers and is known for singing a wide range of choral repertoire in many musical styles. Including all four classes and singers from many majors, they have traveled and performed with high school and college women’s choirs across the 4-state area each spring. In addition, Millikin Women sing in the Millikin Christmas Vespers and presents their annual “Mothers and Mentors” concert in May.

Millikin Men

Brad Holmes, Conductor

The 50-voice Millikin Men is a campus favorite whether singing the national anthem at sporting events or performing their annual St. Patrick's Day concert. The choir sings a broad range of repertoire from classical to rock-apella. Many non-music majors find time to sing in the ensemble which rehearses twice a week.

How may I sing in a choir?

Any Millikin University student can audition for a choir. Contact Dr. Brad Holmes for more information. bholmes@millikin.edu