Music Ensembles
Students of all majors (not just music) are welcome to participate in music ensembles at Carthage. The ensembles allow students to perform in a variety of styles and venues, both on campus and off. Workshops and clinics are arranged so ensembles can also provide educational support for regional schools.
Audition information is shared at the beginning of each academic year to first-year students and returning students via email and The Bridge.
Choral Ensembles
This 40-member choir is the College’s flagship vocal ensemble. It has recently appeared at WMEA, WCDA, and Carnegie Hall. The choir tours regionally, nationally, and internationally (England and Germany 2006; Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary 2009; Ireland and Scotland 2012; Spain 2015; Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy, 2018; Washington DC, 2023; England and Scotland, 2025).
Membership by audition.
Rehearsals: 4:10 to 5:15 p.m. MTWRF, JAC 140, Choral Room.
Director: Professor Maggie Burk
Vox Ignis (Voices of Fire, pronounced [vox een-yees]) is a tenor-bass choir that sings for campus choral events including Christmas Festival, the Masterworks Concerts, and Benefits Concerts. In the ensemble, students with tenor or bass voices have the opportunity to develop their vocal technique, musical literacy, and performance skills. Open to all members of the Carthage community who sing tenor or bass.
Membership by audition.
Rehearsals: 11:45 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, JAC 140, Choral Room.
Director: Professor Maggie Burk
The Lincoln Singers is a choral ensemble that focuses on a cappella chamber music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras as well as part songs, motets, and other works from the late Romantic period through the modern era. This group of 8-12 singers is composed of dedicated, passionate choral musicians who are dedicated to collaborative chamber music.
Membership in this ensemble is highly competitive; strong literacy and aural skills are required.
Director: Professor Maggie Burk
A group of 50-60 performers who sing music from all genres of choral music for female voices. It has recently appeared at WMEA, and NCACDA and performs on and off campus. The group tours regionally, nationally (Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and Virginia), and internationally (Austria, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Germany, Tanzania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Austria.).
Membership by audition.
Rehearsals: 4:10 to 5:15 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, in the H. F. Johnson Recital Hall.
Director: Professor Polly Amborn
Instrumental Ensembles
The Carthage College Band, one of the oldest college bands in the United States, was established as a brass band in 1873 under the leadership of Professor J. M. Helfrich. From its humble beginnings as a six-piece brass ensemble, the band has grown to now include three large ensembles — Wind Orchestra, Concert Band, and the chamber winds group AMATI.
Conductor: Professor James Ripley
The Philharmonic is a dynamic music ensemble that performs standard orchestral repertoire with additional opportunities for musicians to perform in small chamber ensembles, including string quartets and piano trios, under the guidance of studio faculty.
Conductor: Professor E. Edward Kawakami
The Carthage College Jazz Ensemble offers students the opportunity to develop as jazz musicians and educators. It is open to any Carthage College student regardless of major and serves as the lab band for all music education majors interested in developing a thriving jazz culture throughout their career. This ensemble meets during the spring term and focuses on the performance of both traditional and contemporary jazz repertoire.
Jazz Combos are also a part of the larger Jazz Ensemble offering, and allow students to explore a wide range of jazz styles throughout the year.
Conductor: Professor Russell Johnson
The Carthage Pep Band is proud to be the driving force behind the game day experience at all home Football games, Basketball games, and special campus events. Comprised almost entirely of non-music majors, the Pep Band is a high-energy, powerful ensemble beloved by our teams and fans alike. Valued by our campus community, members of the Carthage College Pep Band are also eligible for stipends as performers. The Pep Band is conducted by select senior music education majors.
Conductor: Professor James Ripley