The music department maintains diversified choral and instrumental groups to provide ensemble experiences for all students, as well as for those who concentrate their studies in music.
All of the groups listed below perform and offer touring opportunities at least once a year. In most cases, students are able to participate in more than one group.
Other small instrumental groups, organized and directed by both faculty and students, serve special needs and interests of different instrumentalists. These may include Saxophone Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Trombone Ensemble, String Quartet and Percussion Ensemble.
Auditions for most groups take place during Fall Orientation Week.
Laudate
Laudate, the women’s choir, performs the finest women’s sacred and secular repertoire. The women sing on and off campus for concerts and worship services in the Chicago area, including Concordia-Chicago’s highly anticipated annual Lessons and Carols during the first weekend of December.
Conductor: Dr. Maurice Boyer
Männerchor
Männerchor is Concordia-Chicago’s choral ensemble for men’s voices. Männerchor performs an eclectic array of men’s literature, from chant to vocal jazz. A major staple of the repertoire is German a cappella part song literature. The men perform on and off campus throughout the year.
Conductor: Dr. Charles P. Brown
The Cougar Band brings the school spirt to most of Concordia University Chicago's athletic games. They perform for home football and basketball games, pep rallies and travel to the Concordia Invitational Tournament. While providing entertainment the Cougar Band gives many Concordia students who do not play in other instrumental groups the opportunity to continue performing.
Schola Cantorum is primarily devoted to weekly music leadership of campus chapel services, as well as the development of advanced singing skills. Performance opportunities in addition to campus worship include the preparation of larger works during Advent and Holy Week, shared performances with Kapelle and other university choirs during the annual Service of Lessons and Carols, and occasional participation with the Chamber Orchestra and in coordination with Lectures in Church Music.
Conductor: Jonathan Kohrs
The Jazz Band provides students with experience performing music by a range of composers and arrangers from the big bands of the past to the most contemporary artists in the 21st century.
Members are often provided with the opportunity to play with guest performers who are leading musicians in the field of jazz. The band performs at functions both on and off campus.
The University Band is an ensemble of approximately 70 players. This ensemble is open to Concordia-Chicago students, staff and faculty, and anyone in the Chicago metropolitan area, high school age and over. Literature is drawn from the finest traditional and contemporary repertoire. This group performs four concerts each year and may appear for various campus functions.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the ensemble, call 708-209-3070.
Conductor: Dr. Richard Fischer
The University Handbell Choir provides a unique musical experience for beginning and advanced ringers. The choirs perform for daily chapel, for the campus community and beyond.
Conductor: Jonathan Kohrs