Music Ensembles
The Swinney Conservatory of Music is proud to offer many performance opportunities. Students of any major are encouraged to participate. Scholarships are available, and there are chances to perform with various chamber groups or as soloists in recitals held throughout the year.
Vocal Music Program
Chorale: The Chorale is a mixed choir of undergraduates who strive for academic excellence, individual achievement, and social responsibility through their music. The CMU choral program started in 1932 as a student-led organization and has continued to established itself as an outstanding choral organization. The Chorale performs over 25 concerts per year. Performances experiences include: International Methodist General Convention in Oregon 2016, National Cathedral Washington DC tour 2017, Tennessee tour in 2018, and San Antonio tour 2019. The Chorale also performed at the MMEA State Convention and the National ACDA Convention. Membership is open to any major by audition.
Conservatory Singers: A 50-60 member mixed-voice choir, Conservatory Singers is a dynamic community of singers who create beautiful and inspiring music. As representatives of the university through public concerts and collaborative music projects in mid-Missouri, its members seek to embody CMU’s character goals, in particular to “seek an understanding of ideas, issues, and events within and beyond their immediate community and appreciate the gifts of diversity.”
Opera Workshop: Opera Workshop is a performing ensemble intended to train vocal performance majors but also open to all music and theater students who enjoy performing in an annual production exploring appropriate scenes from opera, operetta and musical theater. The performances consist of musical scenes and dialogue with solos, small ensembles and large ensembles staged, costumed and choreographed in the Kountz Recital Hall. Every third year a full production is performed in the Little Theatre fully staged with sets, lighting, costumes with instrumental accompaniment.
Instrumental Music Program
Concert Band: The CMU Concert Band is open to students via audition, and is the top wind band at CMU. The Concert Band goes on a six-day spring tour as well as playing 2 concerts on campus each spring. The Concert Band plays high quality wind band literature from both the “standard” concert band repertoire as well as from more contemporary concert literature.
Jazz Band: The CMU Jazz Ensemble specializes in standard jazz repertoire as well as contemporary pieces in the genre. An auditioned ensemble of approximately 16 members, the Jazz Ensemble performs two concerts per year.
Marching Band: The Sound of Central marching band is open to all students on campus who play either wind or percussion instruments. The band plays at all home CMU Football games as well as hosts the annual CMU Band Day high school marching competition. The CMU Color Guard performs with The Sound of Central and is open to all student through an audition process. Color Guard opportunities are also available.
University Band: The CMU University Band is open to all students on campus and does not require an audition. The University Band plays standard concert band music as well as lighter selections and performs two concerts on campus each spring.Worship Ensemble Program
Worship Ensembles: Our Worship Ensembles provide opportunities to use your musical gifts and Christian faith to serve our campus and community. We welcome students with skills in voice, electric and acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards, drum set, percussion, and audio/visual production.
Chamber Ensembles
Chamber Ensembles are formed every semester for musicians interested in developing their chamber music skills. Brass Quintets, Saxophone Quartets, Flute Ensembles, Clarinet Ensembles and others are featured on the Chamber Recital and other special events.
Piano Ensembles
