Performing Arts
Your Time to Shine
There are many ways for you to let your talents shine at Simpson. Participate in one or more of our many instrumental and vocal ensembles. Play your part in theatre, as you hone your skills on-stage and behind the scenes, regardless of your major.
You can also find exciting roles with Simpson Productions – the College’s theatre, opera and musical theatre collaboration. Enjoy four faculty-directed productions and a festival of student-directed one-acts each year.
Endless Opportunities
Vocal Ensembles
Chamber Singers (MUS 214S, MWF 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Duncan Hall)
The Chamber Singers is a highly select ensemble of 12-16 students chosen from the membership of College Choir. The group performs music from varied historical periods and genres specializing in unaccompanied music from the Renaissance period and newly composed works for choir. Members of the ensemble possess excellent music reading skills and enjoy the greater independence of being one of just a few voices per part. While the Chamber Singers are talented and accomplished musicians, and many are music majors, this ensemble comprises students from a broad range of other majors at Simpson, including biology, political science, psychology, computer science, theatre, and education.
Simpson College Choir (MUS 214C, MWF 3:20pm-4:20pm, Duncan Hall)
The College Choir is the flagship curricular choral ensemble, and all students accepted by audition into the choral program at Simpson sing together in this group. Performing numerous concerts on campus each year, participating in the cherished annual service of Lessons and Carols, and touring biennially to various locations around the United States, College Choir is where participants make lifelong friendships and musical memories. While the ability to read music is a valuable asset, it is not a prerequisite for acceptance. All who love to sing, regardless of major or previous choral experience, should audition to join us.
Opera At Simpson – Simpson College is proud to continue our long-standing tradition of producing two fully-staged operas each academic year, in which the principal, supporting and chorus roles are performed exclusively by undergraduates! It’s an opportunity unique to Simpson College and known throughout the world. Whether you are majoring in Music Education, Music Performance or a Bachelor of Arts, all voice students are considered for the major roles in the operas.
Instrumental Opportunities
Simpson College Community Orchestra (MUS 214O, Sundays 6:30pm-9:30pm, Harris Hall). The Simpson College Community Orchestra (SCCO) was formed in the 2012-2013 academic year. Membership consists of Simpson students, music faculty, and community members. The goal of the orchestra is to provide students and community members with an educational and performing outlet focused on orchestral music. Under the direction of Michael Eckerty, students and the community at large will come to realize that music moves beyond the realm of entertainment and that an understanding of and appreciation for music can profoundly enrich our lives.
Symphonic Band (MUS 214B, TTh 3:50pm-5:20pm, Harris Hall). The Simpson College Symphonic Band provides a quality musical experience for both music majors and students pursuing other academic areas. Directed by Michael Eckerty, the ensemble performs both classic band standards and modern wind compositions (Including the recent Iowa premier of David Maslanka’s Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble). The Symphonic Band gives multiple concerts each year. Emphasis is placed on solid musicianship, proper tone quality, and a commitment to the ensemble. The concert band tours biennially, and performed as a college Honor Band at the 2007 Iowa Bandmasters Conference.
Jazz Ensemble (MUS-214J, MW 4:30pm-6pm, Harris Hall) The Simpson College Jazz Ensemble is the primary jazz group of Simpson College. Comprised of members of the Symphonic Band and Orchestra, the Jazz Ensemble performs at least four times a year, both on campus and across central Iowa. Performing in a big band setting, students play jazz charts ranging from the classics of Duke Ellington and Count Basie to modern compositions by Gordin Goodwin and Mike Tomaro. The big band setting offers students the opportunity to develop their musical independence by assigning one player per part, and to help their collaborative skills in balancing and blending with their section and with the larger ensemble. The Jazz Ensemble is comprised of both music majors and non-majors, as well as student athletes.
Chamber Instrumental. Simpson College features a wide assortment of extracurricular chamber music ensembles, such as the Lekberg Winds, saxophone quartets, flute choir, pep band and more. These groups typically play at a variety of concert venues each semester. The Lekberg Winds were featured at the 2012 Iowa Bandmasters’ Conference
Simpson Productions
Simpson Productions – the College’s theatre, opera and musical theatre collaboration – performs four faculty-directed productions and a festival of student-directed one-acts each year.
Music Workshops, Festivals and Camps
What better way to experience the Simpson Music Culture than to attend a workshop, camp or festival on campus? The Simpson College Department of Music offers several festivals during the school year. Each festival and camp offers a different experience to the young musician.
Workshops in Music Education
This unique experience for Simpson College music students is led by successful music educators from across the country. Once a semester, you will get to learn side by side with teachers and graduate students from the community about different methods, philosophies and ideas of teaching in the field of music. This helps equip our students with many different ideas and skills to become fantastic and versatile music educators.
Jazz Camp
Each year in June, the Simpson College Music Department hosts students for a six-day jazz camp. The camp provides an intensive experience for up to 100 middle and high school students, ages 12 – 19, looking to gain skills and appreciation in jazz and improvisation. The faculty includes some of the most respected jazz educators in the Midwest. Students will have many opportunities to work on their craft, and be able to hear the faculty perform nightly.
Jazz Festival
High school jazz bands can compete in Simpson’s annual Jazz Festival held each January on campus. Bands are mentored by professional musicians and given feedback on their performances. Trophies are awarded for winners.
Simpson College Honor Choir
The Simpson College Honor Choir is designed as a non-competitive environment where exceptional students from high school choral programs have the opportunity to spend a day rehearsing and performing high quality choral music. The festival augments and reinforces the exciting work that is already being done in their home choral programs. A day such as this serves as an opportunity for students to energize, discover and reaffirm their interest and passion in singing.
High School/Middle School Honor Band
These two separate festivals allow students from many schools to come together and work with exciting guest conductors. Typically over fifty schools participate. Both events typically occur in January and students perform in Pote Theatre in the Blank Performing Arts Center. For more information or questions, contact Mike Eckerty, Director of Instrumental Ensembles. For more information and registration visit Middle School Honor Band or High School Honor Band.
High School Choral Invitational
This invitation only event offers a full day of musical enrichment will help you attain the highest level of artistry and focus with your choir. The Invitational provides a supportive forum for four to six invited high school choirs to share choral music with one another and receive feedback from three expert choral clinicians. Throughout the day, the clinicians will provide advice for improving the performance of the prepared pieces as well as overarching choral concepts. Singers also observe the other choirs in a workshop environment in order to observe and reflect on these changes as they occur. If you would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Jon Arnold, Director of Choral Studies at Simpson College.
