Area of Music

Concert Choir

Noah DeLong, Conductor

The Milligan College Concert Choir is an auditioned ensemble that proudly upholds a long tradition of choral excellence within the Christian liberal arts context of the college. In the past, the choir has performed at the invitation of the President at the National Prayer Breakfast and also on international tours to England and Mexico.  In addition, the choir has been invited to sing at the North American Christian Convention, the Conference on World Evangelism-National Missionary Convention, and at the Tennessee State Conference of the American Choral Directors’ Association.

In recent years, the choir has maintained an active performance schedule on campus and throughout Northeast Tennessee. Also, the choir travels frequently throughout the United States, with recent tours to Washington, D.C., and the mid-Atlantic as well as Chicago and the Midwest. In addition, the choir regularly collaborates with the Milligan College Orchestra, the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony of the Mountains.

Women’s Chorale

Anne Elliott, Conductor

Milligan Women’s Chorale is a women’s ensemble singing various styles of music and performing on and off campus. Continuing in Milligan’s strong tradition of women’s vocal ensembles, the Milligan Women’s Chorale was founded in Fall 2008. The chorale performs literature of different styles ranging from sacred to popular. The chorale performs for churches and various organizations in the Tri-Cities area. The ensemble is open to all female students.

Brass Ensemble

Rick Simerly, Conductor

Brass Ensemble is an instrumental ensemble for brass instruments devoted to the study and performance of literature written specifically for brass. The group regularly performs at the annual Milligan Christmas Concert and throughout the region.

Jazz Ensemble

Rick Simerly, Director

The Milligan College Jazz Ensemble is an organization devoted to the performance of jazz and pop styles with emphasis on ensemble playing, solo playing, and improvisation. Membership is by audition. The group presents one concert each semester and has performed at the Grove Park Jazz Festival (the opener for Ellis Marsalis), and most recently at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Region IV Festival in Americus, GA. In combination with the Milligan College Theatre Department, they performed an original musical, The Gospel According To Jazz.

Jazz Combo

Rick Simerly, Director

Jazz Combo is the study of jazz and pop styles for small ensembles with emphasis on ensemble playing, solo playing and improvisation as it relates to small group performance.

Orchestra

Dr. Kellie D. Brown, Conductor

The Milligan College Orchestra performs throughout East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia and collaborates frequently with professional ensembles and arts organizations, including The Civic Chorale, the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, the East Tennessee Regional Symphony, Mountain Empire Children’s Choir Academy, and the City Youth Ballet. In addition, MCO is the pit orchestra for various opera and musical productions at Milligan College and serves local churches in ministry. The orchestra also champions new works and has performed the world premieres of numerous pieces including Three Genres by John Grubb and Genesis by internationally renowned composer Kenton Coe.

String Quartet

Cheryl Fitzgerald, Director

The Milligan College String Quartet is an auditioned chamber group featuring the college’s premier string players. In addition to performing frequently on Milligan’s campus, this group is also featured throughout East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Civic Band & Johnson City Symphony Orchestra

Civic Band provides students a performance opportunity with the Johnson City Community Concert Band. The Johnson City Symphony Orchestra provides students an opportunity to perform with a community orchestra.

Heritage

Noah DeLong, Director

Heritage is select a cappella ensemble of eight singers that maintains an active travel and performance schedule. The group, which was founded in 1983, frequently represents the college at churches, civic organizations, and college functions. Specializing in a wide variety of a cappella music, the group performs everything from modern worship music to Broadway, pop a cappella, spirituals, and vocal jazz. Contact Kit Dotson to book Heritage to perform at your church or organization.

Heard Mentality

Dr. Charlotte Anderson, Director

Heard Mentality is an elite, auditioned men’s a cappella ensemble. They began in 2007 with barbershop and gospel, and now also sing jazz, be-bop, some early music, and traditional men’s glee. They sing for churches, various organizations and functions and sell Singing Valentines every February 14.