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Ensembles

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Evangel’s Music Department began with one choir (directed by E. Lesley Stubbs, Evangel’s first music faculty member and Department Chairman). At first this small choral ensemble functioned as both a college chorus (singing choral compositions of various kinds) and concert choir (performing hymns and church songs) making appearances in churches for ministry and promotional purposes. Within two or three semesters, a second choir was formed from students chosen by audition. This select choral ensemble, called at the time The Evangelaires, (1) was the forerunner of the Concert Choir, still a vibrant and significant part of the Evangel University Music Department today. The last year that Lesley Stubbs was at Evangel (1959-60) he organized an ensemble of men simply called the “Evangel College Male Chorus.” Apparently the intention was to use this group for college promotion and ministry in churches. A recording was made but Stubbs left Evangel. The group was not reorganized subsequently.

In 1956, Jesse Peterson joined the music faculty and immediately organized a student instrumental ensemble which soon evolved into a classic college band. Students were dressed in traditional band uniforms and regular concerts were performed on campus and in churches. The program grew rapidly and soon there were two bands: 1) The College Band (performing traditional literature) and 2) The Concert Band (intended mainly for ministry and college promotion in the churches). When Jesse Peterson left the school in 1966, John Shows (working part-time in 1966-67) was named conductor of bands. These two bands served as a major strength of the instrumental area for almost forty years when the Concert Band was altered in 1995 to include strings. The new group, appropriately called The Concert Orchestra, took over the role of its predecessor traveling in ministry and college promotion. In its first year (1995-96) this group was directed by John Shows. Larry Dissmore has served as the director since 1996.

The Drury-Evangel Orchestra, formed in 1963, was a joint effort between Drury College and Evangel College at a time when both schools individually lacked the number of string players required for meaningful orchestral music. Drury faculty members initially served, without cost to Evangel, as conductor of the Drury-Evangel Orchestra. Walter Halen was first (1963-1966). He was followed by Samuel Terranova (1966-1970) and Sam Minasian (1970 – 1982). In the fall of 1982, Sam Minasian took a sabbatical leave from responsibilities at Drury. Stephen Plate (an Evangel alumnus who had joined the faculty the previous year) was asked to serve as conductor of the orchestra. One year later, in the fall of 1983, with the increasing number of string players and a growing enrollment, Evangel chose to organize its own orchestra rather than continue the joint program with Drury. The original plan served well for a time for both schools but the program required students to alternate campuses for rehearsals and performances. Student musicians were grateful to move to a new plan. Stephen Plate directed Evangel’s new orchestra through the spring of 1988 with the exception of the 1985-86 season when John Shows served as conductor. The current orchestra leader, Larry Dissmore, has been director since the fall of 1988.

Through the years, as the college matured, ensembles and performing groups were added as appropriate. Vocal, brass, and woodwind ensembles using various numbers and combinations of voices and/or instruments (duets, trios, quartets, quintets, and larger groups) had been utilized informally almost from the beginning. Over time, some groups were added to the curriculum, often for credit.

Directors Of Ensembles

College/University Choir/Chorus/Choral Union (Chronological Order)

College/University Band (Chronological Order)

Drury/Evangel Orchestra (Chronological Order)

Evangel Orchestra (Chronological Order)

College/University Chorale (4) (Chronological Order)

Madrigal Singers (5)

Evangel Singers

Concert Choir (6) (Chronological Order)

Concert Band (Chronological Order)

Concert Orchestra (Chronological Order)

Jazz Ensemble (Chronological Order)

Opera Scenes

Brass Ensemble and Trombone Choir (Chronological Order)

Trumpet Ensemble (10)

Woodwind Ensemble, Saxophone Quartet, and Clarinet Choir

Flute Ensemble (11)

String Ensemble

Handbell Choir (Chronological Order)

Guitar Ensemble

Mallet Ensemble (12)

Percussion Ensemble (13)

Chrism

Frontline

Faculty Music Ensembles

Faculty Piano Trio (Named the Excelsis Trio in 1993)

Faculty Brass Quintet

  1. Photo shown in the 1957 yearbook, The Lancer, p. 74.
  2. See Overtones, Alumni Newsletter, October of 1978, p. 3.
  3. See Overtones, Music Alumni Newsletter, Fall, 1985, p. 9.
  4. The College Chorale and the Concert Choir served as one group from 1967 until 1984. Student personnel was the same for both groups. For campus and community events using mainly “classical” music it was called the “Chorale” or “Concert Chorale.” When traveling to churches for ministry and college promotion it was referred to as the “Concert Choir.” After 1986, the Chorale and Concert Choir were separate groups; the former performing mainly art music for campus and the Springfield community while the Concert Choir performed mainly sacred music and traveled to churches in promotion of the college/university.
  5. Apparently the Madrigal Singers group was formed as a mainly a cappella choral ensemble in 1962-63. The following year, this group was enlarged for a broadened repertoire of classical choral literature and named “The Evangel Singers.” From this group was selected a smaller a cappella group which retained its title from the previous year as “Madrigal Singers.”
  6. Initially called “The Evangelaires” – see the 1957 college yearbook – but the term Concert Choir has been in use since 1960.
  7. For a brief period, 1972-1973, a Men’s Chorus was used in lieu of the Concert Choir for college promotional purposes. Delbert Dugan directed the Men’s Chorus.
  8. See Overtones, Music alumni Newsletter, Spring, 1983, p. 4.
  9. See Overtones, Music Alumni Newsletter, Spring, 1987, p. 5.
  10. Trumpet ensembles on occasion were organized and directed by John Shows at his discretion.
  11. Flute ensembles were never “for-credit.” They were organized and performed at the discretion of the instructor.
  12. Organized and directed by adjunct faculty member, Wilma Larsen, Mallet Ensembles were made up principally of marimbas, xylophones, and similar percussion instruments. They performed with some regularity between 1989 and 1992.
  13. Organized and directed by Chris Akins (1993 & 1994), the group was composed of a variety of percussion instruments.
  14. John Shows was the versatile member of the quintet. Although playing primarily the trumpet, at different times he performed with the quintet on French horn and even tuba.

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