ENSEMBLE SCHOLARSHIPS
All students (from any major) who successfully audition for a band, choir, or praise & worship team are automatically considered for an Ensemble Scholarship. Scholarship amounts vary depending on the ensemble and the student’s level of talent. Awards are renewable each year for students who remain active members in good standing. In many cases, participation in these ensembles can also be used to satisfy Carson-Newman’s Fine Arts general education requirement, allowing students to earn credit while performing.
ENSEMBLE INTEREST FORM
Interested in joining one of our outstanding ensembles? We’d love to connect with you! Complete the short form below, and one of our ensemble directors will follow up with additional information about auditions, schedules, and scholarship opportunities.
Next Steps: Complete the Ensemble Interest Form
Course Code: MUS-020
Meets: M/T/W/Th from 3:00-3:50 PM (Fall & Spring)
Conductor: Dr. Brandon Hollihan
The A Cappella Choir is the premier choral ensemble of the music department, performing advanced sacred and secular repertoire from a wide range of historical periods and contemporary styles. Open to all university students by audition, the choir serves as an ambassador for Carson-Newman at campus events, churches, and special performances. A Cappella maintains a long-standing tradition of touring, including regional, national, and occasional international and mission-focused trips, using choral music as a means of ministry and artistic witness.
Course Code: MUS-022
Meets: T/Th 12:00-1:15 PM (Fall & Spring)
Conductor: Dr. Laurissa Backlin
Women Singers is a welcoming ensemble open to all female students without audition. The group performs a broad range of repertoire for treble voices, from classical works and hymn-based selections to folk and contemporary pieces. In addition to presenting on-campus concerts and participating in the fall oratorio, Women Singers regularly collaborates with other ensembles and has appeared with regional organizations such as the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Tennessee Collegiate Choral Festival. The ensemble offers a supportive community where students can grow vocally, musically, and spiritually.
Course Code: MUS-021 (Fall & Spring)
Meets: T/Th 12:00-1:15 PM
Men’s Chorus is open to all male students without audition and is dedicated to the rich tradition of music for men’s voices. The ensemble emphasizes camaraderie and the joy of singing while maintaining high musical standards and a diverse repertoire that ranges from sacred and classical works to spirituals and contemporary selections. Men’s Chorus regularly contributes to campus worship services, participates in the annual oratorio performance, and represents Carson-Newman in select concerts on and off campus.
Course Code: MUS-012 (Woodwinds) / MUS-015 (Brass) / MUS-018 (Percussion)
Credits: 0.5
Meets: T/Th 12:00–1:15 PM (Fall and Spring Semesters)
Conductor: Prof. Ashby Goldstein
The Carson-Newman Wind Ensemble is the university’s premier concert band, performing core masterworks, significant new compositions, and sacred repertoire for winds and percussion. Membership is open by audition to students from all majors who are committed to musical excellence and artistic growth. Ensemble members refine tone, technique, and ensemble skills while developing leadership, discipline, and a deeper understanding of great wind literature. Through on-campus concerts and selected outreach performances, the Wind Ensemble seeks to glorify God, enrich the campus community, and serve as a musical ambassador for the university.
Course Code: MUS-010
Credits: 1
Meets: T/Th 7:00–9:30 PM (Fall semester)
Directors: Prof. Ashby Goldstein, Dr. David Gonzalez, Matt Weyer (Drumline), Erin Gonzalez (Colorguard), Autumn Jackson-Snider (Majorettes)
The Marching Eagles bring spirit, energy, and pageantry to Carson-Newman football games and community events. Open to students from all academic programs, the ensemble presents dynamic halftime productions that combine powerful music, creative drill, and engaging visual design. Members grow as performers and leaders through a culture of hard work, camaraderie, and Christ-centered encouragement. On the field and in the stands, the Marching Eagles strive to represent the university with excellence, serve others with joy, and create an unforgettable game-day experience.
Course Code: MUS-011
Meets: Tuesday 5:00-6:00 PM (Spring Semester)
Director: Dr. David Gonzalez
The Pep Band supports Carson-Newman men’s and women’s basketball by providing a high-energy soundtrack for home games throughout the spring semester. Performing a mix of popular tunes, classic stand charts, and school spirit songs, the ensemble helps create an exciting and welcoming atmosphere for players, students, and fans. Membership is open to wind, brass, and percussion players from any major who wish to continue playing in a flexible, fun, and service-oriented setting. Pep Band members play an important role in building school spirit and representing Carson-Newman with enthusiasm and pride.
Course Code: MUS-025
Meets: Monday 4:00-6:00 PM
Director: Dr. Chris Headley
Redemption is Carson-Newman’s contemporary praise and worship team, comprised of vocalists and instrumentalists who desire to use their gifts in ministry. Serving as ambassadors for the university, the group leads worship in campus chapels, special events, and services in local churches and regional ministries. Redemption has also assisted in leading worship for state and national gatherings such as the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference and Summit, the annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists. Repertoire centers on current contemporary Christian worship songs and related styles, chosen to encourage congregational participation and Christ-centered reflection. Members grow as musicians, worship leaders, and servants as they help point others to the Lord through excellence in modern worship.
Course Code: MUS-030
Meets: T/Th from 5:00-7:00 PM (Music-Fall; Opera-Spring)
Music Director: Cody Boling
Lyric Theatre and Opera, whose enrollment depends on production requirements, meets on an arranged schedule during the Fall and Spring Terms. The Opera encompasses all stylistic periods and includes modern opera by living American composers. Students will experience musical, vocal, and dramatic intent for the stage. Recent musical theatre productions have included Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, Into the Woods, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, West Side Story, Annie Get Your Gun, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Hello Dolly, The Secret Garden, My Fair Lady, Seussical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Big River, and Mary Poppins.
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