The 2011-2012 year marks the Illinois Wesleyan Civic Orchestra’s 27th season.  Founded in 1984 by director and conductor Steven W. Eggleston, the ensemble has performed with many esteemed soloists and is made up of students and community members from all disciplines. 

The orchestra has performed alongside various eminent musical personalities, including virtuoso string bassist Edgar Meyer and Grammy Award-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw, who is also an Illinois Wesleyan alumna, and many others.  Other distinguished guests that the ensemble has hosted throughout its tenure include Armando Ghitalla, former principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, baritone Roger Roloff, a critically acclaimed soloist with the Chicago Lyric Opera, and Laszlo Varga, former principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic.  Contemporary musicians such as Awadagin Pratt, a pianist who challenges the confines of Classical music and Sir Edward Heath, former British Prime Minister, have been the honored guests of the orchestra.  In addition, the Illinois Wesleyan Civic Orchestra has played in concert with the Volgograd Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Edward Serov, and Peter Schickele, celebrated composer of the comic oratorio, Oedipus Tex, and “transcriber/impersonator” of P.D.Q. Bach, a fictitious composer abandoned by the famous Bach family for his comic compositional flare. 

The IWCO also boasts many prestigious performance opportunities, including an appearance on CBS’s Sunday Morning, and frequent tours throughout the United States. In addition, the annual Concerto-Aria concert showcases the school’s finest musicians by allowing them the opportunity to perform with the IWCO.

For more info contact iwco@iwu.edu, or call 309 556 3346