Choral Programs

The Maryville College Concert Choir

The Maryville College Concert Choir was organized in 1917 to sing vesper services and was appropriately named the Vesper Choir. It became a part of the music curriculum in 1936 and underwent a name change to the “Maryville College Concert Choir” in 1954. Of the numerous fine directors, the one with the longest tenure is Dr. Harry H. Harter, who led the group from 1947 until his retirement in 1981. The current director is Stacey Murphy Wilner, the director of choral activities at Maryville College. Wilner has served as past president and the repertoire and standards chair of the Tennessee chapter of ACDA.

Today, Concert Choir members serve as musical ambassadors for the college, touring domestically and internationally. Participation is by audition only, and many students are music or choral scholarship recipients. Students participate in an annual fall retreat and host a benefit Invitational Choir Festival to support non-profit groups such as the Blount County Boys and Girls Club and the Joy of Music School. Performances throughout this year will also include Founder’s Day Showcase, Handel’s Messiah, Spring Homecoming Concerts, Knoxville Opera’s “Rossini Festival,” and performances at area churches and other events in the community throughout the year.

In January 2018 and February 2019, the Concert Choir hosted artist-in-residence Paul Phoenix, a Grammy award-winning former The King’s Singers member. Each year, the choir participates in master classes with professional musicians such as Cantus, Jacqui Horner-Kwiatek, formerly of Anonymous 4, Dr. Joe Miller of Westminster Choir College, and most recently, with Voces8. The Concert Choir performed at the Tennessee Music Educators Association State Conference in Nashville in April 2013 and 2017. The 2018 “Make Our Garden Grow” spring tour included South Carolina and Florida locations. The Concert Choir participated in the world premiere of “People Are the Key,” composed by Paul John Rudoi and commissioned for the 2019 Bicentennial Homecoming Choir concert. Post-Covid, the Concert Choir performed with the American Spiritual Ensemble and completed a domestic tour of southern Tennessee and north Georgia in the spring of 2022.  In May of 2023, the Concert Choir traveled to Scotland with performances at Stirling Castle in Stirling, St. Giles in Edinburgh, and joint concerts with the St. Salvator’s Chapel Choir of St. Andrew’s University and the Heart of Scotland Choir in Stirling.

Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, Maryville College is a nationally ranked institution of higher learning that successfully joins the liberal arts and professional preparation in partnership with others. The philosophy of the students in the Concert Choir closely follows that of Maryville College founder Isaac Anderson, “to do good on the largest possible scale.”

If you are an interested high school student looking for more information about vocal music opportunities at MC, we encourage you to join our Music @ MC GroupMe! You’ll be able to connect with current choral students, of varying majors, to discuss your questions about life as a music major, the choir’s performance schedules, scholarship opportunities, and why you should be a singing scot in our fine arts division. If you have any questions about setting up a campus tour or how to sign up to be a “Music Major for a Day,” please reach out to Stacey Murphy Wilner at stacey.wilner@maryvillecollege.edu or 865-981-8151.

For friends, parents, and potential students:  Join Friends of the MC Concert Choir on Facebook

Connect with Alumni: Join MC Concert Choir Alumni Page on Facebook

The Maryville College Small Ensembles

Off Kilter is an auditioned SATB ensemble comprised of mostly upper-level students under the direction of Stacey Murphy Wilner. The Lads & Lassies were formed in the fall of 2011 from student interest and initiative and are now melded with Off Kilter, with members participating in both! The Lads is a TTBB ensemble under the new direction of Dr. Jennifer Anderson ’05, and The Lassies is an SSAA ensemble under the direction of Stacey Murphy Wilner. Involvement in both ensembles creates a more enriching educational experience for students and sharpens their skills a step further as young musicians. Their first performance of the season will be the Fall Vocal Small Ensembles Concert held in the Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall at the Clayton Center for the Arts on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.. Tickets are $10 for adults, seniors, and area students.  Admission is free for MC faculty, staff, and students with ID, although a printed ticket is required.  To purchase tickets, please get in touch with the Clayton Center Box Office at 865-981-8590 or visit the Clayton Center website at claytonartscenter.com

The members of the vocal small ensembles perform at banquets, conferences, and social events for the College and perform multiple times a year for assisted living centers, high schools, and churches in the area. With the mission in mind that all students are ambassadors of the college, it is an uplifting experience for the community and campus when they see our students wearing Maryville College’s registered tartan colors. Educational emphasis is on chamber-style singing and stewardship for these ensembles, and members must also be in the Concert Choir.

Dr. Jennifer Olander Anderson ’05 completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Memphis. She received her Master of Music degree from The University of Tennessee Knoxville and her Bachelor of Arts in music from Maryville College. Jenny is the Assistant Director of Music at First United Methodist Church Maryville.

For more information on this program or to book a small ensemble for an event, please get in touch with Stacey Wilner at stacey.wilner@maryvillecollege.edu or 865-981-8151.

The Maryville College Community Chorus

The Maryville College Community Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Dwight Dockery ’05, will begin Fall rehearsals at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29th, 2023, in the Harry H. Harter Choral Rehearsal Room of the Clayton Center for the Arts. Rehearsals are normally from 7 until 9 p.m. The chorus is open to all area singers of all talent levels above 16. Music reading experience is helpful but not required. Registration and music for the choir will be available at the first rehearsal.

This established chorus of over 50 singers has a strong tradition of presenting quality choral music and frequently joins other community ensembles, such as the Maryville College youth choirs and the Orchestra at Maryville College. The chorus performs quality literature of various styles and genres of the highest caliber. It often features the music of area composers and arrangers, as well as the classic gems of the masters. This year, they will be joining the Maryville College Concert Choir, Heritage High School Singers, and the Orchestra at Maryville College (OMC) to perform Handel’s Messiah on Tuesday, December 6th, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre at the Clayton Center for the Arts. Tickets will be available for purchase in early October via the Clayton Center website at claytonartscenter.com or by phone at 865-981-8590.

Dr. Dwight Dockery ’05 earned his bachelor’s in music theory-composition from MC before obtaining his master’s in choral conducting from East Carolina University and his doctorate from the University of South Carolina. Today, he serves as music director at Maryville First United Methodist Church.

For more information, please contact Stacey Wilner, coordinator of choral music, at stacey.wilner@maryvillecollege.edu or 865-981-8151.  Scholarship positions are available.

Connect with Chorus Members: Join the Maryville College Community Chorus Facebook Group

The Maryville College Youth Choirs

The Maryville College Youth Choirs, under the direction of Hannah Strong ’18, will begin rehearsals on Tuesday, August 29th, and Thursday, the 31st. The youth choirs focus on learning the fundamentals of music and the foundations of singing. Music education majors from Maryville College also assist with the groups. The ensembles present fall/spring concerts in the Clayton Center for the Arts Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall. Their Fall Concert will be held on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023, in the Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall in the Clayton Center for the Arts. Centering around the theme of gratitude, the students and assistant directors have worked to put together a repertoire that reflects what they are grateful for this autumn season.

The Scottie Singers is a youth choir for students in grades three through seven, and they focus on building skills around group singing, healthy technique, and exploration of their voice.  Their rehearsals will be on Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00 p.m. This enrichment opportunity is for students who love to sing and want to excel above and beyond their school music experience. 

The Highlander Chorale, a community ensemble for students eight through twelve, will have rehearsals on Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m. This ensemble counts toward fine arts credit for home-schooled high school students. Additionally, it is an approved ensemble for auditions for the East Tennessee Vocal Association’s annual All-East Chorus and All-State Chorus events. If you have a student who would like to audition for All East in Fall 2023, please contact the director to discuss additional fees, rehearsals, and audition dates.

Hannah Strong ’18 earned her bachelor’s in music from MC and has been the Choral Assistant to our Fine Arts department since then. She is highly involved in the arts community. She is the conductor of the Treble Chorus with Appalachian Equality Chorus, the music director with Bijou Theatre’s Youth Performance Camps, and the Music and Communications Director for Foothills UU Fellowship. Additionally, she privately teaches studio lessons in voice, piano, and acting. Her passion for the arts and ensuring access to those arts is the driving force behind her many musical efforts. She is looking forward to working with your students and encouraging their musicianship!

Are you already registered? Join our MC Youth Choirs GroupMe thread to stay current on rehearsals, performances, and special events throughout the year!

Donate to the MC Choir >

More Info About Fine Arts at MC:

Interested in participating in a fine arts program at Maryville College? Please use the Fine Arts inquiry form to provide us with some information about yourself. An MC Admissions specialist, will put you in touch with one of our fine arts faculty, who will contact you to discuss your options.

Scholarships, Awards, & Auditions

The Division of Fine Arts offers several opportunities to both first-year and returning or transfer students based on academic achievement, interest areas, leadership and talent. Learn More about the awards and qualifications >

Faculty & Staff
Senior Lecturer in Music, Director of Choral Activities
Stacey Wilner
Senior Lecturer in Music, Director of Choral Activities
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Choral Assistant & Director of Youth Choirs
Hannah Strong
Choral Assistant & Director of Youth Choirs
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Adjunct Choral Accompanist
Chase Hatmaker
Adjunct Choral Accompanist
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Director of Lads, Collaborative Pianist for Lassies
Dr. Jennifer Anderson
Director of Lads, Collaborative Pianist for Lassies
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Director of the Community Chorus
Dr. Dwight Dockery
Director of the Community Chorus
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Collaborative Pianist for MC Community Chorus
Ms. Kathryn Wogoman
Collaborative Pianist for MC Community Chorus
Deborah Boling, Office Manager
Division of Fine Arts - Office
Deborah Boling, Office Manager
Chair, Division of Fine Arts, Professor of Music
Dr. William Swann
Chair, Division of Fine Arts, Professor of Music
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