Music Ensembles

Continue your passion for music by joining one of Wartburg’s 18 music ensembles. More than 400 students participate in music ensembles at Wartburg. You do not need to be a music major to be a member of an ensemble or compete for a music scholarship.

Wartburg has five choirs, two bands, and two orchestras, as well as many other small ensembles. These groups have performance opportunities on and off campus.

Ensemble Fast Facts

INTERNATIONAL

TOURS IN MAY TERM

Wartburg’s four touring music ensembles schedule international tours every three years during the four-week May Term.

Tour Information

PREMIERED

WORKS

Wartburg ensembles have premiered works by contemporary composers including Morten Lauridsen, Ola Gjeilo, Ben Allaway, Stacey V. Gibbs, Stanford Scriven, Connor Koppin ’13, and many more.

U.S.

TOURS

U.S. tours during the other years showcase musicians throughout the country with appearances in many of the great concert halls.

Tour Information

OPEN TO ALL

MAJORS & CLASSES

All ensembles are open to music and non-music majors and students of any class year.

BE IN

MULTIPLE

ENSEMBLES

Depending on rehearsal schedules, it’s possible to participate in more than one ensemble. Some groups rehearse daily; others, less frequently.

SMALL

GROUPS

Students can enjoy the interaction of a smaller group through a variety of brass, woodwind, and string ensembles and a structured Chamber Music Ensemble course.

Ensemble Information

Touring Choral Ensembles

These ensembles require an audition and tour nationally and internationally.

Wartburg Choir

Founded in 1937, the internationally acclaimed Wartburg Choir performs a cappella music from various historical periods and styles, often collaborating with contemporary composers. Choir members are selected by audition and represent many academic disciplines on campus. Under the direction of Dr. Lee Nelson, the choir makes annual concert tours throughout the United States and international tours every three years. The choir has toured in 23 European countries, Scandinavia, and South Africa. The Wartburg Choir has performed in many renowned concert halls, including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House.

Learn about Wartburg Choir

Castle Singers

Founded in 1950, the Wartburg Castle Singers is a select group of vocalists who perform a variety of chamber repertoire, varying from Renaissance madrigals and motets to contemporary pop and vocal jazz. Originally the college’s chapel choir, the ensemble continues to expand its literature and reinvent itself.

The Singers have toured most of Europe, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Australia, Fiji, the Caribbean Islands and Brazil, and were featured at the 2020 MWACDA Conference in Milwaukee, Wis.

Learn about Castle Singers

Non-Auditioned Ensembles

These ensembles do not require auditions and perform on campus and tour regionally.

Kantorei

The college’s chapel choir, Kantorei, is a mixed ensemble directed by Dr. Karen Black. The choir performs a variety of sacred music and provides leadership for campus worship.

Kantorei appears at events both on and off campus, collaborates with Ritterchor and St. Elizabeth Chorale in Christmas with Wartburg, and performs annually with the Handbell Choir.

Learn about Kantorei

Ritterchor

Ritterchor, the Knights Choir, is a tenor/bass ensemble named in honor of the Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther once lived disguised as a knight. Under the direction of Dr. Lee Nelson, the group performs choral literature of various styles at events on and off campus and hosts the annual RitterSing tenor/bass festival. In February 2017, Ritterchor traveled to New York City to perform Randall Thompson’s The Testament of Freedom at Carnegie Hall. The members of Ritterchor regularly collaborate with the singers of St. Elizabeth Chorale.

Learn about Ritterchor

St. Elizabeth Chorale

Wartburg College’s soprano/alto ensemble, directed by Dr. Nicki Bakko Toliver, performs a variety of choral literature for events on and off campus. The ensemble is named for St. Elizabeth, a noblewoman who lived in the Wartburg Castle and was canonized for her work with the poor and sick. The ensemble, affectionately known as “Lizzies”, regularly collaborate with the singers of Ritterchor, and is committed to service and leadership. The Chorale was featured at the 2024 MWACDA conference in Omaha, Neb.

Learn about St. Elizabeth Chorale

Student-Led Choral Ensembles

Festeburg

Festeburg (German translation: Mighty Fortress) is a student-led low voice vocal ensemble from Wartburg College. Modeled after the professional tenor/bass ensemble Cantus, Festeburg is a collaborative ensemble working together to reach new levels of artistic excellence. Festeburg is an extension of Wartburg’s outstanding choral music program.

Rosenchor

Rosenchor is a student-led high voice vocal ensemble from Wartburg College. This group provides an opportunity for students to reach new levels of artistic excellence and gain additional performance experience. The name Rosenchor is inspired by the story of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and the miracle of the roses.

String Ensembles

Kammerstreicher

Formed in 2014, Kammerstreicher is one of four nationally and internationally touring ensembles at Wartburg College. The name is a nod to Wartburg’s rich German heritage—Kammerstreicher means “chamber strings”—and also stems from a desire of the group to reshape expectations for what a chamber orchestra can be and do. The ensemble is comprised of Wartburg’s top string students, including members of the St. George String Quartet.

Learn about Kammerstreicher

St. George String Quartet

Established in 2020, the St. George String Quartet represents some of the top string players on campus, each of whom are chosen via an audition. Members of the quartet serve in leadership roles within the various orchestral ensembles on campus and meet regularly to perform major works within the genre.

Learn about St. George String Quartet

Wartburg Community Symphony

Founded in 1952, the Wartburg Community Symphony is comprised of Wartburg College students and community and professional musicians. The Symphony performs orchestral favorites but also presents new and innovative music, garnering recognition for its state, national, and world premieres. All concerts are held in Neumann Auditorium on the Wartburg campus.

Learn about Wartburg Community Symphony

Wind & Jazz Ensembles

Wind Ensemble

The Wartburg College Wind Ensemble tours each spring and schedules an international tour every third year during Wartburg’s one-month May Term. In the spring of 2003, the Wind ensemble performed at New York City’s Carnegie Hall. The group toured Europe in 1997, 2001, 2004, and 2010 and Japan in May 2007, 2013, 2021, and 2025.

Learn about Wind Ensemble

Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band was founded in 1997 and performs several on-campus concerts throughout the year in addition to performances around the community. The ensemble represents students of all class standings and academic majors on campus.

Learn about Symphonic Band

Knightliters Jazz Band

The Knightliters Jazz Band I was founded in 1959. In its history, the Knightliters issued recordings and toured the United States with the Wartburg Concert Band and Castle Singers. The group has performed at Iowa Bandmasters Conferences and even opened for the World famous Count Basie Orchestra at a concert.

Learn about Knightliters

Other Instrumental Ensembles

Clarinet Ensemble
Flute Choir
Handbell Choir

Ninth Street Jazz Band
Pep Band

Saxophone Ensemble
Trumpet Choir

French horn section playing in Christmas with Wartburg 2024

Wartburg Choir performs in Christmas with Wartburg 2024

Soloist performs in Christmas with Wartburg 2024

Cello player in Christmas with Wartburg 2024

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Ensemble Directors

Karen Black

Cantor and College Organist, Professor of Music, Rudi Inselmann Endowed Professor in Organ

Email:
karen.black@wartburg.edu

Phone:
(319) 352-8275
Read Bio: Karen Black
Rebecca Nederhiser

Assistant Professor of Music

Email:
rebecca.nederhiser@wartburg.edu

Phone:
(319) 352-8370
Read Bio: Rebecca Nederhiser
Lee Nelson

Professor of Music / Zahn Chair in Choral Conducting

Email:
lee.nelson@wartburg.edu

Phone:
(319) 352-8412
Read Bio: Lee Nelson
Lia Snead

Assistant Professor of Music

Email:
lia.snead@wartburg.edu

Phone:
(319) 352-8621
Read Bio: Lia Snead
Nicki Toliver

Associate Professor of Music / Associate Director of Choral Activities

Email:
nicki.toliver@wartburg.edu

Phone:
(319) 352-8630
Read Bio: Nicki Toliver