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Student Life

Get involved on campus by participating in student activities, registered student organizations, as well as various performance opportunities!

Involvement Opportunities

  • The Big Red Marching Machine performs on the field.

    Bands

    Participate in marching band, concert band, jazz band, and pep band.

  • Student sings a solo at a choir concert.

    Choirs

    Participate in Concert Choir, Belle Voix (advanced treble choir), University Glee, Treble Choir, or Civic Chorale.

  • A cellist plays her cello in an ensemble.

    Orchestras

    Participate in the symphony orchestra, and the philharmonia string orchestra.

Art

  • ISU Photography Club

    All Majors

    The purpose of the organization is to expand our knowledge and practice of photography by conducting various activities including, but not limited to inviting visiting artists to hold specialized workshops, visiting galleries and exhibitions, and hosting.

  • Design Streak Studio

    Majors Only

    Design Streak Studio, established in 1981, is a pre-professional graphic design studio providing creative services to businesses, non-for-profit organizations, and institutions in Central Illinois. Our design services include branding and identity, books, invitations, posters, and websites.

  • Illinois State University NAEA Chapter

    Majors Only

    A student chapter of the National Art Education Association (NAEA) for art education students on the Illinois State University campus. This chapter plans and participates in many local events and community service learning projects here at ISU.

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Theatre

  • Black Actors League

    All Majors

    Black Actors League is a safe space for artists of any color to explore, celebrate and spread the works of many black artist through acting.

  • FreeStage

    All Majors

    FreeStage gives students a chance to write, direct, and perform in student-produced plays, musicals, and other various performance art. These works occur throughout the year and in our semesterly FreeStage Festival. All events are, you guessed it, free!

  • Improv Mafia

    All Majors

    Improv Mafia combines the use of short form and long form scenes and games to create a weekly show for the students and public in the ISU area. Mafia also takes their skills and knowledge with them when they offer workshops and perform across the Midwest.

  • ISTOP: Illinois State Theatre Outreach Program

    All Majors

    Illinois State Theatre Outreach Program (ISTOP) allows all students to use theatre as a vessel to raise awareness on important social issues and effect change within our community.

  • ISU Playback Theatre

    All Majors

    Playback Theatre is an improvisational storytelling theatre company that focuses on encompassing emotions and stories from the entire human experience.

  • Latin American Theatre Association

    All Majors

    The Latin American Theatre Association (LATA) is a group that invites students to explore, discuss, and present works of Latinx playwrights and artists to the Illinois State University community. We also host events that promote and share Latinx culture.

  • The Normal Humor

    All Majors

    On campus comedy group that writes, produces and performs a live sketch show every semester while also learning about comedy in a fun and safe environment.

  • Theatre of Ted

    All Majors

    Our organization is an artistic outlet for students to break out of their shell and explore their artistic side. With our weekly anything-goes open mic, we encourage others to live out our motto: dare to suck!

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Dance

  • Dance Association

    All Majors

    This organization promotes continuous development of knowledge and exposure to dance within the community and promotes collaboration between performing arts organizations at ISU.

  • Illinois State Dance Theatre (ISDT)

    All Majors

    Illinois State Dance Theatre is the pre-professional concert dance company organized through the School of Theatre and Dance. Their mission is to provide students with professional-level dance performance experience and the opportunity to work in a company atmosphere.

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General Music

  • American Music Therapy Association - Student Chapter at Illinois State University

    All Majors

    The purpose of AMTA-S ISU will be to promote, foster, and advance the education and training of its members. This is done by advocacy events and workshops.

  • Deck Records

    All Majors

    Deck records is a student-run record label at Illinois State University, exposing students to hands-on experience in the world of record labels and studio recording.

  • Music Business Organization

    All Majors

    Music Business Organization provides entry level training to anyone who is interested in getting their foot in the door in the live music industry.

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Music Education

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Music Performance

  • Acafellaz

    All Majors

    We are the premier all-male a cappella ensemble on campus. Founded in 1999, the Acafellaz have been entertaining the Bloomington-Normal community ever since.

  • Capoeira Club

    All Majors

    It is the purpose of the ISU Capoeira Club to explore the elements of Capoeira, an African-Brazilian art form. The elements of dance, theater, acrobatics, and music will be combined in weekly movement and music classes. We meet Fridays at 5pm in CTV 17.

  • Clef Hangers

    All Majors

    Clef Hangers are the premier mixed a cappella group at Illinois State University founded in August 2008 by a group of ambitious students who share a passion for music. Today, members spread that passion for music throughout ISU and their own communities.

  • Continuo String Orchestra

    All Majors

    The purpose of this organization is to provide an opportunity for all ISU students to become a part of a string orchestra, which regularly rehearses and performs string orchestra repertoire, and provides a chance for undergraduate members to lead and conduct a string orchestra.

  • Interdenominational Youth Choir

    All Majors

    The Interdenominational Youth Choir provides Illinois State University students with an opportunity to meet new people, develop talents, broaden interests, and opportunities for civic engagement.

  • On The Brink of Normal

    All Majors

    On the Brink of Normal, founded in 2011, is a mixed a cappella group that sings songs from a variety of genres. OTBON has members from all sorts of majors and walks of life, but one thing they have in common is a love for creating music!

  • Secondary Dominance

    All Majors

    Secondary Dominance is ISU's premier all-treble a cappella group. Founded in 2004, these singers have been delighting audiences with their instrument-free performances around the Bloomington-Normal area ever since.

  • Symphony Orchestra Club

    All Majors

    The ISU Symphony Orchestra Club is a group of orchestra members that help with the planning and execution of the day-to-day activities and operation of the ISU Symphony Orchestra.

  • Vocal Movement Show Choir Ensemble

    All Majors

    Vocal Movement is a student-run organization and consists of members of all different majors. Vocal Movement brings students together in song and dance. This organization will enhance the performance experience socially, technically and musically.

  • Classical Guitar Society

    Majors Only

    This organization is devoted to bringing further interest in classical guitar by exposing students to a variety of ideas and perspectives from both professional musicians and their peers.

  • Saxophone Society

    Majors Only

    The purpose of this organization is to provide new opportunities and experiences for the Applied Saxophone Studio at Illinois State University through fundraisers and volunteer work. This organization exists to bring forth opportunities for performance, travel, commission works, and bring in guest artists.

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Creative Technologies

  • Arts Technology Animation Connection

    All Majors

    The Animation Connection club was created to entice collaboration and animation! The group focuses on utilizing artists' talents right here on Illinois State University campus.

  • ATK Live!

    All Majors

    ATK Live! is a Creative Technologies RSO that welcomes all students from all majors to participate in putting on live concerts and art shows for the college community.

  • Gen Games

    All Majors

    We are a student run and operated game development group that focuses on giving students from the arts, computer sciences, and narrative studies the opportunity to get a leg up in the game industry while getting the chance to make awesome games.

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