Music Ensembles

Concert Choir

Course Details: Music 103/810; MW 1:25-2:55, F 1:25-2:15
Faculty: Christopher Kiver

The Penn State Concert Choir (SATB) has undertaken numerous international tours including recent visits to Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Canada, and Australia. The choir has enjoyed notable collaborations with VOCES8, two performances with Bang on A Can All-Stars, and the Rolling Stones. As well as performing at state and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and National Association for Music Educators, the choir regularly performs on campus including major choral/orchestral works by Beethoven, Mahler, Orff, Brahms, Poulenc, Bernstein, Verdi, and Mozart. The Concert Choir is directed by Dr. Christopher Kiver. All Penn State students are eligible with enrollment by audition.

Essence of Joy

Course Details: Music 093/810; MW 3:10-4:25
Faculty: Arreon Harley-Emerson

Created in 1991, Essence of Joy sings sacred and secular music from the African and African American choral traditions. Annual University Park events include fall and spring concerts, as well as the “African American Music Festival” (February) and “Our Gift in Song” (December). The choir also regularly collaborates with other Penn State ensembles, including a performance of the Leonard Bernstein Mass in 2013.

Involving undergraduate and graduate students from all academic programs at Penn State, Essence of Joy has performed throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, and Illinois. The choir has been invited to perform for conferences of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (1995, 1997, 2003), the eastern division of the Music Educators National Conference (1997, 2003), the eastern division of the American Choral Directors Association (2002, 2006, 2014, 2017), the national American Choral Directors Association (1999, 2003, 2005, 2011), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (2000). In addition, they have presented concerts at the Schomburg Museum of Black American Culture in New York City (1998, 1999, 2001).

The choir has released four compact discs: “The Soul and Spirit of Essence” (1998), “Essence ‘Live'” (2000), “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, and “The Light” (2003). The choir made its first European tour in 2001 with concert performances in Poland and the Czech Republic. Recent tours have taken Essence of Joy members to South Africa, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Canada, Spain, and France.

Glee Club

Course Details: Music 090/810; MW 4:40-6:00
Faculty: Christopher Kiver
Website: Penn State Glee Club

Formed in December 1888, the Glee Club is Penn State’s oldest student organization. Since its first spring tour in March of 1889, the Glee Club has performed throughout the United States and abroad, with recent tours to Czechia, Austria, Hungary, Portugal, Wales, Trinidad and Tobago, France, New Zealand, and Iceland. Within the United States, the Glee Club has performed at Heinz Hall (Pittsburgh), and Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center (New York). In addition, the choir has presented concerts at conferences of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (2007, 2013), Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses, Inc. (2008, 2014), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME, 2009, 2019), and the American Choral Directors Association (2010, 2014). Since 2012, the Glee Club hosts ‘In Low Voice,’ an annual one-day festival for middle and high school singers with changing and changed voices. The Glee Club collaborates with other choirs to perform significant choral/orchestral works by Beethoven, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Vaughan Williams, Brahms, Poulenc, Bernstein and Verdi. Directed by Christopher Kiver, the Glee Club’s members hail from all colleges on Penn State’s University Park campus. Enrollment by audition.

Oriana Singers

Course Details: Music 091/810; TR 4:35-5:50
Faculty: Kathryn Hylton

Oriana Singers is a treble choir composed of sixty students representing a wide variety of majors at University Park. Repertoire includes music written for treble voices from the sixteenth to the twenty-first century: madrigals, motets, part-songs, folk songs, musical theatre, and music by female and underrepresented composers. The choir has performed by audition at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Since 2005, Oriana Singers has performed major choral works including Symphony No.2 in C Minor (“Resurrection”) by Gustav Mahler, Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 9 in D Minor (“Choral”) by Ludwig van Beethoven, the Verdi Requiem and the Poulenc Gloria. The choir has also appeared in Penn State Opera Theatre’s opera gala performances and the production of “Hansel and Gretel”. Oriana Singers is proud to host In High Voice, an annual day-long festival promoting choral singing among high school-aged treble voices. In addition to its two campus concerts per year, the choir also regularly appears in the School of Music’s annual Mosaic concert. All Penn State students are eligible with enrollment by audition.

University Choir

Course Details: Music 089/810; TR 3:05-4:20
Faculty: Bryan E. Nichols

University Choir is a fifty-voice mixed choral ensemble comprising students from many colleges and departments at University Park. The choir performs a variety of literature representing every musical period and genre in its two major campus concerts per year. Founded in 1948, the University Choir holds a long-standing and distinguished place within the School of Music and has enjoyed recent collaborations with other Penn State choirs in major choral/orchestral works. All Penn State students are eligible with enrollment by audition.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble

Course Details: Music 78/505 MW 1:25-3:20
Faculty: Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is the premier wind ensemble at Penn State and is conducted by Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, Director of Wind Band Studies. The ensemble performs a diverse and dynamic collection of large ensemble and chamber music. With a philosophy that honors the traditional repertoire that built the medium while championing new music, SWE frequently features premieres, guest artists, and actively engages in consortiums and commissions. Annually, SWE features student concerto competition winners and actively partners with the composition studio to premiere student works through an annual call for scores. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble has been recognized for its excellence and artistry through performance at the President’s Concert in Heinz Hall and was a featured ensemble at the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference. Admission to the ensemble is open to all students regardless of degree by blind audition at the beginning of each semester.

Symphonic Band

Course Details: Music 80/506 TR 1:35-3:30
Faculty: Robert Hickey

The Symphonic Band is a select band that performs outstanding works from the concert band repertoire. Members of the large ensemble are selected by audition during the first week of classes each semester. Like the wind ensemble, the Symphonic Band performs premieres, engages with living composers, and partners with the composition studio to highlight student compositions. The ensemble has been recognized for its excellence through performance at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Conference. Like all Penn State bands, the Symphonic Band is open to all students, regardless of major.

Concert Band

Course Details: Music 82
SPRING SEMESTER, audition required (MW 6:00-7:15)
Faculty: Michquelena Ferguson

The Concert Band performs a wide variety of traditional and contemporary literature for the concert band medium. This ensemble only meets in the Spring Semester and performs two concerts in Eisenhower Auditorium. The Concert Band is open to all students, regardless of their major. Auditions are required and occur during the first week of classes each spring semester.

Campus Band

Course Details: Music 83
FALL SEMESTER, no audition required (TR 4:35-5:50)
SPRING SEMESTER, no audition required (TR 6:30-7:45)
Faculty: Wind Conducting Graduate Students

Campus Band is open to all students and consists mostly of non-music majors or music majors doubling on secondary instruments. No audition is required for participation in this ensemble which presents two concerts each semester in Eisenhower Auditorium. All University Park students (from undergrads to doctoral students) are encouraged to continue their music-making in this musically rewarding environment.

Other Arts Ensemble

Course Details: MUSIC 188.1; F 10:10am-12:05pm
Faculty: Kevin Sims

Other Arts Ensemble is an open-instrumentation chamber ensemble which rehearses and performs music from the 20th and 21st centuries. The ensemble focuses on works in a broadly defined experimental tradition, and ranges from works by composers, improvisations, creative arrangements or adaptations, and original work by the ensemble. Students in the ensemble collaborate on the curation process, helping to make artistic decisions about what pieces to play and how to play them. The goal of the ensemble is to give students an opportunity to study and explore important experimental/avant-garde repertoire and all the unique skills and insights that such study and exploration can impart: navigating novel forms of notation, honing communicative chamber music instincts, developing free improvisation techniques, and working alongside others in a collectively creative environment. In addition to being a rich opportunity to engage with this often-overlooked musical tradition, the Other Arts Ensemble provides students with the real-world/workshop-style experience of being in a small ensemble, an experience that meaningfully impacts their lives as musicians after graduating.

Rock Ensemble

Course Details: Music 188.2; T 6:30-8:30pm
Faculty: Jesse Moore

Rock Ensemble is the School of Music’s cutting-edge popular music ensemble, open to all Penn State students ready to rock. The group features experienced electric guitarists, bass guitarists, drummers, vocalists, and more, all participating in collaborative and exploratory weekly rehearsals. Throughout the semester, Rock Ensemble students learn assigned repertoire as well as songs of the group’s choosing, culminating in an explosive final concert featuring musicians split into curated bands. As Penn State’s premier performing group in rock and popular styles, the ensemble is committed to a diverse assortment of material from all sub-genres, decades, and band configurations. An audition may be required, dictated by demand and musical needs.

Centre Dimensions

Course Details: Music 084.1/509; MW 4:15-5:45pm
Faculty: Joshua Davis

Centre Dimensions, the premier twenty-piece jazz ensemble at Penn State, performs frequently on campus and tours throughout Pennsylvania and the eastern United States. Under the direction of Joshua Davis, Centre Dimensions performs and works with several internationally known artists each year. Previous guests have included: Vardan Ovsepian (piano), Mark Ferber (drums), Dayna Stephens (sax), Sara Serpa (voice), John Fedchock (trombone), Mike Tomaro (composer/arranger), Ben Patterson (composer/arranger), Jihye Lee (composer/arranger), Obed Calvaire (drums), Caroline Davis (sax), Fabian Almazan (piano), Phil Woods (sax), Bob Mintzer (sax), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), George Rabbai (trumpet, vocals), Dennis Diblasio (bari. sax), Benny Golson (sax), Jon Faddis (trumpet) and Slide Hampton (trombone). They perform a challenging repertoire of modern and classic jazz, as well as originals written by the director. This highly selective ensemble is open by audition to undergraduate and graduate students in all majors.

Inner Dimensions

Course Details: Music 84.2; MW 6:00-7:30pm
Faculty: Joshua Davis and Jazz Graduate Assistant

Inner Dimensions, the second jazz big band at Penn State, performs five major concerts per year on campus, and occasionally performs off-campus. This ensemble is comprised mostly of undergraduate music majors and performs a wide variety of repertoire, ranging from jazz standards to more cutting-edge compositions. A high premium is placed on developing improvisation skills and refining a great big band sound. Membership is by audition only, and is open to all students of all majors.

Outer Dimensions

Course Details: Music 84.3; MW 1:25-3:20pm
Faculty: Jazz Graduate Assistant

Outer Dimensions, the third jazz big band, performs approximately five major concerts per year on campus. This ensemble is comprised mostly of undergraduate non-majors and performs mostly standard jazz repertoire. While experience varies, students in this ensemble are given the opportunity to develop their improvisation skills and enhance their understanding of the jazz genre. Membership is by audition only, and is open to all students of all majors. Outer Dimensions is currently directed by a graduate teaching assistant.

Small Jazz Ensembles

Course Details: Music 421.1; variable rehearsal times
Faculty: Joshua Davis, Charlie Heim, Dan Isbell, and Graduate Assistants

Small jazz ensembles at Penn State typically range from 5-8 members, consisting of a rhythm section and horns. By audition only, these combos are formed by placing students of similar experience and skill together for the semester. Coached by jazz faculty, these combos meet twice per week. They perform in master class/concert settings. Each combo gains experience from attending master classes that provide advise on all aspects of the performance. More advanced combos also perform on and off campus for university events and other gigs.

Vocal Dimensions

Course Details: Music 421.2; M 6:00-8:00pm and W 6:00-7:00pm
Faculty: Kathryn Hylton

Vocal Dimensions Jazz Ensemble, is the premier vocal jazz ensemble at Penn State University. Under the direction of Kathryn Hylton they perform frequently on campus and have performed off campus for “A Night of Penn State Jazz” sponsored by the Penn State Alumni organization. In addition, Vocal Dimensions has performed and worked with internationally known jazz artists the New York Voices, as well as jazz vocalist/educator Elizabeth Radigonda. Vocal Dimensions performs a challenging repertoire of modern and classic vocal jazz.

Visit the Penn State Blue Band website for details

PSU Opera Theatre

Course Details: MUS 467; TR 1:35-4:35pm
Faculty: dawn pierce

This is an auditioned ensemble focused on the study and performance of lyric theater, encompassing operas, operettas, musical theater, art song, and operatic scenes. The repertoire is diverse and evolves annually, reflecting the needs and strengths of the participating students.

Recent productions at Penn State have included fully staged works such as The Miller’s Daughter, Suor Angelica, Così fan tutte, and Iolanthe and pastiche programs such as Seasons of Love. These productions are presented in various venues both on and off-campus and often in collaboration with other School of Music ensembles, including the Penn State Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras.

All Penn State students are welcome and encouraged to audition. Graduate students in voice, as well as Bachelor of Music (BM) and Bachelor of Music in Arts (BMA) students, are required to audition for the Opera Theatre ensemble. We welcome students from any discipline with a passion for singing.

Acting For Singers

Course Details: MUS 468: TR 1:35-2:50pm
Faculty: dawn pierce

This course is designed to provide singers with a foundational understanding of acting, character development, stage presence, and the practical application of these techniques for creating compelling and authentic dramatic performances. Students will explore a range of stage-related vocal work, including recital and concert performance, opera, and scene work. The primary objective is to equip singers with the tools necessary to feel confident on stage and deliver engaging, truthful performances. This course is offered each fall and is open to any singing performer seeking to enhance their stagecraft and performance skills.

Philharmonic

Course Details: Music 77/507; TR 4:00–6:00pm
Faculty: Gerardo Edelstein

The ninety-member Philharmonic presents five to six full concerts per academic year. Off campus, the Philharmonic has performed throughout the northeastern United States, including concerts at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, and the MENC Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore. In March 2006, the orchestra participated by invitation in the Sixth International Orchestra Festival in Zaragoza, Spain. The Philharmonic’s repertoire from recent years has included works by Brahms, Debussy, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Mahler, Vaughan Williams, Rachmaninoff, and Wagner. Enrollment, open to all University Park students, is by audition at the beginning of each semester.

Chamber Orchestra

Course Details: Music 76/508; MW 3:35–5:30pm
Faculty: Gerardo Edelstein

An ensemble of varying size as dictated by the repertoire, the Chamber Orchestra performs works from the eighteenth through twenty-first centuries. The Chamber Orchestra has made three European Tours. Repertoire from recent years has included works by Mozart, Copland, Haydn, Stravinsky, Schubert, Wagner, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Debussy and Beethoven. Enrollment, open to all University Park students, is by audition at the beginning of each semester.

Campus Orchestra

Course Details: Music 100; T 7:00–9:00pm
Faculty: Orchestral Conducting Graduate Students

A full orchestra training ensemble, especially geared towards incoming freshman, non-majors, and upperclassmen who wish to improve their orchestral reading skills and repertoire. Conducted by graduate conducting assistants. Auditions for all instruments take place the first week of classes.

Graduate Brass Quintet

Faculty: Velvet Brown
Facebook: psubrass

Members of the Graduate Brass Quintet are chosen by competitive auditions and earned their undergraduate degrees from respected institutions across the country. They are mentored by Velvet Brown and assisted by other members of the Penn State brass faculty and perform recitals and programs on campus as well as a performance tour each year.

Horn Ensemble

Faculty: Sarah Schouten

The Penn State Horn Ensemble showcases the finest hornists on campus. Comprised of music majors, horn performance minors, and talented hornists from outside the School of Music by audition, this ensemble meets both as a large group and as smaller quartets, trios, or duos. The ensemble has performed at the International Horn Symposium, including those held in New York, Michigan, and California, as well as London, England and Ghent, Belgium. They hosted and performed for the 2015 Northeast Horn Workshop and have performed at the Mid-West Regional Horn Workshop, the Southeast Horn Workshop; the Eastern Division convention of the Music Educators National Conference in Connecticut, and at numerous conferences of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. The horn ensemble’s vast repertoire encompasses original works and arrangements of romantic, baroque, classical, impressionist, and popular music. The Horn Ensemble has commissioned new works for horn sextet from Gina Gillie and Gabriel L. Newvine.

Trombone Choir

Faculty: Ben Carrasquillo

The Penn State Trombone Choir was founded in 1986 by Mark Lancaster Lusk. Since that time, the choir has garnered considerable regional and national success, performing multiple times at state music education conferences in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, as well as NAfME Eastern Division and national conferences. The ensemble has also accepted invitations to perform at the New York Brass Conference, the Eastern Trombone Workshop, and the International Trombone Workshop. The group has featured many of today’s finest trombone artists as well as the talented members of the Penn State performance faculty and distinguished alumni. The Penn State Trombone Choir is a founding member of the Frühling Posaunen Festival which includes Penn State, the Ithaca Trombone Troupe, and the Eastman Trombone Choir in an annual concert series. A tradition of excellent composers and arrangers has done much to give the Penn State Trombone Choir its distinctive sound.

Trumpet Choir

Faculty: George Carpten

The Penn State Trumpet Ensemble is a core part of the studio experience which allows students to perform music of differing styles and develop group musicianship skills (intonation, phrasing, and blend) without a conductor. The trumpet ensemble also provides festive music for ceremonial occasions on campus and in the Central Pennsylvania region. Each semester we have a concert in addition to several other performances and projects. We also are active in the International Trumpet Guild as an affiliate chapter (Penn State Trumpet Guild).

Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble

Faculty: Velvet Brown
Facebook: PSUTubaEuph

The Pennsylvania State University Tuba Euphonium Ensemble under the direction of Professor Velvet Brown, has achieved success performing regionally, nationally, and internationally. The group performs outstanding literature composed or transcribed for the tuba/euphonium ensemble. This highly select ensemble is comprised of the finest euphonium and tuba players on campus by audition. The group has garnered praise from many featured international and national performances, including the 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2022 International Tuba and Euphonium Conferences, the 2011, 2013, and 2015 Northeast Tuba and Euphonium Conferences, and the 2004, 2014, and 2025 Army Tuba and Euphonium Conference in Fort Meyers, VA. The ensemble also enjoys performing for university functions, presenting public school concerts, and entertaining at various off-campus venues.

The ensemble enjoys its elaborative “Tubaween” concert in celebration of Halloween, complete with costumes and exciting spooky music, and the well-attended community outreach Tuba Christmas concert in December where tuba and euphonium students from the area public schools and professionals and amateur players participate.

The ensemble has commissioned and premiered several compositions by Austrian composer Franz Cibulka and other composers such as Drew Bonner, Luke Gall, and Dr. Gary Powell Nash. The ensemble also prides itself on performing many arrangements by current and former students as well as Professor Velvet Brown.

Piano Ensemble

Course Details: Music 193/493/523
Faculty: Melody Quah

The Penn State Piano Ensemble promotes the study, awareness, and above all performance of piano ensemble music in a friendly multicultural environment. The ensemble appears regularly on and off campus in studio recital projects, faculty concerts, the Bach’s Lunch concert series, and other venues. The ensemble plays a wide range of repertoire for different combinations: music for one piano (four, and six hands) as well as music for two pianos (four, and eight hands.) In addition to traditional music as well as rarely performed repertoire, one of the Penn State Piano Ensemble’s goals is also that of commissioning new music.

Chamber Music including Piano

Faculty: Melody Quah (coordinator), Katherine Benson, Timothy Shafer

Piano faculty coach all manner of non-conducted chamber music involving piano, including especially chamber duos, piano trios, quartets, and quintets. Piano students should begin by discussing their coaching needs with their major applied faculty member. Non-piano students seeking pianists should contact Dr. Quah for an assignment to a pianist based on availability.

String Chamber Ensembles (strings only and mixed instrumentation)

Faculty: Kim Cook, Timothy Deighton, James Lyon, Patricia Weitzel, Max Zorin

String chamber ensembles offer students the opportunity to participate in trios, quartets, and other small ensembles, working closely with our faculty coaches. Through regular coaching sessions and performances, students develop essential collaborative skills while exploring a diverse repertoire.

Cello Choir

Faculty: Kim Cook
Website: Penn State Cello Choir

The Penn State Cello Choir was founded in 1992 by Penn State cello professor Kim Cook. The members of the Penn State Cello Choir have included students from Germany, France, Croatia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Turkey, China, Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Guam, Puerto Rico, as well as New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, Minnesota, Utah, and Pennsylvania. The ensemble has performed for the annual Penn State Mosaic Concerts, the Bach’s Lunch Series Concerts at Eisenhower Chapel, and for three Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Conferences, most recently in April of 2022 in the Poconos. The ensemble performs a variety of music, including arrangements of works by major composers from Gabrieli to Joplin, original compositions by Villa-Lobos, and works commissioned by contemporary composers. The Cello Choir has sponsored three Penn State Cello Festivals.

Classical Guitar Ensemble

Faculty: Jonathan Gangi

The Classical Guitar Ensemble is an opportunity for guitar students in the studio of Dr. Gangi to perform in a variety of classical guitar chamber music contexts. For example: guitar duo, trio, quartet, guitar and violin, guitar and flute, guitar and voice, etc. This ensemble is only open to classical guitar students of Dr. Gangi.

Double Bass Ensemble

Faculty: Patricia Weitzel

The Penn State Double Bass Ensemble, founded by Dr. Patricia Weitzel in 2022, is a dynamic and versatile group known for its wide-ranging repertoire, spanning from the intricacies of Baroque music to the energetic rhythms of contemporary pop. The Penn State Double Bass Quartet, a subgroup of the larger ensemble, has garnered attention through its performances at regional schools and university functions, entertaining audiences at various venues. The quartet provides a wonderful opportunity for bassists to learn and develop essential chamber music skills, offering a unique platform for collaboration and growth.

Early Music Ensemble

Faculty: James Lyon

The Early Music Ensemble is dedicated to the historically informed performance of music from the late Renaissance, the Baroque Era, and the early Classical period. The ensemble seeks to recreate the authentic sound of these musical traditions by employing period-appropriate techniques and interpretations. It is primarily comprised of string players who perform using Baroque bows, which contribute to the distinctive articulation and phrasing characteristic of early music. In addition to strings, the ensemble occasionally incorporates wind and brass instruments, enriching the texture and timbre of its performances. Vocalists are often featured in select pieces, allowing for a more comprehensive exploration of the repertoire. Through careful attention to historical performance practices, the Early Music Ensemble aims to bring past centuries to life in a way that is engaging and true to the original artistic intent.

Viola Ensemble

Faculty: Timothy Deighton
Website: Viola Ensemble

The Penn State Viola Ensemble performs a wide range of music including original works and transcriptions, and has presented world premieres of numerous compositions, many commissioned by the group. They have recorded several individual works and a full-length CD. Repertoire ranges from small chamber works for two or three violists to large, conducted works for a dozen or more players. The Penn State Viola Ensemble is directed by Tim Deighton.

Bassoon Ensemble

Faculty: Margaret Fay
Rehearsals: Fridays, 1:00-2:15 p.m., MBII 122

The Penn State Bassoon Ensemble is comprised of undergraduate and graduate music majors, music minors, and other bassoon-wielding students who attend Penn State University. The ensemble rehearses weekly and delights in sharing the rich bassoon ensemble repertoire with audiences within the PSU School of Music and beyond. They recently performed at the 2024 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Conference and 2025 Meg Quigley Bassoon Symposium.

Clarinet Choir

Faculty: Anthony J. Costa
Our Site: Penn State Clarinet Choir

The Penn State Clarinet Choir presents a wonderful opportunity for students to learn basic chamber music skills. The ensemble is open to majors, minors and non-majors alike and enrollment is by audition with the instructor. The Clarinet Choir performs from a vast repertoire of original works, jazz selections and transcriptions of classical standards. The students perform with and without a conductor and spend time working on cueing, blending, intonation, musicality, playing solos and accompaniments and working with others in a fun and challenging environment. Students are also encouraged to become acquainted with the auxiliary instruments of the clarinet family.

Flute Choir

Course Details: Spring Only
Faculty: Naomi Seidman
Our Site: Penn State Flute Choir

The Penn State Flute Choir presents a unique opportunity for students to learn basic advanced chamber music skills. The ensemble is open to majors, minors and non-majors alike; and enrollment is by audition with Dr. Seidman. The Flute Choir performs music from a vast repertoire of original works and transcriptions of classical standards. The students perform with and without a conductor and spend time working on cueing, blending, intonation, musicality, playing solos and accompaniments and working with others in a fun and challenging environment. Students are also encouraged to become acquainted with the auxiliary instruments of the flute family. In 2013 and 2015 The Penn State Flute Choir was invited to perform at the National Flute Association Convention annual meeting.

Graduate Woodwind Quintet

Faculty: Andreas Oeste

Members of the Graduate Woodwind Quintet are chosen by competitive auditions and have earned their undergraduate degrees from respected institutions across the country. They are mentored by members of the Pennsylvania Quintet faculty ensemble and perform recitals and school programs throughout the year.

Members of the Graduate Quintet have been alumni of:

• University of Michigan
• Temple University
• The University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Florida State University
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Bowling Green State University

Saxophone Ensembles

Faculty: David B. Stambler
Website: Penn State Saxophone Studio

The saxophone ensembles provide students with an opportunity to learn basic to advanced chamber music performance skills. Groups are formed each semester, and include quartets and the Saxophone Ensemble comprised of 8-20 players. Students are encouraged to play different members of the saxophone family and even compose/arrange for their ensemble. The ensembles perform original repertoire, transcriptions, premieres, and jazz selections.

The Saxophone Ensembles perform at School of Music venues, elsewhere on campus, off-campus in the local community, and occasionally at conferences and venues in other states. All of the ensembles are open to majors, minors and non-majors by audition with the instructor, and are coached by David Stambler and the graduate assistant.

Percussion Ensembles I and II

Course Details: Music 86.1, TR 11:45am-1:00pm; Music 86.2; MW 5:45-6:45 pm
Faculty: Lee Hinkle

Percussion Ensembles I and II perform a variety of music written for four to twelve players, including contemporary music written for percussion as well as arrangements. Instrumentation includes all types of percussion, from familiar drums and cymbals to exotic items from around the world. Through participation, students learn the art of ensemble performing and augment their understanding of the role of percussion within the discipline of music. They also learn the skills of organization and cooperation through rehearsal and performance. The ensembles have appeared frequently at meetings of the Music Educators National Conference and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Enrollment is by audition with the conductor.

Mallet Ensemble

Course Details: Music 87, MW 3:35-4:25pm
Faculty: Lee Hinkle

The Mallet Ensemble performs music either written for or arranged for mallet-played keyboard percussion instruments and consists of three to eight players. Literature ranges from transcribed orchestral and chamber music to contemporary compositions written specifically for mallet ensemble. Enrollment is by audition with the conductor.