Let’s jam
No matter what you want to sing or play, Saint Rose has the perfect ensemble, large or small. From jazz guitar ensemble and Masterworks chorale to trombone choir, we have more than 26 different student music groups that perform more than 90 times each year. Choose your group or start your own, meet your new best buddies, and get ready for your next gig.
Orchestras
Symphonic Orchestra
This ensemble is a full orchestra consisting of strings, winds, and percussion which presents at least two concerts per academic year. The repertoire studied and performed is comparable to the that of a professional orchestra. The Saint Rose Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and Saint Rose Symphony Orchestra Composition Contest are facilitated throughout this ensemble to features the most outstanding student performers and student composers at the college. Audition not required for music majors with a stringed instrument as their primarily applied instrument. Audition required for non-music majors string players. Winds auditions are linked to the Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Band auditions.
Chamber Orchestra
The Chamber Orchestra studies and performs advanced chamber orchestra literature and presents at least one concert a semester. This ensemble actively pursues tours, faculty collaboration and participation in festivals and workshops regionally and nationally. Primarily a string ensemble, winds and percussion needs are determined by the repertoire for that semester. Membership is by audition only.
Wind Bands
Chamber Wind Ensemble
The Chamber Winds are select groups of graduate and undergraduate woodwind, brass, string, and percussion students who perform chamber music written for a specific instrumentation, most associated with the Viennese Octet (2222/0000). The ensembles present regular formal concerts, perform at convocations and local schools, and provide service music appropriate to the campus. Membership is by audition only.
Chamber Brass Ensemble
Students will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform in various small brass ensembles from trios through octets. Repertoire will include traditional and contemporary literature. Audition or permission of instructor required.
Symphonic Band
The College Campus Band is an ensemble designed for Music majors, non-Music majors, secondary instrumentalists, and graduate-level conductors. The group rehearses in the evening one day a week and performs one or two concerts each semester. The ensemble’s repertoire consists of transcriptions, original wind band literature, marches, and lighter musical theater works. Open to the College community/no audition required. Music majors are placed in this ensemble based on the results of their audition for MUS 292– Wind Ensemble.
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble features 45-55 of the finest wind and percussion performers at the College. Composed primarily of graduate and undergraduate Music majors, the group performs concerts on campus, as well as at invitational performances locally, and at the state and national level. They perform the highest quality of repertoire available for winds and percussion. Membership is by audition and open to all students. All wind and percussion majors MUST audition each semester for proper placement. Students may use Symphonic Band for their major performing ensemble credit only after performing an audition and receiving appropriate placement. Students who do not audition will not receive major ensemble credit toward graduation regardless of enrollment.
Brass Choir
A brass ensemble that surveys and performs representative brass choir literature on and off campus. Audition or permission of instructor required.
Choral Ensembles
Men’s Glee Club
An ensemble dedicated to performing quality literature for male voices. Open to all students. No audition required for membership.
Women’s Chorale
An ensemble dedicated to performing quality literature for women’s voices. Open to all students. No audition required for membership.
Madrigal Ensemble
Madrigal Ensemble is a small choral ensemble whose repertoire comes from the 16th century madrigal genre as well as 19th and 20th century adaptations of the style. Repertoire requires refined technical and sight reading skills, and vocal independence. By permission of instructor for appropriate size and balance.
Masterworks Chorale
Large, mixed-voice chorus that presents at least two major concerts per academic year. Performance repertoire consists of a wide variety of major historical choral works, from Gregorian chant to works of contemporary composers. The Chorale performs with a professional orchestra, occasionally sings for local religious, civic and festival occasions, and tours in the eastern New York region. Audition not required for music majors. Permission of instructor required for non-music majors.
Chamber Choir
Auditioned mixed-voice ensemble that specializes in choral literature demanding technical skill and vocal independence from the performers.
Jazz Ensembles
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Membership is open to all students and members of the College community. The group performs repertoire encompassing music from various styles and genres in the jazz idiom. Emphasis is placed upon individual and group singing, improvisation and stylistic practices.
Instrumental Jazz Ensemble
An 18-piece Big Band, this group performs frequently throughout the school year on and off campus. Band members are chosen by audition each Fall. Repertoire for the ensemble is varied and spans the history of Big Band jazz from the 1920s to the present day. Emphasis is placed on solo improvisation as well as on carefully rehearsed ensemble playing.
Chamber Jazz Ensemble
A small jazz group that performs the standard jazz repertoire from the 1940s through present-day. Membership is by audition and is open to jazz instrumentalists and vocalists.
Opera & Musical Theater
Musical Theater Workshop
Musical Theater Workshop is a performance ensemble that focuses on staged Musical Theatre repertoire of the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will take part in both scene programs and full productions, as well as course units that provide background training. They will explore all aspects of the works studied, including musical and theatrical style, interacting with others on stage, preparing a role, and communicating flexibly and freely to an audience.
Opera Workshop
Performance of staged operatic scenes and brief works. Experience in movement, acting and staging. Music majors only. No audition required.
Music Industry Ensembles
The Studio Musicians Recording Ensemble provides students the opportunity to develop performance and improvisation skills, as well as explore original compositions and arrangements. Small combos of varying instrumentation in actual session rehearsals and recordings. The ensembles change every semester.
Past ensembles include:
- Woodstock ‘69
- 70’s Funk
- Sasha Fierce
- Motown
- 1975 – 1985 Rock
- Clive Davis
- Aretha Franklin
- Old School
- Songwriter of South America
- Greenwich Village Ensemble
Other Ensembles
Double Reeds Choir
Double reeds performance ensemble.
New Music Ensemble
A mixed chamber ensemble performing music of all classical styles of 20th and 21st century music with an emphasis on music composed since 1950.
Vocal/Instrumental Chamber Ensemble
Vocal and Instrumental Chamber Ensemble performs repertoire ranging from Baroque through contemporary art song, using a wide variety of instrumentation. Students and faculty choose existing repertoire or create arrangements of their own. Performances often come together in a themed project and include duets, trios, larger ensembles, and works for solo voice with instruments.
Woodwind Quintet
A chamber ensemble that will explore and perform works written for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and french horn.
Classical Guitar Ensemble
A study and performance of guitar ensemble literature representing a variety of styles. Students will perform in duets, trios, quartets and larger groups. Course will culminate with a public performance of major works.
Clarinet Choir
Clarinet performance ensemble.
Flute Choir
Students are placed in various combinations of flute ensembles. Emphasis is placed on sight reading, as well as on rehearsing appropriate repertoire for performances. Audition or permission of instructor required.
Electric Guitar Ensemble
This ensemble incorporates aspects of modern music performance and recording. The course includes sight reading, improvisation, comping and working with a rhythm section utilizing various recording techniques as applied to different styles of music. Creative assignments of various styles, composed and arranged by each student and performed in the studio by the ensemble, are used in conjunction with other repertoire. Audition or permission of instructor required.
Percussion Ensemble
Small chamber group allowing for a high level of participation not always possible in larger ensembles. Various percussion instruments offer rhythmic and technical challenges. Provides ensemble context for applied study. At least one concert is presented on campus each semester, often joined by percussion ensembles from nearby campuses and other Saint Rose chamber groups. Audition or permission of instructor required.
String Chamber Music
Students are placed in various combinations of chamber music ensembles involving stringed instruments (trios, quartets, quintets, or sextets), wind and piano combinations with strings permitted. There will be an emphasis on chamber music skills related to rehearsing, cues, ensemble, blend, balance, and intonation. Repertoire may include Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary literature. Students will have the opportunity to participate in group coachings and performances. Audition or permission of instructor required.