Undergraduate Performance Ensembles

The Music Department is proud to offer the following 1-credit musical ensembles for all students. Auditions for select ensembles are held the first week of classes. Click each category below for specific information:

• Wind Ensemble

  Wind Ensemble - MUS 263
  Wednesday Evenings, 6:30p-9:30p

  Conducted by Justin Stolarik
  justin.stolarik@stonybrook.edu
  

  All musicians joining must complete the following Instrumentation Survey no later than Sunday, August 25, 2024: bit.ly/sbwe-fall2024instrumentationsurvey

  The Stony Brook Wind Ensemble performs contemporary and traditional wind repertoire of the highest quality, and comprises wind and percussion student musicians from across campus. Members represent undergraduate and graduate music and non-music majors. All interested musicians can join Wind Ensemble by registering for MUS 263, regardless of major. The first rehearsal is on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 from 6:30p-9:20p in Music Building 0111. Part and chair placement auditions will be determined during the semester. In addition to the regular season November 2024 concert, select members of the Wind Ensemble will be performing at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Winter Conference this December 2024 in Rochester.

• Orchestra

  University Orchestra
  (MUS 262- undergraduate & MUS 599-T22 - graduate)
  Tuesday Evenings

  Conducted by Susan Deaver
  susan.deaver@stonybrook.edu

  
  About
  The University Orchestra is an undergraduate orchestra comprised of 70 to 75 students. They present two concerts each semester at the Staller Center.  Past repertoire has included Beethoven Symphony No. 3 and No. 7, Brahms Symphony No. 2 and No. 4, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 and No. 5, Dvorak Symphony No. 8 and No. 9 "New World", Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 and other major orchestral repertoire including overtures and concertos.  It is a very diverse orchestra made up of both music majors and minors, as well as qualified non-majors who have been involved in music in their high schools, music festivals and youth orchestras. 

  Meeting Time
  Tuesday Evenings from 6:30 PM - 9:20 PM (New Rehearsal Time)
  Room 0111, Music Building 

  Audition Information for all New and Continuing Orchestral Students
  Auditioning students should send a link to their audition video (upload to “unlisted” YouTube) and email the link to Susan Deaver, conductor of the University Orchestra at susan.deaver@stonybrook.edu.

  Google link to upload your audition video is: https://forms.gle/T2NAd7HovkCu8ShY8

  Audition Video Requirements
  Limit video to five minutes or less and submit your video two weeks before the beginning of the semester. Include two short contrasting sections of a solo or concerto of your choice OR two contrasting orchestra excerpts from www.orchestraexcerpts.com.

• Jazz

  SBU Jazz Orchestra - MUS 264/568
  Monday Evenings, 7PM-9:30PM

  Jazz Combos - MUS 267 or MUS 289 (Tuesday & Wednesday evenings, other times as needed)

  Beginning Improvisation - MUS 189 (To Be Announced)

  Directed by Thomas Manuel thomas.manuel@stonybrook.edu
  Ray Anderson ray.anderson@stonybrook.edu
  

  JAZZ AUDITIONS
  Everyone is welcome to register for the classes but you must audition to participate. Auditions will be held on Wednesday August 28th and Thursday August 29th. Students should be prepared to play a Jazz standard of their choice, improvise on a blues head, as well as sight read.

   

  SMALL JAZZ ENSEMBLES
  As much as possible, this course will be run just like a rehearsal for a band performance.  We will be covering a wide range of music with an emphasis on the interplay between the group and the individual. Knowledge of the music’s history and an understanding of the African-American culture that gave birth to Jazz is essential to understanding the music. Rehearsals will include listening, discussion, as well a variety of exercises to learn improvisation and ensemble playing techniques. 

  SBU JAZZ ORCHESTRA
  The SBU Jazz Orchestra performs a wide range of music from and in the Jazz Orchestra tradition. We will focus on developing a rich blend and sound as an ensemble,  as well as engaging our  individual creativity and expression inside of the group. In this course you will learn to play jazz by practicing daily on your instrument and playing in class. Harmony, melody, phrasing, rhythm and the study of the African-American roots of jazz will be included. We will be exploring the essential jazz tension between composition and improvisation. 

  The Jazz Orchestra explores literature from Ellington, Basie, Kenton, Thad Jones as well as newly commissioned/composed works. Each year select students from the Jazz Orchestra have the opportunity to be a part of an annual large scale project at The Staller Center. Guest artists also will work with the Jazz Orchestra throughout the semester. There are weekly rotating sectionals as well as a concluding concert at the end of each semester. Other performances are TBD.

  MUS 189 BEGINNING JAZZ IMPROVISATION
  In this course you will learn to play jazz by practicing daily on your instrument and playing in class. Harmony, melody, phrasing, rhythm and the study of the African-American roots of jazz will be included.

  JAZZ AUDITION INFO SHEET HERE

  VISIT HERE TO SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION

• Chorus

  Stony Brook Chorale - MUS 261
  Monday evenings

  Camerata Singers - MUS 271
  Wednesday Evenings

  Conducted by Shoshana Hershkowitz
  shoshana.hershkowitz@stonybrook.edu

  Stony Brook Chorale and Camerata Singers will hold in-person auditions the first Monday and Wednesday of the semester. You can audition on either day for either ensemble. Only one audition is necessary. Sign up for your audition time here with your Stony Brook email address.

  Auditions will take place in Staller 2342 (second floor of the music building).

  Placement in the Chorale is guaranteed, this audition is simply to place singers in the correct voice part. Returning members do not need to re-audition. All new members should prepare any song that they are comfortable singing unaccompanied.

  Singers must audition for placement in Camerata Singers, where space is limited. Singers should prepare a song to sing unaccompanied. Singers will also be asked to sight read in the audition.

• African Drumming

  West African Drumming and Dance - MUS 235 and MUS 335
  Thursday Evenings

  Conducted by JB Gnonlonfoun
  hulengansodji.gnonlonfoun@stonybrook.edu

  VOLTA, Stony Brook's West African Music ensemble, is made up of students from MUS 235 & 510 (Thursdays 4:45pm-6:30pm) and Music 335 & 588 (Thursday 6:30pm-8:15pm). The ensemble performs music from southern Togo, Ghana and Benin. Students learn the history related to each piece they will perform for the concert and learn to play authentic instruments (drums, bells and rattles), sing, and dance. The semester-end concert features African guest artists. No audition required.

• Chamber Music

  Undergraduate Chamber Music - MUS 391
  Meeting times based on members' schedules

  Directed by Joanna Kaczorowska
  Joanna.Kaczorowska@stonybrook.edu

  Here's your opportunity to play the beautiful repertoire of chamber music while working with our outstanding doctoral students. Learn about chamber music repertoire, develop rehearsal skills and the performance techniques that lead to the successful preparation and performance of chamber music. Through weekly rehearsals and coachings, all participants will learn to prepare a piece of music or a group of pieces for the final performance in the Staller Center. To be considered for placement, please prepare two different pieces in two different styles from two different composers and contact Germaine Berry at germaine.berry@stonybrook.edu about the date, time and room number  for the auditions which will take place during the first week of classes.