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Performance Ensembles in Music >>Click here to download an Information Flyer about our music ensembles (PDF) Choral Ensembles In existence since 1932, the choral ensembles were first formed under the direction of James McLain who served as their director for twenty-five years. The Washington metropolitan area is known for its excellent choral ensembles and the AU Choral Program has flourished under the outstanding leadership of many of the regions celebrated directors including Paul Callaway, Norman Scribner, Vito Mason, Paul Hill, Sondra Proctor, Elise Eisenhower, and Joseph Holt. Currently, under the direction of its new music director, Daniel E. Abraham, the AU Choral Ensembles continue to prosper and sustain their tradition of excellence in music performance and education. The ensembles have a history of touring both nationally and internationally. Over the years the AU Choral Ensembles have included many different types of choral groups ranging from Concert Choir to Repertory Choir, Madrigal Singers and Womens' Choir. Currently, the American University Choral Ensembles are comprised of two performing groups: The American University Chorus (formerly known as the AU Concert Choir) and the American University Chamber Singers (formerly known as the AU Singers). The American University Chorus is an ensemble open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community residents. Individuals of various academic disciplines and professional occupations perform alongside students preparing for professional careers in music. AU CHORUS: Membership in the AU Chorus has ranged over the years from 30 singers to its current level of about 80 singers. Currently, singers must audition to become members in the AU Chorus, each semester about 100 singers audition for 20-40 open slots. Auditions are held during the first week of classes each semester. The AU Chorus holds it rehearsals on weekday evenings to accommodate the schedules of the various singers involved. The past few semesters rehearsals have been held on Tuesday evenings. The chorus has a tradition of performing a wide range of choral repertoire ranging from masterworks of choral literature, to small octavos, to newly composed choral works. Performances have featured Brahms' Requiem, Bach's Magnificat, William Schumann's Carols of Death, Duke Ellington's Come Sunday, John Cameron's Missa Celtica and Haig Mardirosian's Fair Weather Carols. For more information about the Chorus, please contact the Choral Manager at 202-885-3425 or chorus@american.edu. AU CHAMBER SINGERS: The American University Chamber Singers is a select group of singers who perform highly difficult pieces of choral music. Membership in the Chamber Singers ranges from 20-30 singers who hail mostly from the AU Community, but a few members are also local city residents. Members are currently admitted by auditions held at the beginning of each semester. Recent performances have included Bach's Jesu, meine Freude, Handel's Dixit Dominus, and Britten's Ceremony of Carols.
AU SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: The American University Symphony Orchestra, in conjunction with the American University Department of Performing Arts, is proud to be a part of such a diverse performing arts program. Located in the Nation's capital, orchestra members are in an ideal position to take advantage of our most treasured national facilities, such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Museums, The Filene Center at Wolf Trap Farm Park and much more. Our Instrumental instructors include members of the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. The A.U. Symphony Orchestra is comprised of students with diverse academic interests and Washington area musicians who wish to continue to express their love and talent for orchestra music. The orchestra performs several times a semester at various university and Washington area locations. Students also perform in community events. Past concerts have included the works of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and Brahm's Requiem. In addition to regular performances, outstanding students are given opportunities to solo with the orchestra through the Concerto Competition. The newly established Chamber Orchestra allows the best students to perform with members of the faculty. The Orchestra also hosts internationally acclaimed performers. For further information, please call the Orchestra Assistant at (202) 885-3477. AU WIND ENSEMBLE: The The wind ensemble will enable wind, brass and percussion players to experience a whole new variety of repertoire from that formerly offered. This ensemble will consist of AU undergraduate and graduate music and non-music majors from every college at AU as well as local community musicians. Rehearsals will be on Thursday's from 5:30–8:00 PM at AU's new Katzen Arts Center. Auditions will be on August 31st and September 1 and will coincide with the American University Symphony Orchestra auditions. Sign-up sheets are posted outside the orchestra collection office (room 147) in the Katzen Arts Center. Please come prepared to play two selections: one fast and technical, one slow and lyrical. The Wind Ensemble will be directed by AU's trumpet instructor Michael Rossi. Please contact him at mcr422@aol.com with any questions. Michael Rossi received his bachelor and master music degrees from Manhattan School of Music were he graduated with honors and was the winner of the 2003 concerto competition. At the Manhattan school of Music, Michael studied trumpet with Vincent Penzeralla and piano with Marjean Olsen. In September 2003 Michael Joined the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra after winning the 2nd trumpet audition. At the Kennedy Center, he has worked and performed with today's leading performers including Placido Domingo, Denyce Graves, Andre Previn, Leonard Slatkin, Hans Fricke, and Valery Gergiev. Last year Michael had the opportunity to accompany opera sensation Denyce Graves at the Kennedy Center Opera House for a memorial concert for the former Kennedy Center president Martin Feinstein. As an experiences conductor, he has conducted orchestra concerts at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage with members of the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra and has conducted concerts at the Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University. From 2001-2003, He was employed as an organist and chorus director of Resurrection Parish in Randolph, New Jersey and was also the music director at Saint Rose of Lima Church in Brooklyn from 1999-2002. CHAMBER
ENSEMBLE: The American
University Chamber Players are comprised of student groups from our Chamber Ensembles (Perf 145/545) and provide students with the special opportunity of making music in small, intimate numbers. Ensembles vary with regard to size and instrumentation depending upon the students' level, instrumentation, and schedule. Groups have ranged in size from duos to octets, are coached by members of our "In-Residence" faculty, and are presented in recital at the end of every semester and additionally when appropriate. JAZZ ENSEMBLE: Jazz comes from the soul yet is rooted in everyday life and to learn jazz one has to study, practice, and perform. The AU Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. William Smith, seeks to express this spirit and energy of jazz through learning, rehearsing and performing music from the big band jazz tradition, as well as new innovative pieces by current composers. There are also two smaller groups that perform with the large ensemble: the AU Jazz Combo and the AU Jazz Vocal Workshop who develop pieces from the extensive repertoire of small group and vocal jazz. PEP BAND: The Pep Band operates as the result of a collaboration between the Athletics Department and the Department of Performing Arts. Please contact the Music Program at 202.885.3421 for more information about this new performance opportunity on AU's campus, or visit the unofficial website of the AU PepBand at http://aueagles.cstv.com/pepband/. |
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Department
of Performing Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, American University Copyright © American University. All rights reserved. Updated: 05/08/2008 , Maintained by dpa_tech@american.edu |