Ensembles

The University's Jazz Chamber group is a small jazz combo performing various styles of jazz literature, including standards, original compositions and arrangements. Ample opportunity is given for improvisation. To notify us of your intent to participate, fill out the Interest Reply Form and read the ensemble audition information.

The UD percussion ensemble performs the standard as well as the newlycomposed percussion ensemble literature. Composed of between 8 and 14 university percussion students, the ensemble performs both on and offcampus each year. In Spring 2000, the ensemble was invited to do a concert tour of Israel, where they performed the Israeli premier of George Anthiel's Ballet Mechanique. The UD marimba ensemble is composed of three quartets of percussion students and performs transcriptions, popular music, and newly composed compositions. In addition to on-campus performances, the marimba ensemble has performed in Israel, the West Point Marimba Festival, the Pennsylvania Day of Percussion, and the Settlement Music School Percussion Festival.

The Basketball Pep Band performs at all men and women's home basketball games. The Pep Band performs a variety of pop, rock and jazz selections. The ensemble meets mid-way through fall semester and ends mid-way through spring semester. Attendance at select games during Winter Session is mandatory. Students register for Pep Band during spring semester.

Delaware Steel is not restricted to music students and enjoys participation from across the University student body. Dedicated to learning the traditional steel drum music of Trinidad, the group also performs classical, and popular transcriptions. Delaware Steel performs several times each year on and off campus.

The University of Delaware Schola Cantorum is actually three separate choirs. Schola Cantorum is a large auditioned ensemble open to students and to members of the community and is dedicated to performing extended works with orchestra. The group rehearses on Monday evenings at 7 p.m.

The University of Delaware Chorale, the most select choir at the University, has a long and distinguished history. Members are chosen by audition from all colleges at the University. The choir has varied in size from 17 to 60 and has performed with distinction throughout the east coast of the United States and in Europe as well. The UD Chorale sang with "absolute mastery" said the critics in Finland during their 1988 concert tour. This choir has won second place in Llangolen competitions and has performed at the White House during the presidencies of both Ronald Reagan and George Bush. The UD Chorale undertook a successful concert tour of Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1992, and most recently, a tour of Europe in the summer of 2003. Auditions are held the day before classes start.

University Singers provides women from all colleges in the University with an opportunity to perform in a choral ensemble which presents several concerts each year. Choral literature from a variety of style periods is featured, and a special effort is made to sing music of women composers. Auditions are held the day before classes start.

The art of solo vocal performance is the focus of Opera Workshop, where singers are challenged to create complete opera roles. Members of the Workshop receive individual coaching in both vocal and dramatic techniques. Each year, the Workshop produces a program of operas for performances on and off campus. Recent productions include The Mariage of Figaro, The Music Shop and Susannah. The opera program at the University of Delaware provides an environment that nurtures the development of the singer who aspires to a performing career.

The Early Music program at Delaware provides instrumentalists and vocalists the opportunity to study and perform music from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque. The Collegium Musicum comprises a number of chamber ensembles formed around the interests and abilities of its members, providing the opportunity to learn new instruments and performance styles, and to perform in formal and informal settings. La petite bande de la demoiselle de Nemours is the select instrumental ensemble of the Collegium and presents at least one major performance each semester in conjunction with The Consort of Voyces, concentrating on a particular style, historic period, or geographic region. The Consort of Voyces is a primarily a cappella vocal ensemble. Members may also perform individually with instrumental ensembles. All groups are open to undergraduate and graduate students of the University and members of the community. See Dr. Murray in AED room 209 or call 302.831.6287 regarding this ensemble.