Performance
University Symphony Orchestra
The University Symphony Orchestra offers students the opportunity to study and perform a wide range of repertoire. Over the past several years, the group has performed Gustav Mahler's first and fourth symphonies, Beethoven's third and seventh symphonies, Prokofiev's fifth symphony, and Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, as well as contemporary works by Crumb and Svoboda. In addition, the orchestra has premiered several new works, including Symphony No. 1 by WVU's Composer-in-Residence John Beall. The University Orchestra's active schedule includes several orchestra concerts per year, a very popular children's concert, the annual Young Artists Concert featuring student soloists, and opera productions and choral programs. In the Spring of 1995, the Orchestra performed at the Southern Division MENC conference in North Carolina.
Jazz Ensembles
The Jazz Studies program, offers a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and a Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy. The many small jazz ensembles perform on and off campus in a wide variety of jazz styles ranging from bebop to avant garde and fusion. The big bands perform student compositions and arrangements as well as traditional literature for their on-campus programs and off-campus tours.
Wind Symphony
The Wind Symphony is a select group of the finest wind and percussion performers within the University, with membership earned through highly competitive auditions. This organization performs at least four concerts each year comprising the finest classical and contemporary wind literature.
Steel Drums
The WVU Steel Drum Ensembles have flourished into one of the most respected performing groups at the University. These ensembles feature a wide array of handcrafted Caribbean steel drums and perform a variety of musical selections, many featuring authentic calypso rhythms. Besides performing concerts on the WVU campus, the ensembles perform throughout the state for hundreds of individuals. In the Fall of 1994, the Steel Drum Ensemble was selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference in Atlanta.
WVU Marching Band
The 300-member Mountaineer Marching Band enjoys a reputation as one of the outstanding organizations on the WVU campus. The "Pride of West Virginia" has performed throughout the United States from nationally televised bowl games to Presidential inaugurations. During the past ten years, the WVU Band has traveled to several major US cities including Fort Lauderdale, FL; New York City, NY; New Orleans, LA; Tempe, AZ; Houston, TX; El Paso, TX; Birmingham, AL; Washington, DC; Jacksonville, FL; Columbus, OH; and Pittsburgh, PA. In 1997, the WVU Marching band was awarded the Sudler Trophy, marking them as the country's outstanding collegiate marching band.
Visit The Mountaineer Marching Band website
Special Ensembles
African Ensemble
The WVU African Ensemble experience ranges from performing on ceremonial drums of Uganda to dancing to the high-life music of Ghana. All the dances, music, costumes, and instruments are authentically African, and the University maintains close relationships with African musicians.
West Virginia Piano Quartet
The piano quartet, is a faculty ensemble which performs in West Virginia as well as throughout the East Coast. This ensemble performs works from the standard and contemporary repertoire as well as premiere works by West Virginia composers.
Gamelan
West Virginia University owns both Javanese and Balinese gamelans from Indonesia. These instruments were made especially for West Virginia University.
Laureate Quintet
The Laureate Wind Quintet, a facutly ensemble that has had a performing tradition at WVU and in the eastern United States for more than 20 years.
Taiko
The WVU Taiko Ensemble plays the traditional Japanese Taiko, the okedo (two-headed drum), the odaiko (large bass), the jozuke (lead drum), the sumo (high-pitched) and the shime (small tenor drum), which are all used in traditional Japanese folk music.
Vocal Ensembles
WVU Opera Theater
This robust element of the Division of Music provides an exciting and diverse experience for interested and qualified singer-actors. The study and preparation of roles in both the operatic and musical theater genres, coupled with refinement of the elements of dramatic presentation, movement, languages, characterization,
and basic stage craft form the foundation of the program. Complete works, both staged and concert-style, and fully staged and costumed scenes programs are mounted each year. During the average undergraduate or graduate degree program, a student can expect to participate in a wide variety of productions spanning the gamut from small-scale/small-theater presentations with piano to fully staged productions with orchestra in our largest performance venues. For qualified graduate students, opportunities exist for the development of stage and musical direction skills, coaching techniques, and technical theatrical support skills through direct study with faculty internationally recognized for the significance of their expertise in these areas.
Choral Ensembles
The WVU Division of Music seeks to serve the needs, interests, and expertise of undergraduate and graduate music majors, the general WVU student population, the greater Morgantown community and the state of West Virginia by offering a wide selection of ensembles. For the vocalist, opportunities to study and perform high quality choral repertoire from all historical style periods, contemporary genres, and works for combined instrumental and choral forces can be found throughout the dynamic Choral Area. In addition, rehearsal and performance conducting opportunities are available within these ensembles for interested and qualified graduate and undergraduate music students desiring hands-on experience leading to their own development as a conductor.
The University Choir
Numbering approximately 45 voices, this highly select Major Ensemble is WVU's flagship choral group. Designed for junior and senior voice majors, graduate students and other qualified students desiring a comprehensive, concentrated choral experience, this ensemble
studies and performs significant a cappella and accompanied repertoire from all historical style periods. Meeting 6 hours per week, this fast-paced, repertoire-intensive ensemble presents 8-10 full concerts per year. Recent appearances include concertizing in Nassau, Bahamas (1998), Spain (2000) and at The United Nations (1999) and New York's Carnegie Hall (2000). Representative major works recently presented include Vaughan Williams' FIVE MYSTICAL SONGS with baritone Peter Lightfoot (1998), Britten CEREMONY OF CAROLS with harpist Christine Mazza (1999), Bernstein's CHICHESTER PSALMS with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (1999), a full production of Bernstein's CANDIDE with the WVU Opera Theater and Orchestra (1999), and 4 performances of John Rutter's REQUIEM in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
The Concert Choir
Approximately 30 voices strong, The Concert Choir is the perfect Major Ensemble for freshmen and sophomore voice majors, instrumentalists who enjoy singing, and undergraduate students with majors other than music. Intended for singers desiring a chamber choir experience, repertoire is chosen from all stylistic genres. The Concert Choir rehearses 4 hours per week and presents a minimum of 2 concerts per semester, occasionally combining with the other choral ensembles for performances of major works such as TE DEUM by Dvorak (1998) and WHEN ICICLES HANG by Rutter (1999). This ensemble often represents the College of Creative Arts at official University functions such as the Honors and Awards Ceremony during the Weekend of Honors each Spring.
The Choral Union
A Major Ensemble of approximately 100 members, The Choral Union is open by audition to all students and community members desiring a large-group choral experience. Presenting a minimum of 3 major performances per year, this choir performs major works and other music appropriate for the large choir. The Choral Union has presented performances of such monumental choral works as Beethoven's only opera FIDELIO with The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (1997), Samuel Adler's jaunty ROGUES AND LOVERS with the WVU Wind Symphony (1997), REQUIEM by Verdi with the West Virginia Symphony (1999) and Beethoven's masterful SYMPHONY NO. 9 with both the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra and The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (2000).
Vocal Jazz at WVU
Vocalists enjoy performing in two ensembles which offer a parallel experience to the instrumental component of the flourishing WVU Jazz Studies area. Both groups study and perform high-quality vocal repertoire selected from all contemporary jazz and popular genres. Emphasis is placed on the investigation of the principles of singing and the development of pedagogical issues which are unique to these styles. Hands-on experience in both live performance and the challenges of studio recording are integral components of each ensemble.
SAME DIFFERENCE, 8 advanced vocalists and a full band, presents 8-10 performances per year. Organized in 1995 by four undergraduate vocalists, the group specializes in a cappella and accompanied repetoire which explores close harmony and vocal improvisation. Professional artists such as THE REAL GROUP, MANHATTAN TRANSFER, and NEW YORK VOICES represent the main influences on the vocal sound of SAME DIFFERENCE. Highlights include international performance tours of Austria-Hungary-Slovakia (1998) and Spain (2000), a special performance for US Chief Justice William Rehnquist (1999) and a headliner performance for the West Virginia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (2000).
Rounding out the choral ensemble offerings is the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, created to meet the pedagogical needs of Music Education majors and others interested in a non-traditional choral ensemble. Numbering approximately 24 voices with rhythm section, this choir presents 1-2 performances per semester. Participating vocalists discover the elements of healthy and appropriate singing within contemporary vocal styles.
