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:

Please be aware that the University is requiring all wind, brass, and singers to be fully vaccinated in order to participate in our small and large ensembles. You will need to show proof of vaccination and booster in order to join.

• Band

  Wind Ensemble - MUS 263
  Wednesday Evenings

  Conducted by Justin Stolarik
  justin.stolarik@stonybrook.edu
  

  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.

• Orchestra

  University Orchestra
  (MUS 262- undergraduate & MUS 599-T18 - graduate)
  Tuesday Evenings

  Conducted by Susan Deaver
  susan.deaver@stonybrook.edu

  The University Orchestra is open to non-majors as well as Music Majors/Minors and is usually an orchestra of 75 undergraduate and graduate students. The University Orchestra meets Tuesday evenings between 6:30 and 9:20 p.m. and presents a series of concerts at Staller Center each semester. 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. The University Orchestra also sponsors the annual Undergraduate Concerto Competition.

  Auditioning students should send a link to their audition video (upload to “unlisted” YouTube) and email the link susan.deaver@stonybrook.edu. 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 fromwww.orchestraexcerpts.com. Please send an audition video by January 20 if possible.

• Jazz

  Jazz Big Band Ensemble - MUS 264
  Monday Evenings

  Jazz Combos - MUS 267 (Tuesday evenings)
  or MUS 289 (Wednesday evenings)

  Beginning Improvisation - MUS 189 (Wednesday evenings)

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

   

  JAZZ AUDITIONS
  Everyone is welcome to register for the classes but you must audition to participate. Sign up for an audition time on the sheets will be posted outside the Music Office (3304, Music Building, Staller Center). Thursday and Friday, Jan. 26 and 27, 2023

  SMALL JAZZ COMBOS
  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, and to that end there will be some assigned reading.

  LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE (THE BLOWAGE)
  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. Primary emphases are on section and whole band blend and sound, as well as individual creativity and expression inside of the group. We will be exploring the essential jazz tension between composition and improvisation. We have a concert at the end of each semester. 

  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.

• 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 here using your Stony Brook email.

  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. In the interest of safety, singers are required to be vaccinated. Our goal is to make music together in person, while keeping public health paramount. 

• 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 (Thursdays 4:45pm-6:30pm) and Music 335 (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. Record yourself, upload to Youtube (unlisted) and send the link to joanna.kaczorowska@stonybrook.edu.