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.

Wind Ensemble - MUS 263
Wednesday Evenings

Conducted by Justin Stolarik
justin.stolarik@stonybrook.edu

The Stony Brook Wind Ensemble (Symphonic Band) explores, rehearses, and performs the great classics from Bach to Broadway. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings from 6:00-8:45 PM in Room 0111 in the Staller Center. All students are welcome. New members are required to audition, but the auditions are for seating placement only.
University Orchestra - MUS 262
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 an orchestra of between 60 to 75 undergraduate students and meets weekly on Tuesday evenings.

Auditioning students should send a link to their audition video (uploaded to “unlisted” YouTube) to Susan Deaver, conductor of the University Orchestra at susan.deaver@stonybrook.edu. Audition Video Requirements (limit video to five-minutes or less and should be submitted by January 22 if possible). Include two short contrasting sections of a solo or concerto of the student’s choice OR two contrasting orchestra excerpts from www.orchestraexcerpts.com.
Jazz Ensemble - MUS 264
Monday Evenings

Jazz Combos - MUS 267 or MUS 289
Tuesday or Wednesday nights

Co-directed by Ray Anderson
ray.anderson@stonybrook.edu

Co-directed by 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 Tuesday or Wednesday, August 24th and 25th, between 12 and 5pm. Sign-up sheets will be posted outside the Music Office (3304, Music Building, Staller Center) by Monday August 16th.

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.
Stony Brook Chorale - MUS 261
Monday evenings from 6:05pm - 8:05pm

Camerata Singers - MUS 271
Wednesday evenings from 6:05pm - 8:05pm

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 online.

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 will be masked in rehearsal in addition to being vaccinated. Our goal is to make music together in person, while keeping public health paramount.
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-8:30pm). The ensemble performs music from southern Togo, Ghana and Benin. Students learn to play authentic instruments (drums, bells and rattles), sing, and dance. Semester-end concerts feature African guest artists. No audition required.
Undergraduate Chamber Music - MUS 391
Rehearsal times based on your availibility.

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 and Yu.Chieh-An@stonybrook.edu.

Performance Ensembles