OVERVIEW

The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is upon our student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. There is no major in music at The University of Scranton, and all enrolled Scranton students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible for membership in the University Bands, University Performance Choirs, and University String Ensembles. Neither an audition nor enrollment fee is required for membership. A number of members of the faculty and staff, as well as alumni from the region, also perform with the groups. Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year.

Large ensembles include Concert/Symphonic Band, Concert Choir/Singers, String Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble (big band format). Smaller groups are made up of members from within the large ensembles, and vary by semester, often including String Quartets, Flute Ensemble, Brass Choir, Clarinet Ensemble, Saxophone Quartets, and small vocal groups in various formats. Solo, duo and trio performance opportunities are available to members of the ensembles through the semesterly General Recitals.

Other programs within the department, such as our guest artist concert programming, World Premiere Composition Series, The Nelhybel Collection, Scranton Brass Seminar, and Scranton Brass Orchestra, closely coordinate programming with the student ensembles and offer unique opportunities for student musicians in the ensembles to hear, observe, interact and perform with a variety of world class musicians and artist-teachers.

Regional high school students participating in the University's High School Scholars program are welcome to become members of the ensembles as an additional benefit of their enrollment in the program, and high school students accepted for Fall 2012 or considering application to Scranton for future years are encouraged to contact Performance Music to arrange to sit in on a rehearsal, meet the staff, attend a concert, or tour the building.    

WHAT MUSIC DID THEY PERFORM IN SPRING 2012?
(for full schedule of fall 2012 public performances, click here.)

Performance Choirs: Programming for spring 2012 ran the gamut from Palestrina's Tu Es Petrus to The Kings Singers arrangement of The Beatles' Blackbird . In addition to their own concert schedule, the full choir presented a joint performance with The Manhattan School of Music Brass Ensemble (Mark Gould, Director) in April 2012 which also featured organist Timothy Eugene Smith and included works by Vaughan Williams, Nelhybel, Randol Alan Bass, and more, and later in April they premiered a new work composed and conducted by Joseph Boga in memory of Chris Nelhybel as part of the program for the 29th Annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert. They also performed for a variety of Commencement Weekend events, including Class Night, Graduate School Commencement, Baccalaureate Mass, and Undergraduate Commencement.

Concert/Symphonic Band: Programming for spring 2012 was varied, and included Corsican Litany, Amen and Trittico by Vaclav Nelhybel, Jan van Der Roost's Puszta, McBeth's They Hung Their Harps in The Willows, Vaughan Williams's Festival Piece on Sine Nomine, Prayer of St. Gregory by Alan Hovhaness, Frescobaldi's Toccata, Shabazz's Of Courage and Valor, and more. In April, at the 29th Annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert, they premiered a new work written by Sam Pilafian in memory of Chris Nelhybel, conducted by the composer. Following their final concert of the year in May, the group performed for the University's Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies, performing not only the ceremonial music for both events but also extensive concerts as preludes to the ceremonies.

String Orchestra: Programming for spring 2012 ranged from transcriptions of operatic arias and multi-movements works for string orchestra by Holst and Vaughan Williams to 20th century compositions such as George Gershwin's Lullaby, Eric Ewazen's Four Royal Dances, and Brevard Sketches by Elliot Del Borgo. In addition to their own spring concert, they accompanied the choir and provided music for special convocations and events. Members of the chamber ensembles also provided prelude music for a special Admissions Preview Day for accepted students and ceremonial music for the annual Class Night event on Commencement weekend.

Jazz Band: For the big band, love was in the air this past spring, and all of their programming for the semester fit that theme. Their repertoire for the semester included music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Wynton Marsalis, Art Tatum, Thad Jones, and many others, as well as an assortment of love songs from the great American songbook. Their Valentine's Concert featured guest artist Marcus Printup, trumpeter from The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, joining them in performing a full program of works including Stardust, St. Louis Blues, Portrait of Louis, A Child Is Born, and much more. Their April 15th concert, entitled "Love Songs", was performed in memory of Mrs. Joan Sylvester, and joining them as guest artist for the evening was legendary trombonist Dr. Wycliffe Gordon (H. '06). Among the many selections programmed for that concert were Red Roses for a Blue Lady, Gettin' Sentimental Over You, The Way You Look Tonight, and St. Louis Blues. 

Small instrumental and vocal ensembles: String Quartets, Brass Ensemble, Flute Choir, small vocal groups, and other small ensembles performed in the General Recital and some of the full group concerts, in addition to performances for in-house University events such as Open Houses, special convocations, and Commencement weekend.