Section
Music Department
University Choir

Music Ensembles

  • All ensembles are open to all students by audition.
  • Participation in ensembles is welcomed, whether receiving credit or no credit for the course.
  • All instumental & choral ensembles participate in our Winter & Spring Music Festivals, as well as requested on and off campus events.
  • Participants in our Class Ensembles will be coached by a faculty member and encouraged to perform in our Winter & Spring Music Festivals.

Instrumental Ensembles

Eastern Strings- This ensemble is for string instruments: violin, viola, violoncello and double bass.   The ensemble members are comprised primarily of string players in the mus ic major, though non-majors are welcome as well.

Eastern Winds, comprising brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments, exposes students to the standard wind band repertoire.  Students will apply the fundamentals of instrumental pe rformance in an ensemble setting as well as develop sensitivities in intonation, articulation, tone quality and color, rhythmic accuracy, and performance styles.

Eastern WindsFlute Ensemble- This ensemble is comprised primarily of flutists in the music major, though non-majors are welc ome as well.  The ensemble performs music from Bach to the 21st century.  Techniques required in chamber music are emphasized and the group performs without a conductor.  Each semester the ens emble performs at the Flute Fest Concert.

Jazz Band acquaints students with music in standard jazz and commercial styles.  Students apply fundamentals of instrumental performance in a jazz ensemble setting and learn to devel op musical independence while maturing in teamwork, responsibility, and joy in shared achievement.

MIDI Ensemble, comprising primarily but not limited to electronic keyboards, synth and electric guitars and bass, percussion and drums, is designed for those musical students who desire t o create their own original pieces for performance at Eastern and in the community at large.  Possible projects include live accompaniment to film.  Emphasis is placed upon creative cooperation wit h others in an organic group of like-minded players.  To this end some improvisation is stressed at each rehearsal to allow the members to grow together into a tight musical unit.  Completed pieces will be performed at selected recitals and possibly area venues.

St. Davids Orchestra Society- The St. Davids Orchestra Soceity is comprised of both Eastern University staff and students, as well as musicians from the surrounding communities and churches.  One of the main purposes of the orchestra is to allow students the experience of playing in a large orchestral ensemble, and to participate first hand in some of the most glorious orchestral repertoire.  Students will develop the musical skills necessary for successfully playing orchestral repertoire.  The St. Davids Orchestra Soceity has also collaborated with other musical organizations on campus, and plans future collab orations with other artistic venues such as dance and film.

Percussion Ensemble- This ensemble course is designed to give students exposure to the Percussion ensemble literature.  Students will be able to use the fundamentals of percussion pe rformance in a small ensemble setting and develop musical concepts such as rhythmic precision, pitch and note accuracy, timbre, dynamics, balance, and phrasing.  This is an opportunity to work with multiple percussion setups and work more with additional percussion instruments not covered as much in lessons or larger ensemble pieces.

Choral Ensembles

Angels of HarmonyAngels of Harmony- This ensemble is a Gospel choir committed to ministry and diversity.  The reper toire includes the richness of African-American heritage coupled with contemporary Black Gospel music.  This group performs throughout the tri-state area during the academic year as well as Eastern Univ ersity's Spring Commencement.

Touring Choir- Touring Choir is selected from University Choir members by the director during the fall semester. Students who participate in the fall and who fulfill their performanc e obligations in the spring, including University Choir performances at Spring Commencement, may receive one hour credit in the spring semester.  Note: An activity credit.

Turning Point- Turning Point is a small touring ensemble giving approximately 15 concerts a semester in churches and schools.  This highly selective ensemble is chosen by audition an d is usually comprised of upper-class students.  In addition to touring, this ensemble participates in other on-campus events as well as the Music Gala Benefit Concert.

University Choir- The University Choir is open to all Eastern students.  The choir provides intensive training in all aspects of choral singing, aiming at performances that disp lay vibrancy and beauty.  The choir performs music from all historic periods, including music of the 21st century. The choir tours annually throughout the Northeast corridor at the end of the spring semester, and has also toured in Europe. All students who enroll in University Choir assume the obligation to participate in touring choir if selected.  This ensemble participates in the Mus ic Gala Benefit concert in the spring, as well as performs regularly for local churches and on-campus events. Prerequisite: By audition.

Women’s Chorale- This ensemble is designed to explore and develop repertoire of all styles.  Repertoire is drawn from sacred and secular sources.

Class EnsemblesCello student from Chamber Ensemble

Chamber Ensemble- An ensemble course designed for more advanced performers to explore the repertoire for various small groupings of instruments and voices.  Such groupings may includ e brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion and various keyboard instruments.

Jazz Combo- This course is designed to help the student develop the ability to perform jazz in a small group format.  Songs (“jazz standards”) will be performed in variou s styles in different keys and varying tempos.  The emphasis will be on developing student’s sight reading, eighth note swing feel, soloing and group interplay skills.  It is also structured to prepare students to function in and/or lead a group where sight reading, interacting with other musicians and playing in various styles are required such as: church groups, wedding bands, theater or any public performance.  Students taking Jazz Combo are also encouraged to participate in Jazz Improvisation.

Jazz Improvisation- This course is designed to help the student cultivate the ability to improvise a solo on their given instrument using major and minor scales including their interals and basic seventh chords.  Songs from the Tin Pan Alley era including Rogers and Hart, Gershwin, and Porter will be analyzed.  Students taking Jazz Improvisation are also encouraged to participate in Jazz Combo.