CHAMBER MUSIC FOR STRINGS
BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
The Penn State Baroque Ensemble is the newest of the University's performing ensembles. A mixture of faculty and string students, it is dedicated to the historically accurate performance of music from the Baroque period. Rehearsals reinforce Baroque performance techniques and stylistic interpretation. The ensemble is regularly coached and directed by leading early music groups and performers from Europe and America, such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the King's Consort, Florilegium, and Modern Musik. The Baroque Ensemble performs two concerts a semester both on and off campus. It is open to all students, regardless of major, by audition.
CELLO CHOIR
The Penn State Cello Choir was founded in 1992 by cello professor Kim Cook. The ensemble has included students from Taiwan, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Israel, Germany, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, and California. It has performed for the annual Penn State Montage concerts, Bach's Lunch series, and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Convention. Recently, the twenty-two-member cello choir returned as guest performers at the PMEA Conference in Hershey. The ensemble performs a variety of music, including arrangements of works by major composers from Gabrielli to Joplin, original compositions by Villa-Lobos, and works by commissioned contemporary composers. The Cello Choir sponsored two Penn State Cello Festivals in since 2000.
VIOLA ENSEMBLE
The Penn State Viola Ensemble was formed in 1999 and has since appeared regularly in recitals, including performances at Bach's Lunch, Musica Nova, and at ViolaFest. The ensemble performs a wide range of repertoire. Programs include original works and transcriptions, and the ensemble has performed the the world premieres of numerous compositions. Repertoire ranges from small chamber works for two or three violists to large conducted works for two or three violists to large conducted works for a dozen or more players. The Penn State Viola Ensemble is directed by Tim Deighton.
INSTRUMENTAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLES
Penn State's chamber music program includes ensembles for brass, string and woodwind instruments. These ensembles, coached by members of the School's performance faculty, present concerts throughout the year in the University's numerous performance venues. The chamber music repertoire is diverse, with a wealth of literature that spans four centuries. Enrollment is by audition with the program's instructors.