CHAMBER MUSIC FOR WINDS
BRASS ENSEMBLES
The Brass Ensemble program consists of a variety of playing opportunities. Homogeneous brass ensembles, such as the Horn Ensemble, the Trombone Choir, and the Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, afford the students from particular studios an excellent opportunity to perform together.
The Penn State Horn Ensemble, formed in 1985, showcases the finest hornists on campus. Comprised of music majors and talented hornists from outside the School of Music by audition, this twenty-member ensemble meets in spring semester and is most often divided into quartets. By invitation, this group performed at the 1997 Symposium of the International Horn Society, held in Rochester, New York, and was invited to perform at the 2001 Symposium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Penn State Horn Ensemble also performed at a Mid-West Regional Horn Workshop in Ypsilanti, Michigan, as well as at the Eastern Division Music Educators National Conference in Connecticut. The group has made numerous appearances at clinics of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Convention. Directed by Lisa Bontrager, the ensemble's vast repertoire encompasses original works and arrangements of romantic, baroque, classical, impressionist and popular music.
The Penn State Trombone Choir was founded in 1986. Since that time, the choir has garnered considerable regional and national success. The choir has performed at the Pennsylvania music educators' conferencesin Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. The group has also performed at the New York Brass Conference, the Eastern Trombone Workshop, and International Trombone Workshop. Some of the artists that have performed with the choir are Joseph Alessi, Jim Pugh, Dave Taylor and Mark Kellogg. The Penn State Trombone Choir is a founding member of the Fruhling Posaunen Festival. The festival combines this group with the Ithaca Trombone Troupe and the Eastman Trombone Choir for an annual concert series that has featured the talents of John Marcellus, Harold Reynolds, Fred Boyd, Ronald Barron, Scott Hartman, Mark Kellogg and M. Dee Stewart.
The Penn State Tuba Euphonium Ensemble, formed in the fall of 1987, has achieved success performing regionally and nationally. The group performs outstanding traditional, contemporary, and popular literature composed or transcribed for the tuba/euphonium ensemble. This highly select ensemble includes the finest euphonium and tuba players on campus, chosen by audition. The group has garnered praise for many featured performances, including The Early Show; the 1995, 2006, and 2008 International Tuba and Euphonium Conferences; several appearances at the New York Brass Conference with featured soloists Brian Bowman and Toby Hanks; the 2004 Army Tuba Euphonium Conference with soloist Roger Behrend; the Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Conference; and with soloist Neal Corwell. The ensemble also enjoys performing for many University functions, presenting public school concerts and entertaining at various off-campus venues. Currently directed by Velvet Brown, previous directors include founder Mark Lusk, Martin Erickson, and Jeff Parker. FLUTE ENSEMBLES
The Penn State Flute Ensembles are coached by Eleanor Duncan Armstrong and present performances of chamber music for two to five players. Occasionally, works for full flute choir -- employing C-flute, piccolo, alto and bass -- are performed as well. Enrollment is by audition with the instructor.
SAXOPHONE ENSEMBLES
Several saxophone quartets are formed each semester, offering saxophonists the opportunity to gain experience playing chamber music. These groups require soloistic playing and allow a great deal of freedom and independence in musical decision-making within an ensemble situation. For some performances, the quartets combine, with the addition of a bass saxophone, to form a large saxophone ensemble. The saxophone ensembles perform in a variety of venues, and are coached by David Stambler. Enrollment is by consultation and/or audition.
DOUBLE REED ENSEMBLES
The Penn State Double Reed Ensemble and Bassoon Ensemble offer special performance opportunities to the School's double reed students. The Double Reed Ensemble utilizes all the instruments of the family -- oboe, oboe d'amore, English horn, bassoon and contrabassoon -- while the Bassoon Ensemble offers works for multiple bassoons and contrabassoon. In 2007, The Double Reed Ensemble performed at the Conference of the International Double Reed Society. Enrollment is by audition with the directors of the ensembles.
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.