Ensembles

The Boston University School of Music orchestral program, which includes the Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra, plays a central role in the education of the School’s instrumentalists who aspire to professions as chamber musicians, orchestral musicians, teachers, or a combination of all three.

The Director of Orchestral Activities at Boston University oversees artistic and educational planning for the entire program and conducts the majority of the Symphony Orchestra performances, including their annual concert at Boston’s Symphony Hall.

The orchestras also work with other BU faculty, distinguished guest conductors, and members of the graduate conducting program. Professor William Lumpkin, Director of the BU Opera Institute, directs the school’s two annual mainstage opera productions. The orchestras collaborate with the choral department, perform concerto repertoire with student competition winners, and take part in composition reading sessions. All orchestral students are assigned to projects on a per-cycle basis, regularly rotating between the Symphony and Chamber orchestras, operas, and other projects.

Membership in the music major orchestras is determined by auditions held in conjunction with the School of Music in September. Extremely talented non-music majors (including music minors) who have already spent at least one year at Boston University in a non-major ensemble may audition for this group. If interested, please contact the Ensembles Manager, Katharine Hurd.

The Wind Ensemble is the premiere music major band in the School of Music. Under the baton of Professor Kenneth Amis, the Wind Ensemble is designed to prepare wind, brass, and percussion players for the professional careers in ensemble performance. It also provides future music educators with institute standard teaching concepts and methods related to the study of band repertoire and performance. Prof. Amis demonstrates standard rehearsal techniques and requires an outstanding level of performance.

Membership in the Wind Ensemble is determined by auditions held in conjunction with the School of Music in September. Extremely talented non-music majors (including music minors) who have already spent at least one year at Boston University in a non-major ensemble may audition for this group. If interested, please contact the Ensembles Manager, Katharine Hurd.

BU Singers is a chamber chorus for advanced vocalists, comprised primarily of voice majors. This group draws upon the musicianship and training from each singer, who often sing one-on-a-part, requiring accountability and teamwork. Each student is expected to take initiative and lead, follow, listen, and adapt as they collaborate with other voices and personalities. Singers will work through repertoire in many languages and traditions, including historic masterpieces as well as music from countries and composers further from the western canon. The ensemble typically gives two performances each semester, most often in the CFA Concert Hall or Marsh Chapel. Students from other majors who have advanced choral singing experience may request permission to audition; please contact the Manager of Ensembles Katharine Hurd before semester start for more information. BU Singers meets WF, 12:20pm-2:05pm, and is directed by Daniel Parsley.

Open to all students

The Boston University Symphonic Chorus is open to all musicians in the campus community: undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and friends. BU community members sing alongside music performance majors from the School of Music, collectively forming the premier choral ensemble at Boston University. The ensemble presents one concert each semester, including an annual performance with BU’s orchestra at Symphony Hall, the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. They perform in a variety of languages, exploring music from various choral traditions.

Rehearsals are held in the CFA Concert Hall at 855 Commonwealth Avenue on Wednesday evenings at 7pm; extra rehearsals are often held as performances approach and will be announced before the start of the semester. Placement hearings are generally held at the first and second rehearsals of each semester. Participating BU students are required to register for the course, which is offered for either one or zero credits. Symphonic Chorus is led by Daniel Parsley, Director of Choral Activities.