Performance Music
The University of Scranton Bands, Choirs and String Ensembles offer high quality instrumental and choral performing ensemble opportunities in a variety of formats ranging from very large ensembles, to small ensemble and solo performing opportunities. Participation is open to any and all interested university students (as well as faculty, staff and administration) with no individual audition requirement nor enrollment or membership fee, in the finest liberal arts tradition.
The University of Scranton Performing Arts Series and The Scranton Brass Orchestra present concert performances by outstanding and renowned musicians representing a variety of musical genres, and closely coordinate programming with the Bands, Choirs and String Ensembles to offer special masterclasses, workshops and lectures by our visiting artists.
All performances are free of charge and open to the public, and most take place in the magnificently restored concert hall of the Houlihan-McLean Center on our campus, which is equipped with an historic Steinway B grand piano and a fully restored Austin Opus 301 symphonic organ.
Our tradition of guest artists and clinicians has brought to our student musicians, our campus and our community the joyful experience of performing with and hearing a long list of musical masters, among them Wes "Warmdaddy" Anderson; Kyle Athayde; David Ball; Eddie Barbash; Joseph Boga; Jeffrey and Lauren Curnow; Aaron Diehl; Dominick Farinacci; Marion Felder; Steve & Tony Fidyk; Richard Field; Wycliffe Gordon; Victor Goines; Mark Gould; Carlos Henriquez; Frederick Hohman; Bridgett Hooks; Caleb & Amanda Hudson; T. Terry James; Christopher Johnson; Robert Kapilow; Mark Kosower; Jennifer Krupa; Joanne Lessner; Wynton Marsalis; Kako Miura; Diane Monroe; Thomas Murray; Ted Nash; Jee-Won Oh; Sam Pilafian; Leigh Pilzer; Marcus & Risa Hequibal Printup; Eric Reed; Robert Rodriguez; Joshua Rosenblum; Loren Schoenberg; Jumaane Smith; Timothy Eugene Smith; Robert Starer; Andres Tarantiles; Warren Vache; Frank Vignola; Lawrence & Pamela Wolfe; Greg Zelek; The New York Trumpet Ensemble; Travelin' Light; The Manhattan School of Music Brass Orchestra; David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band; The National Jazz Museum in Harlem All-Stars; The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra; members of the New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Boston, Minnesota, and Dallas Symphony Orchestras, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and the Empire, Metropolitan, and Canadian Brass Quintets; and many others.
Our late composer-in-residence Vaclav Nelhybel's long and productive relationship with the University continues to be honored through close cooperation between the University and the Nelhybel Estate through the establishment of "The Nelhybel Collection."
The programs include an annual World Premiere Composition Series performance, the only series of its kind in the nation, which has received honor and acclaim from artists throughout the world. Since 1984 the series has provided our students with opportunities to work and interact with nationally and internationally renowned composers and conductors, and has made significant contributions to the wind and choral repertoires.
Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles every year, and are achieving their performance goals in the musical ensemble of their choice. For more information on any of the program offerings of Performance Music at The University of Scranton, please contact us.