I’m a big part of the community in a bunch of little ways.
-Paige Burgess
The DePauw University Institute of Music is home to seven ensembles, ranging from auditioned groups like the orchestra and band to student-led endeavors like the contemporary ensemble. Each group performs a variety of repertoire, both new and old, in at least one large concert each semester. The ensembles also participate in various events including the Holiday Gala, the musical and opera orchestras and commencement.
Singers in the auditioned choirs, DePauw Chamber Singers (SATB) and Vox Animae (SSAA), study advanced repertoire from a wide variety of styles and eras. The groups typically sing in all major choir concerts and galas of the school and also appear at special performances on and off campus. Both choirs include about 14-22 singers each, and membership requires an audition but is open to any students at DePauw regardless of major. Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester for new members; both groups rehearse three times a week for 50 minutes.
Singers of both groups also regularly participate in choir tours. Recent trips have brought students to different corners of the world such as tours in Peru, the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa, as well as a residency with the Urban Voices Project, an organization in Los Angeles that brings music to the homeless community in the Skid Row neighborhood.
Chamber Singers:
Vox Animae:
The University Band is a select ensemble of woodwind, brass and percussion musicians chosen by audition. Repertoire is selected from a wide variety of high-quality concert literature for both symphonic band and wind ensemble. Known for its ten critically-acclaimed CD recordings, the University Band has hosted a variety of renowned guest musicians, conductors and composers including Joseph Schwantner, John Corigliano, Roberto Sierra, Augusta Read Thomas, Chen Yi, Christopher Theofanidis, James Beckel, Eugene Migliaro Corproron, Roby George and John Lynch.
The DePauw University Orchestra prioritizes ensemble development through repertoire. Auditions are required, and Graded Excerpt Testing before each concert and rotational seating bring focus on intentionality to each student’s playing. The purposeful breadth of repertoire each year is linked to a more comprehensive view across four years of participation. The orchestra presents a number of full orchestra-only concerts, which may include faculty soloists. It also performs in the pit for DePauw Opera performances, works with Pulitzer Prize-winning composers to perform their pieces in the Music of the 21st Century composer residency, plays in the Holiday Gala, accompanies student winners of the annual DePauw Concerto Winner’s Concert and presents an annual, year-end large-scale choral orchestral event with repertoire like Beethoven Symphony No. 9 or Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem. Every other January, during DePauw’s Winter Term, the nucleus of the DePauw University Orchestra undertakes a concert tour abroad as the DePauw Chamber Symphony. Recent tours have included Japan, Austria, Germany and England.
The DePauw Jazz Ensemble performs on campus and in concert venues throughout Indiana, including combo performances in club settings. Leading artists regularly visit campus to perform with our ensembles and give master classes, all of which are open to all students regardless of major. Guest artists have included Pharez Whitted, Eddie Henderson, Jon Fedchock, Brad Leali, Jamey Aebersold, Jackie Allen, Lynne Arriale, Reggie Workman and Joe Lovano, among many others.
“African Skies” — Michael Brecker, arr. Riss
“Dear Rudy” — Terell Stafford, arr. Gray
“Blame It on my Youth” — Oscar Levant, arr. Cunliffe
“Hey, It’s Me You’re Talkin’ To” — Victor Lews, arr. Sharpe
The Symphonic Band provides playing experiences for all students, regardless of major, who want to improve their technique and skills on woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. The mission of the Symphonic Band is to create maximum enjoyment with limited performance demands for students who wish to continue to perform in a large ensemble as part of their collegiate educational experience. Auditions to join the Symphonic Band are not required, but are held for chair placements and part assignments.
Featured concert performances take place once each semester in our concert venue, Kresge Auditorium in the Green Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, the Symphonic Band serenades the campus prior to the end of the first semester in early December.
Established in 1971, this large non-auditioned community choir was revived in 2019 after a hiatus of 17 years and is a result of a collaboration between the Greencastle Arts Council and DePauw University. The choir is open to anyone who likes to sing regardless of experience and rehearses every Tuesday night during the semester. Members include students of all majors, staff and faculty, as well as residents of Putnam County and beyond. The ensemble typically appears at major concerts and galas at DePauw and often performs larger masterworks together with the Symphony Orchestra or University Band.
Eric Barnum – Afternoon on a Hill
Johannes Brahms – Ein deutsches Requiem
Howard Hanson – Song of Democracy
J. Rosamond Johnson – Lift Every Voice and Sing
Carl Orff – Carmina Burana
Kate Rusby – Underneath the Stars
Paul Simon & Joseph Shabalala – Homeless
Peteris Vasks – Dona nobis pacem
I’m a big part of the community in a bunch of little ways.
-Paige Burgess
