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The DePauw University Institute of Music is home to five unique large ensembles: University Orchestra, University Band, Jazz Ensemble, Festival Choir and Vox Animae. These large-scale collaborations give each student an opportunity to perform, with their peers, great classic as well as contemporary masterworks. Pictured here is a photo from a Concerto Winners’ concerts — an annual event that allows each student to participate through friendly competition for a chance to perform concerto-style repertoire alongside the University Orchestra!

In addition to the requisite large ensembles, DePauw also has various smaller ensembles and chamber groups, and its Symphonic Band, a Institute of Music and College of Liberal Arts collaborative ensemble that includes student performers from both schools, as well as faculty. The Festival Choir, co-sponsored by the Greencastle Arts Council, is another opportunity for DePauw-Greencastle collaborations as voice majors, CLA students, faculty, staff, and community members come together with a single voice to create truly incredible performance experiences.

Representative Repertoire

DePauw University Orchestra:

Pines of Rome — Ottorino Respighi

Symphony No. 7 — Ludwig van Beethoven

Pictures at an Exhibition — Modest Mussorgsky

Voices Shouting Out — Nkeiru Okoye

Hansel and Gretel — Engelbert Humperdinck

DePauw University Band: 

Aurora Awakes — John Mackey

Symphony No. 6 for Band — Vincent Persichetti

magneticfireflies — Augusta Read Thomas

Hip Hop Etudes — Daniel Bernard Roumain

The Dog Breath Variations — Frank Zappa

DePauw Jazz Ensemble

“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

Festival Choir 

Carmina Burana — Carl Orff

Song of Democracy — Howard Hanson in collaboration with the University Band

“The Music of Z. Randall Stroope”

Vox Animae

“It Isn’t a Dream” — Melissa Dumphy

“Deer Song” — Craig Hella Johnson

“Not While I’m Around” — Stephen Sondheim 

Orchestra 9-15

The University Orchestra, conducted by Orcenith Smith, will open the Green Center’s 2024-25 concert season on Sunday, Sept. 15 with “Theatrical Music!” The program explores ways in which the power of the orchestra produces sonic reference points in the fabric of a theatrical presentation. The concert will feature, among other works, the Prelude to Act II of Carl Nielsen’s opera Saul and David and the famous Viennese overture to the operetta Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Jr. 

DePauw University Orchestra

Sunday, Sept. 15 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

Band 10-27

University Band and Orchestra Strings

Sunday, Oct. 27 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

Join us for a combined concert by the DePauw University Band, conducted by Craig Pare, and our Orchestra Strings, directed by Orcenith Smith! This one-hour concert is free and open to the public.

Choirs 11-3

The DePauw University Institute of Music is the home of three choral ensembles: DePauw Chamber Singers, Vox Animae, and the Festival Choir. This concert, conducted by Prof. Byron Black II, will feature all three ensembles performing individually as well as en masse to showcase a wealth of repertoire and talent!

DePauw Fall Choral Concert

Sunday, Nov. 3 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

Percussion 11-9

Percussion and Saxophone Ensembles

Saturday, Nov. 9 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

Our percussion and saxophone studios join forces to bring you a different kind of ensemble concert! This semesterly combo is always a blast!

Symphonic Band 11-17

Our come-one, come-all ensemble gives what is sure to be a stunning performance! This ensemble features Institute of Music students on secondary instruments, DePauw faculty and staff, and College of Liberal Arts students coming together to make marvelous music!

DePauw Symphonic Band

Sunday, November 17 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

Jazz Ensemble 11-22

DePauw Jazz Ensemble Concert

Friday, Nov. 22 • 4:20 PM • Moore Theatre

A part of our yearly Jazzfest, the DePauw Jazz Ensemble will give an afternoon performance — between workshopping with visiting high school bands, master classes and our evening Green Guest Artist Concert!