Ensembles

Major Ensembles

• Concert Band
• Women's Chorus and Men's Chorus
• Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra
  
  

Chamber Ensembles

• Chamber Orchestra
• Chamber Singers
• Clarinet Choir
• Flute Choir
• Jazz Ensemble
• Piano Chamber Players
• Percussion Ensemble
• Saxophone Ensemble
• Trombone Choir
• Opera Workshop

Nazareth College Chamber Orchestra

The Nazareth College Chamber Orchestra (NCCO) meets once a week with a focus on the preparation of literature for small orchestra. This season NCCO will perform Vivaldi’s Concerto in b minor for 4 Violins and Orchestra, Britten’s Simple Symphony, Strelau’s Another Time, Another Place along with other chamber orchestra literature. The group provides the opportunity for Nazareth orchestral conducting students to lead the ensemble. The NCCO is under the direction of Nancy Strelau.

Through the variety of small ensembles offered, trios and quartets are formed at the beginning of each semester. Literature is determined by each chamber music coach with input from ensemble members. Chamber groups perform each semester in string recitals, college ensemble performances and at various venues throughout the community. The Chamber Music Program is coordinated by David Hult.

For more information please contact:
Nancy Strelau, director (585)389-2691
nstrela1@naz.edu

 

 

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Chamber Singers

The Nazareth College Chamber Choir is an elite mixed ensemble consisting of approximately 20 to 25 singers. Members are chosen by audition. For auditions, students are required to sing a prepared art song of their choice, the National Anthem (a cappella), and sight-read. The Chamber Choir sings a variety of chamber choral literature spanning all eras, styles and genres.

The ensemble performs four to five times per semester and participates in an international tour at least once every other year during the spring semester.

The Chamber Choir is open to all members of the Nazareth Campus regardless of their academic discipline. The Chamber Choir rehearses on Mondays 5:00-5:50 pm, Wednesdays 4:00-4:450 pm, and Thursdays 4:15-5:45 pm.

For more information please contact:
Dr. Mark Zeigler, conductor (585)389-2693
mczeigle@naz.edu

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Clarinet Choir

The clarinet choir is conducted by Dr. Jun Qian, lecturer in music. This group was selected to perform at the 2006 International Clarinet Choir Festival at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Its future engagements include guest appearances at St.Andrew Concert Series, Pittsford Library Concert Series and other community venues.

The members consists of undergraduate and graduate students from various majors from Nazareth. The group rehearses on Thursdays 6:00-7:00pm.

For more information please contact:
Brian Wahrlich, director (585) 389-2700
clarinetz3@yahoo.com

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Concert Band

This 60 member ensemble is made up of accomplished wind and percussion players from all disciplines on campus. The Concert Band performs a variety of standard or traditional concert band literature as well as newer works for the genre. Membership is open to all students, and audition for chair placement occurs during the first week of each semester.

The Concert Band gives a concert on campus once each semester and may perform off-campus during the spring semester. The Concert Band rehearses on Mondays 4:00-4:50 pm, Tuesdays 4:15-5:45 pm, and Wednesdays 5:00-6:00 pm.

For more information please contact:
Dr. Mary C. Carlson, conductor (585) 389-2697
mcarlso3@naz.edu

Listen: Percy Grainger: Children's March

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Men's Chorus and Women's Chorus

The Nazareth College Men's Chorus and Women's Chorus are a community mixed chorus consisting of approximately 70 to 80 singers. No audition is necessary. The Choirs sing a variety of choral literature spanning all eras, styles and genres. The ensembles perform two to three times per semester and participates in an international tour at least once every other year during the spring semester.

The choirs are open to all members of the Nazareth Campus regardless of their academic discipline. The choirs rehearses on Mondays from 6:00-8:00 pm.

For more information please contact:
Dr. Mark Zeigler, conductor (585) 389-2693
mzeigle8@naz.edu

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Nazareth College Jazz Ensemble

The Nazareth College Jazz Ensemble, while based on the standard saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and rhythm instrumentation, welcomes all instrumentalists who are interested in learning about and performing in the jazz idiom. Repertoire consists of standard (and not-so-standard) works from the libraries of professional big bands, and also original compositions and arrangements from students, the director, and others. Time is spent on learning about improvisation and how to approach it, and also on how to interpret notation in the various styles of swing, Latin, and funk.

Performances are given both on and off campus each semester. The Jazz Ensemble rehearses on Mondays 8:30-9:30 PM and Thursdays 7:00-8:00 PM.

For more information please contact
Dr. Paul Smoker, conductor (585) 389-2700 or home (585) 381-3711
psmoker@frontiernet.net

Listen: Taurus Borealis

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Nazareth College Opera Workshop

The Nazareth College Opera Workshop is a program devoted to the performance of opera, operetta, and all kinds of music theatre. Students involved in the workshop benefit from rehearsals and master classes focusing on musical preparation, character development, stage movement, communication and artistry. Cast members are chosen by audition. Students rehearse in the fall semester, and present a fully-staged performance early in the spring.

The students in the program also participate in a recruitment/educational tour following the performances. In November 2005, the workshop presented the New York State premiere of Felice by Benton Hess. Past productions have included: Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial by Jury and Cox and Box, Andrew Lippa's john & jen, Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, Puccini's Sister Angelica, and Sunday Excursion by Rochester's own Alec Wilder.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Robert Strauss, stage director StraussRobert@msn.com
Linda Boianova, music director (585) 389-2700

 

 

 

 

 

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Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra

The 80-piece Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra ( NCSO) under the direction of Nancy Strelau performs a wide variety of traditional and contemporary orchestral literature. The orchestra collaborates with the Nazareth College Choirs and features faculty and student soloists each year. NCSO meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 PM and is open to all Nazareth College students and community members. The orchestra presents three concerts each semester.

The orchestra performed in Nassau, Bahamas at the invitation of the government to accompany the inaugural concert of the National Choir of the Bahamas in February, 2006, and continues that relationship.

All orchestral performances are in Linehan Chapel in the Golisano Academic Center. All concerts are free and open to the public.

The 2007-2008 season begins with a ‘Classical Favorites’ concert featuring works of Beethoven, Copland, Mascagni and Rachmaninoff. The Nazareth College Choirs join with the orchestra in December to present the world premiere of Antonio Rossi ‘s Il Cantico delle Creature di San Francesco d’Assisi. Winners of the annual NCSO Concerto/Aria Competition will be featured in March along with music of Saint-Saëns and Dvorak. The season will conclude in April with a Pops Concert featuring jazz and musical theatre selections, and light hearted musical parody.

For more information please contact:
Nancy Strelau, director (585)389-2691
nstrela1@naz.edu

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Piano Chamber Players

Piano Chamber Players provides opportunities for pianists to participate in piano quartets, trios, duos and duets, vocal accompanying, and mixed chamber ensembles. Students meet weekly to explore literature, and prepare for performances on and off campus. While all piano primaries participate, the ensembles are open to other qualified students upon audition.

For more information please contact:
Dr. Beverly Smoker, director (585) 389-2696
bsmoker5@naz.edu

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Saxophone Ensemble

The saxophone quartet/ensemble accepts anyone who is interested in performing in the ensemble. Saxophone quartet usually consists of a soprano, alto, tenor and bari saxophones. The saxophone ensemble is formed when students register a group of 6 or more. The repertoire for the ensemble consists of transcriptions and original saxophone quartet pieces. Performances are given each semester. The group meets with the director once a week in addition to the students' own rehearsals.

For more information please contact:
Chisato Eda, director (585) 389-2700
chisatosax@yahoo.com

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Trombone Choir

The Nazareth College Trombone Choir was formed in 2006 as an extension of the Low Brass studio. Led by Timothy Dueppen, the choir performs classic trombone ensemble pieces, transcriptions and new works. Meeting one night a week, the ensemble focuses on developing a greater sense of musicality and overall musicianship through a variety of innovative techniques. All students interested in this ensemble are invited to attend as new members are always welcomed.

For more information please contact:
Timothy Dueppen, director (585) 389-2700
tdueppen@mail.rochester.edu

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