STUDENT PERFORMING Ensembles
Students of all majors are welcome to audition for FAU's nationally acclaimed music ensembles. With dozens of performing groups, we have an ensemble for you! Ensembles can be taken for 0 or 1 elective credits.
Bands
Wind Ensemble
A flagship performing ensemble at FAU, the Wind Ensemble is comprised of 45 to 50 of the finest wind and percussion students at the university. The FAU Wind Ensemble has accepted invitations to perform at the Southern Division Conferences of the College Band Director's National Association in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Georgia, and the Florida Music Educator's Association conference in Tampa. The Wind Ensemble has been privileged to work closely with composers including Bruce Broughton, Andrew Boss, James Syler, Joel Puckett, Steven Bryant, Scott McAllister, Libby Larson, Bruce Adolphe, Stuart Glazer, William Brusick Michael Markowski, and FAU composer-in-residence Kevin Wilt. The Wind Ensemble performs masterworks of the literature as well as leading-edge works of today. Auditions are open to all FAU students and are held the four days before each fall term. Email Dr. Kyle Prescott to learn how to audition.
Marching Owls
The Marching Owls is an icon of school spirit and pride at Florida Atlantic University. Performing at football games and community events throughout Florida, the Marching Owls provide entertaining performances that draw the audience into the game, inspire the team to victory, represent the community with pride, and nurture a spirit of cooperation and sportsmanship. The band comprises of students representing a variety of disciplines who contribute musically and visually to the game-day atmosphere uniting the student body, university, and community in mutual camaraderie. Email Dr. Marc Decker to learn more.
Why join the Marching Owls?
- Make new friends
- Perform great music
- Earn college credit
- Travel and perform nationally
Jazz Orchestra
The FAU Jazz Orchestra and Chamber Combos, under the Artistic Direction of Dr. Courtney Jones, are ensembles devoted to the performance of original compositions, traditional masterworks, and offers those participating exposure to a multitude of jazz styles and literature.
Auditioned based, these ensembles are opened to ALL Majors (attending FAU) who are willing to perform repertoire that crosses different musical aesthetics, innovative, methodologies, and ideological concepts, with an emphasis on improvisation and structure. Due to this approach, some (not all) of the compositions will require its members to double on secondary instruments and to be knowledgeable of the aforementioned.
If you play a traditional wind-instrument (saxophone, trumpet, trombone), rhythm-section (piano, guitar, bass, drum-set), and or sing, you are eligible to audition. Auditions are held at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters.
Any questions, please contact Dr. Courtney Jones for pertinent information.
Symphony Band
The University Symphony Band is open to students of all majors at FAU. This ensemble performs classic works from band literature, as well as newer selections for winds and percussion. Members of the FAU Marching Owls often continue their musical pursuits by participating in the Symphony Band. This group is conducted by Dr. Marc Decker, with assistance from the graduate teaching assistants.
There is no entrance audition, but previous experience on a band instrument is required. To join, enroll in either MUN 1130 for 0-credit or MUN 4133 for 1-credit and attend rehearsals in the Spring term MW 5:00-6:50 pm at the University Theatre.
Pep Band
The 'Parliament Sound' Pep Band provides entertaining and musical performances at Men's and Women's Division I basketball games as well as many community events each year. The group meets from the start of basketball season in November until its conclusion in March. All current students at FAU with experience on a band instrument are welcome to participate and can join either in November or January.
The 'Parliament Sound' travels regularly and has performed throughout Southern Florida. In addition, the band travels annually with the basketball teams to perform at the C-USA Tournament in Frisco, TX.
To join, enroll in either MUN 1100 for 0-credit or MUN 4103 for 1-credit and attend rehearsal on the first Monday of the semester at 7 pm, at the University Theatre. Email Dr. Marc Decker with questions.
Summer Concert Band
Students, community members, and staff are welcome to join the FAU Summer Concert Band. Join us in May for our first rehearsal. Rehearsals will be Tuesday and Thursday until the concert in June at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre. More information will be posted to the Summer Concert Band homepage. Email Dr. Kyle Prescott with questions.
Concert Percussion Ensemble
Concert Percussion Ensemble performs challenging works for 4 to 15 experienced percussionists. Advanced performance skills in xylophone, 4-mallet marimba, snare drum, and multi-percussion is required. Placement is by audition, held the Saturday before the fall term begins each year. Through audition, this ensemble is open to any student at FAU. The Concert Percussion Ensemble is directed by Professor Matthew Nichols.
Chamber Winds
The FAU Chamber Winds program consists of several small ensembles of from 4 to 15 musicians. These groups perform works from the past 500 years of wind music. Interested musicians should reach out to Dr. Kyle Prescott for more information.
Choirs
¡Cantemos!
This ensemble specializes in the choral music of the Iberian Peninsula and of Latin American. Conducted by Dr. Patricia P. Fleitas, this ensemble is an outcome of her ongoing interest and research in the choral music of Latin America. Membership averages between 12 and 16 singers. The ensemble has performed and served as a demonstration ensemble for the annual FMEA In-Service Conference as well as touring as the recruiting ensemble for the area of choral and vocal studies, Department of Music. This ensemble is open to non-majors by audition. Please contact Dr. Patricia Fleitas for more information.
Chamber Singers
The Chamber Singers, conducted by Dr. Patricia P. Fleitas, is the premiere choral ensemble at Florida Atlantic University. Membership averages from 24 to 35 singers. In addition to performing on campus at the Annual Georgina Dieter Dennis High School Honor Choral Festival and other campus performances, the Chamber Singers collaborate with the Delray Beach Chorale and the Delray Beach Chorale Chamber Ensemble, both under the baton of Dr. Fleitas. This collaboration involves performances of some of the great choral masterworks; Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Haydn’s Paukenmesse (“Mass in Time of War”), Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Britten’s Cantata Misericordium, and Schubert’s Magnificat. The Chamber Singers have performed for the annual Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) In-Service Development conference and Florida’s American Choral Director’s Association (FACDA). The annual performance of Handel’s Messiah with Faculty, Alumni and Friends is performed and hosted by this ensemble. Chamber Singers is open to non-majors by audition. Please contact Dr. Patricia Fleitas for more information.
Vocalis
The Florida Atlantic University Vocalis, an ensemble for treble voices, under the direction of Dr. Stacie Lee Rossow, is comprised of students from across the university. Music majors and non-majors alike perform choral standards and new music from all eras and genre. They strive to perform at the highest level and have been invited to perform at the Florida ACDA conference in 2006 and 2017. The ensemble has also been privileged to premier several works including those by Michael McGlynn and resident composer David P. Rossow. Vocalis is open through audition to all FAU students.
To audition, email Dr. Stacie Rossow to schedule a time.
University Chorus
The University Chorus is open to students of all majors at Florida Atlantic University. Rehearsals are Tuesday nights 7-10 pm. Email Dr. Patricia Fleitas to schedule an audition.
Orchestra
Orchestra
The Florida Atlantic University Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to performing new compositions and standard repertoire in a wide variety of styles and periods at the highest level of musicianship. This ensemble features an annual student solo concerto and aria competition. The FAU Symphony Orchestra is comprised of talented undergraduate and graduate students who are currently earning degrees in music as a major or minor as well as students in other degree programs. This ensemble rehearses two times a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am – 1:20 pm and studies under the direction of Dr. Laura Joella, Director of Orchestral Studies. If you are interested in auditioning for membership, please contact Dr. Laura Joella.
Commercial Music
Commercial Music
The Commercial Music Ensembles at Florida Atlantic University offer an eclectic range of performance options. Ensembles are formed based on genres, such as Latin, rock, metal, funk, grunge, punk, Top 40, folk—each semester can provide a new focus. Non-majors are welcome by audition. For more information about the CME audition process, please contact Fookloy Ford.
Opera
FAU OPERA THEATRE
FAU Opera Theatre, a distinguished group of Florida Atlantic University since 1966, represents a blend of academic instruction and real-world vocal performance experience. Under the direction of Associate Professor of Voice Dr. Mitchell Hutchings, FAU Opera Theatre is recognized as the first international ensemble at Florida Atlantic University. Students in this program gain a comprehensive understanding of lyric theatre, studying repertoire from early Baroque to the twenty-first century, both on campus and through our FAU Opera in Italy study abroad opportunity. If you are interested in auditioning, please contact Dr. Mitchell Hutchings.