School of Music Ensembles
Student Ensembles
With the Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA) and other performance venues nearby, students enjoy many opportunities to hear the finest musicians in the world. Students gain practical performance experience by participating with many professional and pre-professional groups including Portland Opera, Portland Symphonic Choir, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Musical Theater Company, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic. No other institution in the state offers so many opportunities for young musicians.
PSU Guitar Ensemble
The PSU Guitar Orchestra studies and performs classical repertoire carefully selected and created for a large, multiple-guitar orchestra. The group is primarily for classical guitar majors at PSU and is by audition only. For further information about the group or audition requirements please contact the director, Professor Bryan Johanson.
Jazz Lab Band
This ensemble performs Jazz literature in a big band setting. The ensemble is under the direction of Professor Charles Gray. An audition may be required. The band rehearses three hours per week.
PSU New Music Ensemble
The PSU New Music Ensemble, conducted by Ken Selden, performs music of the past 25 years by major contemporary composers from all over the world. The Ensemble also hosts an annual Composition Competition. Audition is required. For more information, please email kselden@pdx.edu.
PSU Symphony Orchestra
The PSU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ken Selden, performs a broad range of symphonic repertoire. Yearly collaborations include performances with the PSU choruses, opera and instrumental faculty. The Symphony also hosts an annual Concerto Competition. Recent concerto soloists have included world-class artists such as Awadagin Pratt, Matt Haimovitz and Orli Shaham. The orchestra is open to music majors and non-majors by audition. For more information please go to http://psusymphony.wordpress.com/ or email kselden@pdx.edu.
PSU Chamber Choir
The nationally and internationally acclaimed PSU Chamber Choir is the premier choral ensemble at Portland State University. Comprised of 32 talented singers, the Chamber Choir performs music at the highest level of choral artistry, with a focus on music composed in the 20th and 21st Centuries. Participation in the Chamber Choir is open to all PSU students, regardless of major, but requires a considerable amount of skill and previous choral experience, as well as a commitment to hard work and musical excellence. An audition is required.
PSU University Choir
The University Choir is a select group of 50-60 singers, and is open to PSU students of all majors. With its focus on education, the University Choir performs a wide range of choral music from all style periods. The University Choir is the ideal place for voice and music education majors beginning university-level study, music majors who are new to singing, or non-music majors with choral experience. An audition is required.
Portland State University Wind Symphony
The Portland State University Wind Symphony enjoys a reputation of excellence. By audition, the Wind Symphony has made recent regional appearances at the College Band Director's Association Conference and the Oregon Music Educator's Conference. The ensemble is comprised of music majors, non-majors and includes select graduate students. Membership is selected by audition. Under the direction of Dr. Edward Higgins, the ensemble emphasizes musical performances that perpetuate the finest wind literature.
Portland State University Concert Band
The Portland State University Concert Band is open to any PSU student interested in refining their music skills inside the Symphonic Band setting. The ensemble is a non- auditioned ensemble made up of both music majors and non-music majors.
Opera Workshop
Students may audition for opera workshop to study the skills of the singing actor, stagecraft, and prepare opera scenes that are presented at the end of each term on and off campus.
Opera Production
Portland State has a 30 year tradition of opera productions. It is the only university in the state that produces a full opera with orchestra each year. Recent productions of Così fan tutte (2007), Don Giovanni (2002) and Le Nozze di Figaro (1999) received first and second place awards in the National Opera Association Production Competition. Internationally recognized artists such as Marilyn Horne, Sherrill Milnes, Martina Arroyo and stage director Tito Capobianco come to Portland State University each year through the Jeanine B. Cowles Distinguished Professorship to share their expert knowledge and understanding with the students as they prepare the opera. Each year an opera is chosen that best represent the talents and skills of Portland State University students. The operas are double cast whenever possible to provide more students with an opera performance experience.
Faculty Ensembles
Florestan Trio
This nationally recognized trio has recorded for PBS and toured Japan. Compact discs are available on the Gagliano label. The ensemble features Janet Guggenheim (piano), Professor Carol Sindell (violin), and Professor Hamilton Cheifetz (cello).
Trio Spektrum
This ensemble has presented concerts nationally and recorded a compact disc of Czech music. The ensemble features Emeritus Professor Dr. Marilyn Shotola (flute), Dr. Stan Stanford (clarinet), and Professor Emeritus Tomas Svoboda (piano).
Faculty Composers
The school boasts many active and published composers whose works have been performed across the globe. Composers include Professor Emeritus Tomas Svoboda, Professor Bryan Johanson, Dr. Brad Hansen, Professor Darrell Grant, Professor Charles Gray, Instructor Jon Newton, and Dr. Bonnie Miksch.
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