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The DePauw University School 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 School 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: 

Danzon No. 2 — Arturo Marquez, arr. Nickels

Come Sunday — Omar Thomas

The Dog Breath Variations — Frank Zappa

Symphony No. 6 for Band — Vincent Persichetti

magneticfireflies — Augusta Read Thomas

Aurora Awakes — John Mackey

Hip Hop Etudes — Daniel Bernard Roumain

DePauw University 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

Orchestra 9-17

The DePauw University Orchestra starts the School of Music concert season in Kresge Auditorium at 3 p.m Sunday, September 17 with "Music for a Season Opener."  According to Orcenith Smith, Music Director of the Orchestra, "We are excited to channel the energy of the students into the narratives of this first concert!"  The program will feature the powerful and mysterious romantic masterpiece by Franz Schubert, Symphony No. 8, the "Unfinished," and audience favorites like Hoe Down by Copland and Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 6. The orchestra will also present American composer Anne Gebuhr’s Prelude to the opera "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" and Dance Rhythms by mid-twentieth century American Wallingford Riegger. The one-hour concert is free and open to the public.

DePauw University Orchestra

Sunday, September 17 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

Band 10-8

University Band and Orchestra Strings

Sunday, October 8 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

Join us for a combined concert from the DePauw University Band and the String Orchestra! More info coming soon!

Choir 11-2

The DePauw University School of Music is the home of 3 choral ensembles: University Chorus, Vox Animae, and the Festival Choir! This concert will feature all three ensembles performing independently as well as en masse to showcase a plethora of repertoire!

DePauw University Choirs

Thursday, November 3 • 7:30 PM • Kresge Auditorium

Percussion 11-4

Percussion and Saxophone Studio Concert

Saturday, November 4 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

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

Jazz Ensemble 11-17

As part of the yearly Jazzfest, the DePauw Jazz Ensemble will give a midday performance between workshops with high school bands and the Green Guest Artist Concert!

Jazz Ensemble Concert

Friday, November 17 • 5:30 PM • Moore Theatre

Symphonic Band 11-19

Symphonic Band

Sunday, November 19 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

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