Texas State Music Ensembles
making friends with people who share your love for music!

 
Some of the most fun, and most memorable times you will have at the Texas State School of Music is performing with, and participating in the many and varied ensembles available. Whether it's the jazz quartet you played in, the road trip the band took to Florida, a festival you played in Europe, or the outdoor concert you played in a torrential downpour, the experiences are those you'll keep forever.

Members of Texas State ensembles have the opportunity to perform throughout the United States and the world. All of our ensembles are open to any student after a placement audition, which is held the beginning of each semester.

 
Bobcat Marching Band - Pride of the Hill Country
This is not your everyday marching band! You will find the music and drills a challenge. The band performs at games, competitions, demonstrations, and festivals throughout the fall season. The Pride of the Hill Country is, "The Most Dangerous Band in the South!"
Meets during the fall semester. Auditions open to all TxState students, regardless of major.
Performs at home football games, pep rallies, and usually one out-of-town game (one credit per semester).

Wind Ensemble
Over the past twenty years, the Wind Ensemble has established itself as one of the most outstanding collegiate wind ensembles in the nation. The 50-student-member ensemble has performed for many prestigious music associations such as the Music Educators National Conference.
Meets during the fall and spring semesters. A select concert-touring ensemble of approximately 45-50 members chosen by audition from the entire student body (one
credit per semester).
Comprised of wind and percussion students performing original compositions as well as standard repertoire.

Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is a large performing ensemble, offered during the spring sememster. The ensemble plays a wide variety of literature consisting of compositions and works that are particularly valuable from an educational standpoint.
Meets during the spring semester. A select concert-touring band of approximately 60-70 members chosen by audition from the entire student body (one credit per semester).

Concert Band
The Concert Band is perfect for students who enjoy and want to continue playing in a band but don't have a great deal of time to spend preparing for auditions and rehearsals due to their academic studies.
Meets during the spring semester. Open to all university students with chair placement determined by audition (one credit per semester).

Basketball Band
Meets during the spring semester. Open to all university students. Performs at all home basketball games (one credit per semester).

Jazz Big Bands and Combos
The TxState jazz ensembles explore a full spectrum of big band sounds, ranging from classic swing to high-energy latin and funk styles. Each of the ensembles are challenging and fun, as they show off the brass, saxophone and rhythm sections, in exciting and different ways. Soloists can develop their improvisationls skills in one of the many smaller jazz combos.The Jazz Big Bands play special arrangements of contemporary popular music in various styles.

Open to all qualified university students by audition (one credit per semester).

Southwest Symphony Orchestra
The Southwest Symphony Orchestra maintains an active schedule of performances. This ensemble has performed internationally and for prestigious music associations such as the Music Educators National Conference.
Meets during the fall and spring semesters. Open to all qualified university students by audition. The repertory for this group consists of standard orchestra literature, as well as oratorio, concerto, and opera accompaniments (one credit per semester).

University Chorale
The University Chorale is the premier vocal ensemble at TxState performing for state, national and international audiences. The membership of Chorale is comprised of outstanding musicians throughout the campus from various disciplines. Repertoire for this ensemble includes works from ca. 1450 to the present with the emphasis on advanced literature.
A select chamber ensemble of approximately 25 to 30 members chosen by audition from the entire student body (one credit per semester).

University Singers
This select mixed ensemble performs masterworks from the 17th century to the present with emphasis given to larger works. With a membership of 65-70 musicians from throughout the campus, this ensemble is quickly becoming recognized regionally for its musical excellence. Good music-reading skills and musicianship are important to membership.
A select ensemble of approximately 65-70 singers chosen by audition from the entire student body. (one credit per semester). This choir performs masterworks from the 17th Century to the present.

VocaLibre
The most vibrant and dynamic of the choral ensembles, VocaLibre is quickly becoming the most recognized of the vocal groups. This ensemble features popular musical styles including vocal jazz, blues, swing tunes, hip-hop, transcriptions of instrumental works, and more!
A select vocal jazz ensemble of approximately 15 members chosen by audition from the entire student body (one credit per semester).

Panorama Steel Band
The TxState Panorama Steel Band was organized by Professor of Percussion Genaro Gonzalez in September 1989. The Panorama Steel Band features a variety of "pans" created from 55-gallon steel drums. One end of the drum is sunk to form the playing surface of the instrument. Different depths of pans result in tenor, double tenor, alto, guitar, cello, and bass sounds.
Steel drums originated on the island of Trinidad in the 1940's when Trinidad natives were forbidden to use conventional drums. A group of local musicioans "jamming" in a junkyard began beating on metal, and the steel barrels discarded by the U.S. armed forces during World War II became a promising new percussion instrument.
Since its inception in 1989, the Panorama Steel Band has performed vbefore enthusiastic audiences in a variety of settings including state music conventions, University and community events and private functions. The Panorama Steel Band was honored with an invitation to perform at the Montreux Jazz and World Music Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. In addition to performances in Switzerland, the Panorama Steel Band performed at Euro-Disney in Paris, France.

Men's and Women’s Choir
These unique ensembles are ideal for singers who wish to increase their musical skills and who enjoy ensemble singing without a required audition. The membership of each ensemble explores repertoire that is ideal for just men or women. The social aspect of each ensemble is equally important to the musical training.
A concert-touring choir of approximately 30-40 members chosen by audition from the entire student body (one credit per semester).

Gospel Expressions
This group is open to all students who enjoy traditional and contemporary gospel music. With approximately 40 members, Gospel Expressions performs numerous programs throughout Texas each year (no credit).

Salsa Del Rio
A performing ensemble specializing in Latin and South American music (one credit per semester).

Mariachi Manatial
A performing ensemble specializing in Mexican folk music (one credit per semester).

Opera/Music Theatre
The opera workshop gives students an opprtunity to participate in opera scenes and to learn techniques for operatic acting and staging.

Afro/Cuban Drum Circle
A class that focuses on the performance of ethnic percussion as well as learning about instruments and dance rhythms of Latin American and Africa (one credit per semester).