Webster University offers you numerous top-quality jazz and classical, vocal, and instrumental ensembles. Regardless of your major field of study, you'll find your place in a Webster ensemble! Prospective students are always welcomed to attend rehearsals and are admitted to all concerts at no charge.

Auditions for all ensembles take place during the first week of classes during the fall semester. Rehearsals begin as soon as the ensemble personnel is determined. Audition information is posted in the Thompson Music Building. You may also contact the Music Office (314-968-7032) or the individual ensemble directors for audition details. Each ensemble presents a variety of programs during the academic year, both on and off campus or on tour. Please see the Department of Music Performance Calendar for concert information.


Choral and Vocal Ensembles    

Webster University Chorale
MUSC 4910/01, 1 hour

The Chorale, our flagship choral ensemble, is a highly select chamber choir, which performs choral masterpieces from the Renaissance through contemporary periods. The Chorale rehearses on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00-12:50 p.m. Auditions are scheduled during the first week of classes with the ensemble director, Dr. Kathryn Smith Bowers, 314-968-7035.

Webster University Concert Choir
MUSC 4900/01, 1 hour

The Concert Choir is open to all enthusiastic student singers. This 40-voice ensemble performs works from a wide spectrum of choral literature and rehearses on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00-12:50 pm in the Community Music School. Auditions are held during the first week of rehearsals.
 

Webster University Camerata Singers
MUSC 4950/07, 1 hour

The Camerata Singers is an ensemble for one-on-a-part singing. The group performs choral music from the Renaissance through contemporary eras, including popular music and jazz. The ensemble rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00-11:50 a.m.  The ensemble is an elective, and may not be used to fulfill major ensemble degree requirements.
 

Webster University Choral Society
MUSC 4920/01, 1 hour

Open to singers in the University and metropolitan community, this 60-voice ensemble rehearses on each Tuesday evening during the school year. Members of this choir represent all ages and walks of life. An optional class in sight-singing is held preceding many rehearsals.

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The Webster University Chorale, Concert Choir, and Choral Society join together annually to perform works such as the Brubeck La Fiesta de la Posada, Haydn St. Therese Mass, Bach St. John Passion, Brahms Requiem, Mendelssohn Symphony #2, Mozart Requiem, and the Poulenc Gloria. The ensembles presented the Midwest premiere of CHAKA in conjunction with the Saint Louis African Chorus.  

Webster University Opera Studio
MUSC 4990/01, 1 hour

The Opera Studio is a highly select ensemble of singers that presents complete works and scenes from the Baroque through contemporary periods twice annually. The ensemble rehearses on Monday afternoons from 3:00-5:50 pm in the Thompson Recital Hall and frequently works with renowned guest directors. The Opera Studio receives major assistance from The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in each of its productions. Both of these distinguished professional companies are in housed at Webster University. For information, contact Professor Alice Nelson, Opera Studio director, 314-968-7032.
 

Webster University Jazz Singers
MUSC 4950/03, 1 hour

The Jazz Singers is a highly select group of 16 vocalists (SATB) and instrumentalists. Debby Lennon, one of St. Louis’s most distinguished singers and teachers, is the ensemble director. The Jazz Singers perform works from arrangers and composers such as Gene Puerling, Paris Rutherford, and Steve Zegree, as well as groups including Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, and Rare Silk. The ensemble performed works by Webster faculty composer Kim Portnoy on texts by e. e. cummings at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in New Orleans. For more information, contact Professor Lennon, 314-968-7032.


Jazz Ensembles  

Webster University Jazz Ensembles
MUSC 4960/01, 1 hour

The Jazz Ensembles are combos of three to eight members, directed by a faculty member or graduate teaching assistant. Each combo rehearses once weekly for two hours from 3:00-5:00 pm. The combos perform a wide range of music from composers such as Coltrane, Corea, Davis, Ellington, Liebman, Mingus, Parker, Shorter and Silver. Students work on improvisation, ensemble balance and interaction, and stylistic awareness. Combo members are required to attend the Monday jazz master class from 3:00-4:15 pm in the Community Music School. Each combo performs on these programs regularly and on the Monday night jazz concert series. Auditions are held the first Wednesday of each semester in the Music Annex at 3:00 pm. For more information contact Professor Paul DeMarinis, director of jazz studies, 314-968-7032.
 

Webster University Big Band
MUSC 4970/01, 1 hour

The Big Band is an 18-piece ensemble that performs literature from all style periods of jazz, including composers such as Corea, Davis, Ellington, Holman, Jones, Nelson, and Wheeler. Focus is placed on developing individual skills of improvisation, reading, stylistic awareness and ensemble interaction. Rehearsals are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00-1:50 pm in the Community Music School. Auditions are held on the first Wednesday of each semester in the Music Annex at 3:00 pm. For more information, contact the ensemble directors, Professor James Martin, 314-968-7032.

Webster University "Mini" Big Band
MUSC 4960/01, 1 hour

The "Mini" Big Band, an 11-piece ensemble that combines the sophistication of modern jazz with techniques borrowed from various composition techniques and aleatoric improvisation. Works by Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Thelonious Monk, and Wayne Shorter as well as student compositions are regularly performed. The ensemble personnel is heavily involved in the arranging of each work, with a major emphasis placed upon solo improvisation and group interaction.

Instrumental Ensembles

Webster University Symphony Orchestra
MUSC 4940/01, 1 hour

The Webster University Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble of outstanding student, faculty and professional musicians. The ensemble presents six programs during each academic year and also performs for the winter Opera Studio production. The orchestra functions on a professional basis with limited rehearsals for each performance. Hence, members are expected to be technically prepared! Rehearsals are held on specific Tuesday evenings from 7:00-10:00 pm in the Desmond Lee Concert Hall of the Community Music School of Webster University. For more information contact Dr. Allen Carl Larson, ensemble conductor, 314-968-7040. Brochure
 

Webster University Wind Ensemble
MUSC 4980/01, 1 hour

The Wind Ensemble is open to all Webster University woodwind, brass and percussion students by audition. The Wind Ensemble is a modular ensemble that performs literature from the Renaissance through Contemporary eras, with four separate groups directed by a professional artist/conductor, as well as the full ensemble. The ensembles consist of the Chamber Winds directed by Prof. Jan Gippo, Saxophone Quartet directed by Prof. Michael Karpowicz, Brass Ensemble directed by Prof. James Martin, and the Percussion Ensemble directed by Prof. Henry Claude. The ensembles rehearse simultaneously on Monday afternoons from 4:30-6:00 pm and present four concerts annually. For more information, contact the Wind Ensemble Director, Professor James Martin, 314-968-7032.
 

Webster University New Music Ensemble
MUSC 4950/06, 1 hour

The New Music Ensemble explores contemporary acoustic, electronic, MIDI and improvisational works by Webster students and faculty, as well as major composers from the 20th and 21st century. Membership is open to instrumentalists and singers from rock, classical and jazz backgrounds. The ensemble rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Music Annex. Auditions are held during the first Tuesday class meeting. For more information, contact Joseph Neske, ensemble director, 314-968-7032. 

Webster University Chamber Music Ensembles

The Department of Music also offers the following classical chamber music ensembles: the Guitar Ensemble the String Quartet, the String Enemble, and the String & Piano Ensemble, directed by Professor Daniel Schene. Enrollment in these ensembles is by permission of the appropriate instructor. Contact the music office at 314-968-7032 for more information.
 

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Webster University ensemble members are expected to attend each scheduled rehearsal and performance. A detailed syllabus, containing specific rehearsal guidelines and performance dates, is published at the beginning of each semester. Barring unforeseen circumstances, this schedule is followed without deviation. See the Department of Music Performance Calendar for concert schedules. As stated in the Department of Music Student Handbook, participation in a Webster University ensemble takes precedence over outside activities. Students must avoid personal or professional conflicts at all cost.