The Department of Music has a variety of thriving music ensembles that perform regularly, both on and off campus. These include Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Concert Choir, State Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Woodwind Ensemble. Participation is open to students from all academic majors who sing or play an instrument and want to meet new people, improve their musicianship, and be a part of exciting performances. Please come join!
Please visit the WVSU Music Facebook page for information about upcoming concerts and other events.
WVSU CHOIRS
WVSU is a great place for students who love to sing. The Department of Music has two choirs for WVSU students, State A Cappella and the State Singers vocal ensemble.
STATE A CAPPELLA
State A Cappella is open to all students who love to sing and enjoy performing at a high level of excellence. The choir performs choral music from a wide variety of styles, including classical, folk song, African American spirituals, and world music, but with an emphasis on music theatre, jazz, and pop arrangements in the university A Cappella tradition. Any interested student is encouraged to register for MUS 150. There will be a short (and not scary!) screening audition during the first week of class. Please contact the music departmnet for additional information at arts.humanities@wvstateu.edu
State A Cappella presents two concerts on campus each semester and performs frequently at campus events and community events throughout the Kanawha Valley. It also performs as an invited choir with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra on their annual “Songs of the Season” holiday pops concert and in major choral/orchestral works performed on their Symphonic Series. Past collaborations have also included serving as guest choir on the WVSO’s Pops series concerts “The Music of Queen” and “Video Game Live.”
STATE SINGERS
The State Singers is an auditioned touring ensemble of 8-12 singers that specializes in vocal jazz and performs other styles of music intended for small vocal ensemble. Auditions occur in the first two days of each semester, and participation typically requires a full-year commitment. The State Singers act as ambassadors for the University and frequently perform off campus for important community and cultural events. The choir also tours each spring. Recent tours have taken the group to New York City, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, St. Louis, Cleveland, and Mobile. They recently performed at the Southern Division American Choral Directors Conference as members of the HBCU Honor Choir.
PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
Percussion Ensemble is the primary way a percussionist cultivates chamber music skills. The students will perform repertoire from various genres of music in ensembles ranging from duets to large ensemble pieces needing 10 or more players. One main concert is held at the end of each semester with other outreach performances possible.
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
The WVSU Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, which is comprised of WVSU students, community members, and the Universities’ musicians in residence, the Montclaire String Quartet, performs throughout the academic semester on campus and in the greater Charleston area. The orchestra represents the University in performance in festival performances such as the Viennese Masters Festival at Carnegie Hall in New York on June 22nd, 2018. Open to all WVSU students and members of the Charleston community.
MARCHING BAND
The Yellow Jacket Marching band performs during the Fall semester at all home football games, parades, and special invitational events, such as high school marching band festivals.
SYMPHONIC WIND ENSEMBLE
One of the state’s finest collegiate wind ensembles, this ensemble offers students an opportunity to perform and study music in a variety of styles through the medium of a large wind band, including the standard repertoire for band and popular selections of the 20th century.
JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Well known as one of West Virginia’s finest college jazz bands, the jazz ensemble enjoys performing and touring throughout the region. Past tours include Austria and Washington, D.C. Open to all WVSU students by audition.
CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
The Music Department offers various chamber ensembles for students to participate in. These include the Percussion Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, and the audition-only vocal ensemble, State Singers.