Chamber Ensembles
Woodwind Ensembles
SIUE offers several woodwind chamber groups for both undergraduate and graduate students under the heading of MUS 355b. These include Flute Choir, Woodwind Quintet, Saxophone Quartet, Clarinet Quartet, and various combinations of string and wind chamber ensembles. The goals of the rehearsals and concerts are:
- To provide experience in small instrumental ensembles.
- To foster communication skills in public performance, master classes, school and recital venues.
- To evoke critical thinking and independent reasoning regarding choice of literature, rehearsals and communication ideas.
- To encourage personal development, self-confidence, and responsibility for decisions and results.
- To emphasize performance aspects as related to large ensemble participation, including intonation, ensemble pulse and listening, solo vs. accompanying dynamics, and articulation.
Each group meets one to two times per week for rehearsals and coachings with numerous performances both on and off campus in local and state venues. We have visited several schools in Chicago and scheduled a St. Louis/Metro-East tour every year.
The ensembles are relaxed and fun and are a great showcase for some of our best student talent. Come join one of our groups and see how nice playing chamber music can be!
SIUE Trumpet Ensemble
The SIUE Trumpet Ensemble is an extension of the trumpet studio and specializes in the performance of both present-day and historical trumpet literature. Boasting nine Naumann natural (valveless) trumpets, it is one of the few trumpet ensembles in the Midwest that features large group performances of 17th-19th century repertoire on historically authentic instruments. The ensemble was selected to perform at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, an honor given to only 14 collegiate ensembles nationwide. In addition to annual recitals, the SIUE Trumpet Ensemble has worked with famed English trumpeter and music historian Crispian Steele-Perkins, Philip Smith, Susan Slaughter and Leonard Candelaria. It was featured in a performance at the Ohio Theater during a concert of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
The ensemble is composed of music majors and minors and provides students an opportunity to perform music using multiple trumpets (Bb, C, Eb, piccolo, flugelhorn, cornet) in a wide variety of music styles.
