Chamber Ensembles

Are you interested in playing with our bands, orchestras, or choirs in the upcoming semester? We offer a variety of exciting performing opportunities for both music majors and non-majors of a variety of skill levels

1. Click this link: Ensembles Interest Form
2. Tell us about yourself in the form
3. We will keep you in the loop about rehearsal times, audition dates, and we'll also include videos of recent performances

Again, visit the Ensembles Interest Form for more information and we look forward to telling you about our performing ensembles.

Collegium Musicum

The Collegium Musicum, under the direction of Dr. Gordon Haramaki, is a combined vocal and instrumental ensemble dedicated to exploring the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and early Baroque through performance. The Collegium Musicum is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, as well as the larger SJSU community, and no audition is required. Participants have access to the instruments in the Vernon Reed Collection, including sackbuts, shawms, recorders, viols, cornetti, and harpsichords.

The Collegium also collaborates with Opera Theater in the Venetian Opera Company Experiment (VOCE) to perform seventeenth-century opera. Past productions include Francesco Cavalli's La Didone and L'Ormindo, and Claudio Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea. 

Brass Ensemble

Directed by Professor Tom Hornig, the University Brass Ensemble features the finest brass musicians in the School of Music and Dance. Students enjoy a varied repertoire from Renaissance transcriptions to modern compositions and jazz arrangements in a large chamber ensemble. Students are selected for this ensemble by audition only.

The Brass Ensemble rehearses on Fridays from 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM in MUS 150.

Percussion Ensemble

Directed by Professor Divesh Karamchandani, the University Percussion Ensemble features percussion musicians who are both percussion and non-percussion majors. Students enjoy the opportunity to perform a wide variety of percussion repertoire, as well as the opportunity to work on a wide variety of instruments. Students are selected for this ensemble by audition only.

The Percussion Ensemble rehearses on Fridays from 11:30 AM to 1:20 PM in the Music Concert Hall.

Guitar Ensemble

Directed by Professor Steven Lin, the Guitar Ensemble is comprised of guitarists in the School of Music and Dance as well as other students who wish to expand their performance skills. A vital component of the guitar program at San José State University, the Guitar Ensemble offers guitarists exposure to a wide range of repertoire, the benefit of collaborating in a large ensemble, and regular performance opportunities in venues on and off campus. Select members of the Guitar Ensemble are chosen each semester to perform in the community, acting as representatives of the Guitar program and the University.

The Guitar Ensemble rehearses on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:20 PM.

Saxophone Ensemble

The Saxophone Ensemble has a tradition at SJSU that goes back to the early 1970's of performing music of all eras and musical styles. Directed by Dr. Michael Hernandez, the University Saxophone Ensemble features the finest saxophone players in the School of Music and Dance. Musicianship, ensemble skills phrasing, style, tonal control, pitch discrimination and technical development are stressed in a two hour weekly rehearsal. Students are also given the opportunity to develop their playing skills on all the members of the saxophone family, from sopranino to bass.

In addition, students participate in saxophone quartets, quintets or trios to develop chamber music performance, leadership and listening skills. These groups will work on their own during and outside of the class with occasional coaching by the director. Students are selected for this ensemble by audition only.

The Saxophone Ensemble rehearses on Tuesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in MUS 150.

Clarinet Ensemble

The SJSU Clarinet ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Janet Averett, has performed numerous concerts since its establishment in 1986. This ensemble provides chamber music opportunities for players in a large clarinet choir as well as in smaller duos, trios, and clarinet quartets. The repertory consists of arrangements of all styles and genres, going as far back as Bach and as current as the mid-late 20^th century. The group also performs high quality original compositions.

This ensemble is open to anyone by audition, is required for clarinet majors, and meets Fridays from 10:30 AM-12:20 PM in Room 186. The meeting time can also include guest artists, clarinet master classes on solo repertory and performance, as well discussion of pedagogical topics. Performances consist of at least one full concert a semester, plus a performance of one short work in the SJSU Kaleidoscope concert every October.

Chamber Music Ensemble

All instrumental students may participate in Chamber Music and receive weekly coachings. Students perform in trios (with or without piano), string quartets, and other combinations from the chamber music repertoire. Students offer concerts each semester, and are often invited to perform in additional studio concerts.