This full-sized orchestra performs concerts of the standard repertoire, Young Peoples Concerts, and a Pops concert. The group also sponsors an annual soloist competition and the New Jersey High School Orchestra Festival each spring. Membership is open to University students and members of the community by audition.

The String Ensemble offers a specialized performing opportunity for those playing the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. No audition is necessary and all Rowan students and members of the community who have had string experience may participate. The String Ensemble is also a credit-bearing General Education course.

The Wind Ensemble performs two key functions. It prepares instrumentalists for the professional world of large ensemble performance and future teachers in the concepts of band repertoire and performance. During the 75-minute rehearsal three times per week, the director demonstrates standard rehearsal techniques used throughout the profession. Wind Ensemble challenges students and introduces them to standard repertoire as well as new music written for symphonic bands. The focus of the Wind Ensemble is the exploration of university-level repertoire of serious artistic merit. Two concerts per semester provide students with a large and varied body of music requiring the highest level of artistry. Membership is determined by auditions held annually at the start of the fall semester.

The Rowan University Concert Band rehearses twice each week. This ensemble is open to music majors, non-music majors, exceptional high school students (with recommendation from their high school band director and acceptance by the university director), and community musicians who wish to hone their performance skills. This ensemble was designed to serve as a musical training experience for players who are not quite ready for the ambitious demands placed upon members of the Rowan University Wind Ensemble.

Dr. John Pastin
Conductor

Consisting of percussion majors, this ensemble is one of the most active music organizations on campus. Recent tours have included the Eastman School of Music, the University of Delaware, Penn State University, and Queens College (NYC) as well as frequent visits to local public schools. The group has recorded five CDs and regularly commissions new music.

The guitar program has been an important part of the music department since 1972. Rowan guitar students may also study early instruments such as the lute, the vihuela de mano and the mandolin. The guitar ensemble performs works for guitar trio, quartet, and larger groups.

Saxophone Ensemble

The Rowan Men's Chorus, "STATESMEN" is made up of men from across campus and beyond. This dynamic arts ensemble (rehearses TR 4:45-6:00) performs interesting and exciting music each semester in Boyd Recital Hall and Pfleeger Concert Hall. This ensemble focuses on music fundamentals, score reading and techniques to improve the singing voice. Both music and non-music majors are invited to join. There is no requirement for music reading to become a part of the STATESMEN, but only a willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic and fun group at Rowan.

The Rowan Women's Chorus (or "WOCHO" [woh-koh]) is an ensemble focused on treble choir literature, healthy vocal production, music reading and a cohesive, friendly learning environment. WOCHO rehearses twice a week (TR 12:15-1:30) and is a non-auditioned group open to all female students, faculty and staff. The group performs each season in the beautiful Pfleeger Concert Hall or Boyd Recital Hall. There is no requirement for music reading to become a part of WOCHO, but only a willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic and fun group of Rowan women.

The Rowan University Opera Company is a performance ensemble of the Department of Music directed by Professor Marian Stieber. The company originated with the Hollybush Opera Festival of the 1970's and maintains a membership of about 40 members. The company presents fully-staged productions with orchestra every April, and then an opera scenes program in November. The Rowan Opera Company is committed to bringing quality productions to the University community as well as to the surrounding community of South Jersey.

This ensemble performs selections ranging from experimental concepts on the "cutting edge" to more traditional contemporary repertoire as well as improvisation. It also features premiers of works by Rowan student composers.

Douglas Mapp
Program Coordinator

Denis DiBlasio
Douglas Mapp
Tom Giacabetti
Jim Miller
George Rabbai
Ensemble Directors