At RIT, you’ll have the opportunity to study and perform in six music ensembles that offer academic credit (Orchestra, Concert Band, two Jazz Ensembles, RIT Singers, and the World Music Ensemble), and one ensemble that is non-credited (RIT Flute Ensemble).
Whether you want to get involved in a music ensemble or just simply enjoy them as a spectator, RIT’s performing arts have something to offer everyone!
Auditions for each ensemble are typically held at the beginning of each semester. Please contact the respective ensemble Director for further information on each of the RIT Music Program ensembles!
Concert Band
The RIT Concert band is a large instrumental ensemble that performs a wide range of literature for winds and percussion, including traditional marches, wind ensemble pieces, musical medleys, and orchestral transcriptions. The group performs at least one formal concert per semester, as well as several special events throughout the academic year. Academic credit is granted for successful participation in Concert Band
For more information: https://www.rit.edu/cla/finearts/music/rit-concert-band
Gospel Ensemble
The RIT Gospel Ensemble welcomes RIT faculty, staff, students, and alumni, as well as members of the other colleges in the Rochester community. The ensemble meetings are held every Monday during the RIT semester at 5:30pm in Jones Chapel (Schmitt Interfaith Center on RIT Campus).
For more information: https://www.rit.edu/cla/finearts/music/rit-gospel-ensemble
Jazz Ensemble
The RIT Jazz Ensembles provide the opportunity for students to become familiar with and perform a variety of musical styles associated with American Jazz. These include Swing, Blues, Fusion, Dixieland, Samba, Bossa-Nova, Ballads, and Ragtime. Over the course of the academic year, these groups will prepare and perform an assortment of compositions for both traditional big bands, as well as small groups. Academic credit is granted for successful participation in Jazz Ensemble
For more information: http://www.rit.edu/cla/finearts/music/rit-jazz-ensemble
Orchestra
The RIT Orchestra performs three major concerts per year of standard orchestra repertoire. In addition, students from the orchestra have the opportunity to play in a variety of chamber ensembles. Participation is by audition. Academic credit is granted for successful participation in Orchestra
For more information: https://www.rit.edu/cla/ritorch/
RIT Singers
RIT’s primary choral group performs vocal works dating from the Middle Ages to the present. There is one major performance per quarter and several smaller events throughout the year. A select number of students from this group are chosen each year to perform in a variety of small vocal ensembles and in men’s and women’s a cappella groups. Academic credit is granted for successful participation in RIT Singers
For more information: https://www.rit.edu/cla/finearts/music/rit-singers
African Percussion & Dance Ensemble (World Music Ensemble)
A multi-cultural ensemble of instrumentalists, singers, and dancers organized to explore and perform a variety of music and dance from cultures around the world. The cultures to be studied will be dependent on enrollment. Participants native to the represented cultures will be enlisted to assist in the teaching of basic performance practices and concepts. Enrollment is open to all students, faculty, and staff, who are competent instrumentalists, singers and/or dancers from both Western and non-Western traditions. Auditions will be held to assess proper placement. Academic credit is granted for successful participation in African Percussion & Dance Ensemble
For more information: http://www.rit.edu/cla/finearts/music/world-music-ensemble
Flute Ensemble
The RIT Flute Ensemble provides weekly chamber and small ensemble experience for RIT flutists. Drawing from the vast repertoire of music for flute choir, students play a variety of music from different styles and perform several times a year. Students have the opportunity to play the entire family of flutes (C-flute, Piccolo, Alto Flute, and Bass flute). Please note: this is a non-credited ensemble.
For more information: https://www.rit.edu/cla/finearts/music/rit-flute-ensemble
Steelband Ensemble
This course is designed for beginning musicians who wish to understand the fundamentals of music and performance through the performance of steel drums. The instructor/band director will instruct students using both western music pedagogy and rote learning techniques that emerge from Caribbean music traditions. In addition to studying instrumental technique and individual band parts, students will learn about the history and development of the instrument from its roots in African drumming, its evolution through found instruments and discarded oil barrels, to its modern form and practice. Prior instruction is not required.
For more information, please contact the instructor: Ted Canning, panloco@rochester.rr.com
Guitar Ensemble
This course is designed for beginning guitarists who wish to understand the fundamentals of music and performance through the guitar. Prior instruction is not required. Basic skills such as chord strumming, tablature notation, improvisation, and ensemble playing will be covered. Students are required to have their own instrument. The use of a classical guitar nylon-string is highly recommended for the purposes of this course, but acoustic guitars (steel-string) will be accepted. Upon completing this course, students may continue their studies on the guitar through lessons (FNRT-256).
For more information, please contact the instructor: Sungmin Shin, sungguitar@gmail.com
