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Mansfield has a large variety of student musical groups in which you can participate. Our ensembles provide important, life-changing musical experiences for all who participate. Plus, skills learned from ensemble participation equip you for leadership roles after you've left Mansfield. The following music organizations are open to all Mansfield University students regardless of major area of study or class standing. Auditions for select ensembles are held during the first days of class each semester.
Concert Choir
The Concert Choir is a highly select ensemble of singers, representing some of the finest talent from the American Northeast. The group has achieved an impressive reputation of excellence, having been chosen each of the last eighteen years to perform at conventions or festivals: the Pennsylvania Music Educators State Conference; the Eastern Division Music Educators National Conference; the Music Educators National Convention; the American Choral Directors Association Pennsylvania State Conference, and the ACDA Eastern Division Convention. On the international stage, the choir was a finalist in the Florilège Vocal de Tours International Choral Festival in Tours, France; a winner of a Gold Medal and a special prize for “Artistic Interpretation” at the Robert Schumann International Choir Competition in Zwickau, Germany; and among the top four choirs in the International Choir Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. They also performed by invitation at the Inaugural Conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization in San Antonio, Texas, and returned in 2009 to appear in performance at the NCCO Third Biennial Conference. In 2008, the Concert Choir won the Championship in the Gospel & Spiritual Category and placed second among 36 choirs in the Mixed Youth Choir Category at the 2008 World Choir Games in Graz, Austria. The singers are frequently praised for the emotional spectrum in their performances, their diverse vocal color, and their varied repertoire.
Listen to the podcast about our gold-winning performances at the 2008 World Choir Games!
Festival Chorus
The Mansfield University Festival Chorus is a mixed chorus of over 100 voices which is open to all university students as well as community singers. The group rehearses three hours a week and performs a wide variety of choral styles in the fall semester and major choral works during the spring semester. Large scale performances with orchestra and professional soloists include Handel's Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Orff's Carmina Burana, Haydn's Creation , Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Vaughan Williams’s Dona nobis pacem, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, and the Requiems by Brahms, Fauré, Mozart, Rutter, and Verdi. Members of the group also join with the Concert Choir to form separate women's and men's choruses in the fall semester. The Festival Chorus has produced nine compact discs and numerous cassette recordings. Students must vocalize for placement into the soprano, alto, tenor, or bass sections.
Mansfieldians
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The Mansfieldians is a highly select ensemble of twelve singers which specializes in vocal jazz as well as madrigals and music for the vocal chamber ensemble. The Mansfieldians tour with the Mansfield University Jazz Ensemble each year and present dinner concerts during the holiday season. They rehearse three hours a week and make frequent guest appearances on behalf of the university. The Mansfieldians have performed at the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division Convention in Philadelphia, the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Eastern Division Conference in Providence, RI, at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) State Conference in Hershey, PA, and in the 2006 Vocal Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall with conductor, Phil Mattson. In 2008, they won the Jazz Vocal A Cappella Category at the World Choir Games in Graz, Austria. Dr. Sheryl Monkelien directs their vocal jazz selections, and Dr. Peggy Dettwiler directs the chamber music they perform. An audition is required for membership.
Concert Wind Ensemble
Concert Wind Ensemble - A select group of approximately 48 woodwind, brass, and percussion players who perform wind and percussion literature. The MU Concert Wind Ensemble performs four to five times annually on campus. In addition, the ensemble tours for three days during the Fall semester and performs at regional conventions and special events." Membership is not limited to music majors, but an audition is required. Recent literature performed by the group includes Joseph Schwantner's "and the mountains rising nowhere," James Barnes "Symphony No. 3," David Maslanka's "A Child's Garden of Dreams," Johann de Meij's "Symphony No. 1 Lord of the Rings," and Paul Hindemith's "Symphony in Bb."
Symphony Orchestra
The MU Symphony Orchestra, has won the acclaim of audiences both locally and on tour for their exciting and energetic performances. The orchestra performs classical masterworks, light classics, pops, and contemporary compositions in addition to accompanying soloists who are winners of the annual Student Solo Competition.
Off-campus appearances include Corning Community College, Lycoming College Noon Series, and performances at Pennsylvania schools in Hanover, Canton, Johnstown, Williamsport, Lewisburg, and Athens and Elmira, Corning and Horseheads in New York.
The Mansfield University Orchestra was selected to perform at the State Capitol as part of “2000 Music In Our Schools Month”. It is exciting to note that the Mansfield Orchestra is the first university ensemble to receive an invitation from PMEA to perform at the state capitol. Guest soloists often perform with the orchestra such as the Hamilton-Gibson Children’s Choir, Wellsboro Women’s Chorus and Mansfield University faculty. Dr. Will George Butler founded the MU Orchestra, establishing a tradition of excellence at Mansfield University. It was Dr. Butler who started the first All-State Orchestra in Pennsylvania. Such American dignitaries as John Phillip Sousa, Richard Franko Goldman, and Howard Hanson recognized his music. The Mansfield University Symphony Orchestra is under the baton of Dr. Jeffrey Jacobsen. Click here for for more information or an application for the Mansfield University High School Concerto Competition.
Mansfield University Jazz Ensemble
MU Jazz Ensemble - The Mansfield University Jazz Ensemble is a select group of 20 students under the direction of Dr. Michael Galloway. Membership is open by audition. This outstanding ensemble has recently been an award winning band at the Villanova Jazz Festival and has also been honored with two recent appearances at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State Conference, as well an MENC Regional Convention in Rochester, New York. They have also been featured in a performance in Harrisburg in a concert sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz and have been guests at several Pennsylvania District Jazz Festivals.
In conjuction with the Mansfieldians (MU vocal jazz ensemble), they have recently released their third CD and their first all jazz CD - Hourglass. In addition, they make annual tours which have taken them throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania and much of New York, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.
The MU Jazz Ensemble also hosts the annual Mansfield University Jazz Festival. Recent guest artists at the festival include such names as Lew Soloff, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Kenny Warner, Chris Potter, The Airmen of Note, DIVA, Ryan Kisor and Michael Davis.
Jazz Lab Band
Added to the department in 1999, the Jazz Lab Band is comprised of music majors and non music majors who wish to further their experiences in jazz performance. This group performs on campus two to three times per year. Membership is by audition but to afford opportunities to more students there are alternate positions available.
Symphonic Band
Spring Semester - The Symphonic Band is under the direction the Assistant Director of Bands,
Dr. Nathan Rinnert. This ensemble meets in the Spring semester and is open to all interested students. This 75+ member ensemble performs standard literature for symphonic bands. Auditions are held at the beginning of the semester to determine seating and part assignments. The Symphonic Band is involved in two to three concerts each Spring. Perhaps most notable of the concerts by this group is the student conductor's competition concert held in mid February. Up to six undergraduate and graduate students are chosen by audition to rehearse and conduct the Symphonic Band in preparation for this concert.
The Spirit and the Pride of Pennsylvania Marching Band
Ensembles
Announcements
- Interested in Auditioning for the Spring Musical? Click here.
- Listen to the Podcast of Choir's Gold-Medal Winning Performances! Part 1 - Part 2
- Current and Incoming Music Students - Visit the new Student Resources Page
- Interested in Student Organizations?
Upcoming Events
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Contact Us
Music Department
Butler Music Center
Mansfield University
Mansfield, PA 16933
Dr. Shellie Gregorich, Chairperson
570 - 662 - 4714
Ms. Suzy Achey, Secretary
570 - 662 - 4710
Fax: 570 - 662 - 4114