Loyola’s Music Ensembles

Whether you have a bass voice for the choir or a bass trombone for the orchestra or the wind ensemble; Loyola has countless musical ensemble classes that the school offers. Open to students of all majors, interests, and backgrounds; music is the living and driving force that brings all these students together to make beautiful music together. Under the direction of esteemed and professional faculty members, these professors are truly dedicated to their students and their craft. Throughout the academic year, there are many different themed concerts often in accordance with the season. For example, every year during the holiday season, the music department puts on Joyola, an annual musical concert where members of all ensembles (choirs, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and orchestra) perform holiday classics and tunes for members of the Loyola community and the greater community. In addition, last year, Loyola held its first Night at the Opera where both students from the orchestra and the choirs performed classic pieces from Operas and Broadway i.e. Puccini’s Humming Chorus (Madame Butterfly) to Roger’s and Hammerstein’s “There’s Nothing like a Dame” (South Pacific).

Wind Ensemble: Under the direction of Dr. Frederick Lowe, the Wind Ensemble is a group of students who play both traditional and contemporary band literature. This group is composed of typically 50 students and is open to all from freshmen to seniors. The Wind Ensemble usually plays with either the Percussion Ensemble or the Orchestra. As with the other musical courses, this course fulfills parts of Loyola’s Core Curriculum, that all students have to take during their time here at Loyola. To get in the ensemble, there are auditions at the beginning of each semester to determine seating for that musical season. Dr. Lowe is also the director for the Band of Wolves, the school’s Pep Band that plays for basketball games.

http://www.luc.edu/music/academics/ensembles/wind-ensemble/ 

Jazz Ensemble: Under the direction of Professor Scott Burns, the Jazz Ensemble is divided up with the ensemble group and the Jazz Combo under the direction of Professor Anthony Molinaro. These groups continue to promote jazz training with improvisation, music theory, etc. The jazz group typically plays standards of jazz literature with: Duke Ellington and Count Basie and so much more.

http://www.luc.edu/music/academics/ensembles/jazz-ensemble/

Orchestra: Under the direction of Dr. Colin Holman, the Orchestra is a musical group that plays a combination of classical music from an array of composers and disciplines (i.e. operas, overtures, etc.) This group usually performs with the Wind Ensemble and/or the Choir. Like the Wind Ensemble, the ensemble requires an audition process to determine seating.

http://www.luc.edu/music/academics/ensembles/orchestra/

Choirs: Under the direction of Professor Kirsten Hedegaard, there are several choirs at Loyola depending on the student’s level and experience: Women’s Chorus, Chamber Choir, and University Chorale. Many of these groups practice on vocal techniques and mastery of different choir literature and skills. This Choirs usually perform together during the Joyola concert or separately at different times, but this depends on the Choir. Sometimes, the choir is given an opportunity to travel abroad to perform. For example, this coming spring of 2017, the choirs will be performing in Italy. There is also a Choir class, Schola Cantorum, under the direction of Professor Steven Betancourt, a collection of 24 students that perform challenging Choir music from a Roman Catholic mass.

http://www.luc.edu/music/academics/ensembles/universitychorale/