Cheer to the ear

You don’t need to be a music major to be involved in the music scene on the New Paltz campus. The chorale and band ensembles program is open to all students regardless of major, and the College-Community Chorale draws its members from both the student body and the larger New Paltz community.

Serving as an excellent way to showcase the assemblage of ensembles – from chorale to instrumental, this December the Music Program will ring in the holiday season with a wide variety of performances that range from the Collegium Musicum’s presentation of Renaissance songs and dances, to the College-Youth Symphony’s performance of the “Lord of the Rings” symphony by Johan de Meij, which is based on themes from the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“The SUNY New Paltz Symphonic Band is comprised of dedicated, talented musicians from all majors and concentrations on campus,” said Joël Evans, conductor and assistant professor of music. “I’m inspired and energized by their artistry.”

If chorale and symphony are not your bag, the College also has a burgeoning jazz ensemble under the direction of Mark Dziuba, Jazz Studies program director. And the newest jazz performing group, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, performs regularly on and off campus with an instrument rhythm section.

In addition, the Music Program has begun planning for the 15th year of PianoSummer, an international summer institute and festival dedicated solely to piano music, under the artistic direction of master pianist and Professor Vladimir Feltsman.