American Roots Ensemble
Sarah Wilfong Joblin, director
The American Roots Ensemble invites students to bring a sense of curiosity and can-do spirit to explore the world of American roots music, including styles such as bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, early gospel, and early country through string band instruments—fiddle, banjo, dobro, guitar, mandolin, bass—and voice. Experienced practitioners, new players, and students from all areas of campus are welcome to enroll. The American Roots Ensemble has performed at the Sisters Folk Festival (Sisters, OR) and Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival (Seattle, WA), and performs regularly at SOMD and at pop-up events around campus.
UO Percussion Ensemble
Pius Cheung, Associate Professor of Percussion
UO Percussion Ensemble is a vital part of our percussion program. Repertoire range from percussion classics and transcriptions to contemporary works by 20th/21st-century composers. Percussion students at the SOMD engage in a vibrant performance environment both on and off-campus
Oregon Composers Forum
Robert Kyr, faculty advisor
The Oregon Composer's Forum is a group of graduate-student composers at the University of Oregon that is committed to the creation and performance of new music. The forum is designed to help prepare students for careers in composition through public presentations of their works, holding open rehearsals of newly composed pieces, actively discussing current issues in the world of composition, and hosting formal concerts of new music.
Collegium Musicum
Joyce Chen, director
The Collegium Musicum is a unique ensemble that specializes in the study and performance of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music. Students have the opportunity to sing and play music that is outside the common concert hall repertoire. Since the repertoire is vast and quite varied, sight reading is an important component of the class activities. The use of the University's collection of historic instruments is always an important element in the activities of this ensemble. Audition or instructor approval is required.
Hip Hop Ensemble
Sean Peterson, director
The Hip Hop Ensemble brings together instrumentalists, emcees, DJs, and producers to create cover versions of classic tracks as well as original music in a variety of hip hop styles. The ensemble, which is open to both majors and non-majors, rehearses weekly and performs regularly at venues and special events both on and off the UO campus. Auditions are held at the beginning of each term that the ensemble is offered.
Rock and Funk Ensemble
Sean Peterson, director
The Rock and Funk Ensemble brings together instrumentalists and singers to create original songs as well as cover versions of classic recordings in a variety of styles. The ensemble, which is open to both majors and non-majors, rehearses weekly and performs at least once per term. Auditions for the year are held during Week of Welcome; contact Sean Peterson to join in winter or spring terms (also by audition).
Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble
Mike Grose, director
In addition to the standard weekly lesson (1 hour), there is studio class (1 hour), and tuba/euphonium ensemble (1 hour), all of which adds up to 3 hours each week of student/teacher contact. Members are expected to work hard, however, there is much opportunity for fun and camaraderie. For more information visit tubapeople.com.
Student AD Hoc Ensembles
Students are welcome and encouraged to found, manage, and participate in noncredit performing organizations. Ensembles may be overseen by a faculty member, but are independent of the UO School of Music and Dance. Examples include the Eugene Contemporary Chamber Ensemble (ECCE), the Sospiro vocal ensemble, and a cappella ensembles such as On the Rocks, Divisi, and Mind the Gap.
Pacific Rim Gamelan
Robert Kyr, director
The Pacific Rim Gamelan performs on the beautiful instruments of Gamelan Suranadi Sari Indra Putra, donated to the school in 1986 by John and Claudia Lynn of Eugene. The ensemble is a multicultural composing and performing orchestra, and works composed by its members use instruments from around the world, as well as gamelan instruments. The School of Music and Dance is the only institution in the nation to include an ensemble of this kind as an integral part of its curriculum.