All musical ensembles listed below are open to both music majors and non-majors. An audition is required to join all ensembles, except as noted. Membership in an ensemble earns one academic credit per semester, and is required for all music major degree programs.

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WIND ENSEMBLE
Director:David Norris

The SU Wind Ensemble performs two classical music concerts per semester and also serves the University by performing at its annual Commencement ceremony. The Wind Ensemble exposes students and audiences to as rich and diverse a classical music repertoire as possible while maintaining a commitment to the tenets of a liberal arts education. Students learn to combine artistic expression with disciplined performance practice and to incorporate historical and theoretical knowledge into their understanding of the musical arts.

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY JAZZ BAND
Director: Christopher Washington

The SU Jazz Band presents the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to perform in a jazz ensemble while gaining exposure to idiomatic performance practices and other commercial music genres. Students perform in at least one public concert every semester, featuring the music of noted jazz composers such as Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk and others.

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA
Director: Ruben Balboa

The SU Orchestra performs two classical music concerts per semester and also combines forces on occasion with the SU Musical Theater, Chorale and Opera Theatre programs.

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY CHORALE
Director: Bonnie Sneed

The purpose of the Southwestern University Chorale is to provide a pre-professional musical experience for vocal music majors. However, membership in the Chorale is open to all students who are experienced choral singers and willing to work at the highest possible level. The Chorale is devoted to rehearsing and performing great choral music of all style periods from the 15th century to the present. In recent years the group has appeared at the Texas Music Educators’ Association convention and sung in Carnegie Hall in New York City. Members of the Chorale traveled to Shanghai, China in summer 2010 to participate in a performance held at the World Exposition.

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SINGERS
Director: Bonnie Sneed

The Southwestern University Singers is open to all students who enjoy choral singing. The goal is to provide a rewarding experience in choral music while developing skills in vocal technique and reading music. The SU Singers perform a wide variety of styles including traditional choral music, folk music, musical theater and spirituals. No audition is required.

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY OPERA THEATRE
Director: Bruce Cain

Opera Theatre students learn basic stage movement and acting techniques for the lyric theatre, culminating in public performance. One semester each year will be a fully costumed production with minimal sets, while the alternate semester will be minimally produced and performed in concert dress, with the goal of helping students grow both as singing actors and in ensemble work. Recent complete productions have included Menotti’s The Medium,  and a double bill of his The Old Maid and the Thief  and Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, as well as scenes programs.