Bands, Instrumental Ensembles, Orchestra and Choirs

The most visible ensemble on campus, the Ram Band provides spirit for and represents the entire ASU community at special events on and off campus, at all home football games, as the exhibition band at local compositions, and travels to at least one away game each year. The Ram Band entertains audiences by performing and executing at the highest quality both musically and visually while having fun in a family style atmosphere.

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The Wind Ensemble is a select ensemble comprised of outstanding students with exemplary musical talent from across the ASU campus. The Wind Ensemble provides a challenging musical environment through the performance of the highest quality modern and standard wind band repertoire. The Wind Ensemble performs multiple times throughout the semester and often features faculty soloists.

The Angelo State University Symphonic Band is an ensemble comprised of music majors on primary and secondary instruments as well as ASU students not majoring in music with no audition required to participate. The band provides an educational experience and serves as a musical outlet for students who wish to remain musically active in a less intense setting. The literature selected in this ensemble consists of a wide range of difficulty levels that is selected, in part, to provide music education students resources that can be used upon entering the profession - much like a “music education band literature course.”

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This group is a large mixed ensemble open to any student, regardless of major. No audition is required.

The Concert Chorale comprises 80-100 singers representing nearly every department on campus. The ensemble presents two concerts each semester and performs a wide array of literature, including a major work with orchestra each year.

Rehearsals: MW 2-2:50 p.m. and TR 2-3:15 p.m.

Performance in the Jazz Ensemble is central to the jazz emphasis at ASU. Meeting three times a week, the Jazz Ensemble rehearses and performs a variety of jazz styles, including swing, be-bop, fusion and contemporary settings. Participation in this ensemble prepares students for performances in the world of jazz and commercial music.

Crucial to the jazz program is a concentrated emphasis on improvisation, the utmost expression of personal musical creativity. All students participate in regular “combo sessions” so that they experience improvising with a rhythm section. Students delve into the intricate mixture of melody, harmony and rhythm on which their musical ideas are based.

The Jazz Ensemble offers student performers the opportunity to study a wide variety of jazz music, from the early days of its New Orleans birthplace to today’s jazz greats. ASU is proud to offer performances in this uniquely American art form.

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The Angelo State University Symphony Orchestra provides exceptional training and experience for student musicians. The ensemble performs standard orchestral masterworks as well as modern literature. Through concerts and educational programs the symphony fosters an appreciation for music and enriches the community. The symphony performs one or two concerts each semester along with various community and university outreach events.

The ensemble is open to musicians regardless of their academic major. Auditions for woodwinds, brass, and percussion are held during the first week of each semester. Strings (violin, viola, cello, bass) with previous playing experience may enroll without an audition. Scholarships for all orchestral instruments are available by audition.

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The ASU Ram Horns is a high-energy spirit ensemble that performs at all of the home basketball games for the Rams and Rambelles, plus other select university and community engagements. Students in the ensemble are selected through an audition process held in early September.

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The Brass Choir is a brass chamber ensemble for trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba performers. The ensemble performs masterwork literature from the 16th through the 20th centuries in some of the most appealing venues for brass performance in San Angelo and the surrounding Concho Valley.

This ensemble is open to both music major and non-music major brass players. No audition is required for membership. The Brass Choir performs each semester during the notable “Night of Brass” concert along with other smaller brass chamber ensembles.

Other brass chamber ensembles in the department include the Trumpet Choir, Horn Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble and Brass Quintet.

For more information, visit Dr. John Irish’s website, Brass at ASU.

The ASU Trumpet Ensemble prepares repertoire that spans a wide variety of musical styles. The ensemble fosters an appreciation for teamwork and promotes the enjoyment of playing the trumpet.

Under the direction of Dr. John Irish, the ensemble was specially invited to perform at the 28th annual conference of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG), held in Fort Worth, Texas. Trumpet ensembles from around the world were asked to submit recordings for inclusion in the prestigious “Trumpet Preludes” at the conference. A review and photo of the ensemble’s performance appeared in the October, 2003 issue of the ITG Journal which reached over 7,000 readers in 60 countries around the world. The group also performed at the West Chester University of Pennsylvania Trumpet Day in 2014 during part of a tour of the Philadelphia and southern New Jersey area.

The ASU Trumpet Ensemble performs regularly in concert in the San Angelo area as well as in collaboration with nationally-known performers. The ensemble is open to all trumpeters.

Visit these websites to learn more about the Trumpet Ensemble:

• Dr. Irish’s website
• Brass at ASU

Listen:

• Sicut Servus by Giovanni Palestrina (arr. J. Irish)
• Lumen by Frederick Speck
• March for the Ark by C.P.E. Bach (arr. Edward H. Tarr)

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Under the direction of Trent Shuey, the Angelo State University Percussion Ensemble (ASUPE) performs a wide repertoire of music written specifically for percussion instruments. The ensemble consists of students with varying degrees of percussion experience, and membership is open to any current ASU student with a background in percussion. ASUPE performs two on-campus concerts each year in addition performances at public schools and community events.

The ASU Percussion Ensemble is committed to providing members with a high-quality performance environment as well as producing entertaining and educational programs for our audience. ASUPE concerts regularly present a variety of musical selections that represent various styles and instrumentations, including landmark percussion ensemble compositions, works appropriated for percussion ensemble, music from cultures around the world, and cutting-edge new music. Programs include works by John Cage, Glenn Kotche, Anthony Cirone, Steve Reich, Michael Colgrass, Ivan Trevino, David Skidmore, Russell Hartenberger, Jeffrey Smith, and Blake Tyson; as well as arrangements of original compositions by Antonio Vivaldi, Joseph Hellmesberger, and Pat Metheny.

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Woodwind ensembles at ASU are the Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, and Woodwind Quintet.

The ASU String Quartet is formed by the finest String Majors at Angelo State University. The purpose of the ensemble is to develop musicians who can continue to make a positive contribution to the local community and engage them in a manner that will instill pride in our institution during their time at ASU and after graduation. Through its concerts, the string quartet supports the university, community and charitable organizations throughout the Concho Valley area. The performance schedule includes recitals, performances at selected university functions, and community outreach events.

The Chamber Singers is a small, mixed ensemble consisting of 24-36 outstanding vocalists. It performs a repertoire that encompasses a broad range of styles and languages. Membership is by competitive audition.

Rehearsals are MWF 3-3:50 p.m. This group also serves as the leadership core of the Concert Chorale in rehearsal and performance.

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The ASU Mesquite Singers merges ASU students with San Angelo community members who desire a community chorus experience. This ensemble will present four concerts per year with the desired outcome being large major works with the ASU Symphony Orchestra and San Angelo Symphony Orchestra.

Open to all students. Rehearsals are Mondays, 7-9 p.m.

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Angelo State’s mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Los Pastores, is your opportunity to experience the heritage of Mexican folk music. This ensemble explores mariachi from different regions in Mexico and a standard repertoire to perform in concert. Each semester, students will perform in concert and travel to San Antonio to watch one of the world’s greatest mariachi ensembles, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan.