Small Ensembles

Music 20

Sonia Grib, Coordinator
(516) 463-5490
E-mail

Music 20 is a Chamber Music Series comprising ensembles of varied disciplines coached by Hofstra faculty members. All ensembles are rehearsed to performance level, culminating in various Music 20 concerts at the end of each semester. All enrolled in Music 20, regardless of ability, will be placed with a performing group, and students, when able, may perform in more than one ensemble.  Guest Artists and lecturers are invited to present specialized programs enriching the academic and musical life of students.

Music 20 is given on a Pass/D+/Fail basis, and 0.5 s.h. is earned each semester. Those students who are not registered for this course but participate to satisfy a degree requirement must complete an Unregistered Participation Form in the Music Department office and are responsible for all the course work of Music 20. The first class meeting will be on the first Friday of every semester, 2:55 to 4:20 p.m., in the Monroe Lecture Center Theater.

Music 20 Ensembles and Coaches

Hofstra Collegium Musicum

William E. Hettrick, Director
(516) 463-5496
E-mail | WWW

The Hofstra Collegium Musicum is an organization of students, alumni, and community members dedicated to the performance of repertoire from the heritage of early music. Consisting of a chorus and several ensembles of historical instruments, Collegium presents a concert off-campus in the fall semester and appears twice in Hofstra's annual Shakespeare Festival every spring.

Students wishing to audition for Collegium as singers or instrumentalists should see Dr. Hettrick in the first week of each semester. Collegium is part of the Music Department's Ensemble Program (MUS 20), and singing in the Collegium Chorus satisfies the choral-participation requirement for instrumental Music Education majors. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings in Monroe Hall 216 from 7:30 to 9:30 for instrumentalists and 8:00 to 10:00 for singers.

Hofstra Jazz Ensembles

David Lalama, Director
(516) 463-5493
E-mail | WWW

The Hofstra Jazz Ensemble is a traditional Jazz big band that specializes in the music of Jazz masters such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thad Jones and Charlie Parker. Past performances have included guest artists such as Byron Stripling, Ken Peplowski, Marion McPartland and Randy Brecker. The band performs regularly on campus while maintaining an active off-campus performing schedule. Rehearsals are scheduled for Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Rm. 020, New Academic Building.

Other Jazz Ensembles include the Vocal Jazz Ensemble directed by Dr. Paula Berardinelli, Guitar Jazz Ensemble directed by Professor Rick Stone and student-run groups such as the Little Big Band (nonet) and several chamber Jazz groups. These ensembles specialize in a diverse Jazz repertoire and perform at many on-campus functions, including an annual concert.

All auditions for these ensembles take place during the first week of the fall semester. A sign-up sheet can be found on the door of Rm. 104, New Academic Building. Any auditions after the scheduled dates can be arranged with Dr. Lalama. All students will be required to perform 2 prepared Jazz pieces in different rhythmic styles (swing, straight-eighth, slow, fast), sight reading, basic improvisation and scales/modes.

If any student would like to perform in a Jazz ensemble but is inexperienced in the style, he/she can register for Music 20 and join the Jazz 20 Ensemble (no audition required) that focuses on the basics of Jazz ensemble playing and improvisation. This ensemble meets 2:55 to 4:20 p.m. in Rm. 020, New Academic Building, every Friday that there is no required Music 20 meeting.

Hofstra Chamber Singers

David Fryling, Director
(516) 463-5497
E-mail | WWW

The Hofstra Chamber Singers specializes in the study of traditional, contemporary and multicultural choral repertoire, with a distinct emphasis on the art of unaccompanied, or a cappella, ensemble singing. This smallest and most select of the Hofstra choirs comprises the finest male and female voices at the University.

The Chamber Singers serves two main functions for the University. First, it acts as a laboratory for Hofstra's future music educators, providing an outlet for the exploration of the art of ensemble preparation through the study of the highest-quality choral literature. Second, it provides all qualified students with a professional-level ensemble dedicated to the highest standards of public performance through two annual campus concerts, as well as various other on- and off-campus engagements and tours.

Rehearsals are held every Thursday evening, 7:30 to 10 p.m., Rm. 216 Monroe Hall. Auditions for Chamber Singers occur the first week of school in the fall semester. Students interested in singing in Chamber Singers should prepare a solo art song for the audition, and sign up on Dr. Fryling's office door (109 NAB) the first few days of classes.

Hofstra New Music Ensemble

Patricia Spencer, Director
(212) 873-1065
E-mail | WWW

The Hofstra New Music Ensemble focuses on music of our own time, preparing an annual spring concert of (mostly) living composers. Past programs have included works by Frederic Rzewski, R. Murray Schafer, Terry Riley, Ezra Laderman, Henry Cowell, Eric Ewazen, and Thea Musgrave, among others, as well as earlier 20th-century classics by Arnold Schoenberg and Stefan Wolpe. The ensemble meets on Thursdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and is directed by Patricia Spencer.

The New Music Ensemble offers a singular opportunity to perform works by faculty and student composers. For each of the past six years, a Hofstra faculty composer (Chandler Carter, Herbert Deutsch, Jason Hanley, Geoffrey Kidde, Charles Griffin, Ken Lampl) has written a piece specifically for the members and instrumentation of the group. The process of rehearsing with the composer enhances the learning process. The performance of the world premiere of a new work, especially one written expressly for the group, carries a unique responsibility and sense of history.

Auditions for the New Music Ensemble take place during the first week of the fall semester. Audition sign-up sheets can be found in the New Academic Building, ground floor Music suite. Audition repertoire need not include 20th- or 21st-century repertoire. Additional auditions, after the first week of the semester, may be arranged by appointment with Patricia Spencer.

Hofstra String Orchestra

David Ramael, Director
(516) 463-5490
E-mail

The Hofstra String Ensemble is a small string orchestra that plays major string repertoire.  This ensemble is also able to collaborate with other chamber ensembles in the Music Department.  The members meet the first week of classes at the Music 20 meeting to set up music distribution and rehearsal time.  All string majors participate in the String Ensemble and can use it towards their Music 20 requirements.  Non-majors are requested to see the director the first week of the fall semester about playing in the ensemble.  They can also receive academic credit for their participation.

Hofstra Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble

Michael Salzman, Director
(516) 463-5490
E-mail

The Hofstra Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble is open to student Tuba and Euphonium players by audition. The Ensemble rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 8 to 9 p.m.  The Ensemble performs two concerts per year.  The Fall performance is always on the Hofstra Octubafest Recital.  The Ensemble performs original music for tubas and euphoniums as well as transcriptions of music from all periods.  The group's repertoire is very diverse, covering music from the Baroque though Jazz and contemporary styles. In the spring of 2002, Hofstra commissioned composer Reber Clark to write an original piece for the group. Crenelations was premiered in May 2002, with Patrick Sheridan and Michael Salzman as soloists.

Weekly rehearsals also serve as a studio class for the students of Professor Salzman. Common pedagogical concerns are often discussed and practiced, and students often take the opportunity to perform solo works for their peers during rehearsals.

Hofstra Duos and Trios

Blanche Abram, Director
(516) 463-5490
E-mail | WWW

"Duos and Trios" specializes in the preparation of small ensembles involving piano with other instruments, piano and voice or piano duets for performance in the Music 20 concerts presented each semester. It offers an opportunity for pianists to share the pleasure of playing together (in ensemble) with other musicians and the chance for instrumentalists and singers to explore the repertoire with pianists. Appropriate music is selected for each group, the parts prepared, rehearsed and each ensemble coached by Prof. Abram. Rehearsal and coaching schedules are individually arranged. Performances of the works studied are scheduled toward the end of the semester.
Participants are urged to sign up with Prof. Abram at the first Music 20 meeting. It is possible to be active in more than one Music 20 group.

Hofstra Brass Ensemble

Leon Petruzzi, Director
(516) 463-5490
E-mail

This class develops chamber music skills for trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba. Often comprised of a large ensemble for mixed brass instruments, advanced small ensembles are also included as part of the course depending on enrollment.  The repertoire includes renaissance and Baroque music through modern and some Jazz-influenced works. Brass style and fundamentals will be discussed culminating in a performance at the end of the semester.

Hofstra Flute Ensemble

Patricia Spencer, Director
(212) 873-1065
E-mail | WWW

The Hofstra Flute Ensemble performs a wide range of repertoire from Baroque to present day, including (in recent years) works by Telemann, Debussy, Paquito D'Rivera, Thea Musgrave, Peter Schickele and Elizabeth Brown. In addition to Hofstra concerts, the ensemble performs each year for the Long Island Flute Club's annual festival, and also frequently presents concerts for area high schools. Rehearsals are Friday afternoon from 4:30 to 6 p.m., plus an additional rehearsal scheduled at the availabilities of the members.  Auditions are held on Thursday or Friday of the first two weeks of the fall semester. Contact Patricia Spencer for an appointment.

Hofstra Guitar Ensemble

William Zito, Director
(516) 463-5493

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Hofstra Percussion Ensemble

Pablo Rieppi, Director
(516) 463-5490
E-mail | WWW

The Hofstra University Percussion Ensemble is dedicated to the performance of classic percussion repertoire, world music and contemporary compositions. In addition to the preparation of a variety of repertoire and styles, students work in the areas of ensemble rehearsal techniques, quality sound production, and technical and musical problem- solving. The ensemble has worked with The New York Percussion Quartet, The Hofstra Flute Ensemble, and has a regular collaboration with the percussion department at Queens College.

The Hofstra University Percussion Ensemble meets Fridays at 3 p.m. in the percussion studio in the lower level of the NAB, and other times scheduled during the semester, based on the repertoire. This ensemble is not a beginner-level group. Interested students must have a reasonable level of proficiency on snare drum and mallet instruments, and a good musical reading level.

For more information, visit Percussion at Hofstra.

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