Music Performance Ensembles
Goucher's music ensembles provide variety of experiences in vocal and instrumental ensembles. Vocal performance opportunities include the Goucher Choral Society and Chamber Singers, which perform multiple times a year, host a yearly choral festival, collaborate with many regional ensembles, and have performed at Carnegie Hall. Instrumental performance opportunities include the Goucher Jazz Ensemble, which performs concerts twice a year, and the Goucher College Orchestra, which performs its own programs, and joins in collaboration with other ensembles.
An audition or permission of the instructor is required to participate. Audition times are announced at the beginning of each semester. Course credit may be earned at the rate of 1.0 credit hours per semester per group. Ensemble participation can be taken for credit or as an audit. Students enrolled in an ensemble can receive a voice or instrument lesson for a discounted rate of $200. Contact Sara Thomson for more information.
African Drum & Dance
Goucher African Drum and Dance Ensemble, MUS 146/DAN 146, 1.0 credit
Practical performance of selected percussive instruments from West Africa (Ghana, in particular), and the interpretation of the rhythms through body movement and gestures; explores the historical and cultural contexts of specific West African music and dance forms relative to the African diaspora. Students will be required to know the basic techniques of West African traditional music and dance expressions. Repeatable.
Choirs
Goucher Choral Society, MUS 140, 1.0 credit
Chamber Singers, MUS 143, 1.0 credit
The Goucher College Choirs include students from every corner of campus, ranging from biology and peace studies majors to music majors and minors. The Goucher Choral Society (MUS 140) focuses on major choral repertoire, often performed in collaboration with other choral ensembles and the college orchestra. The Chamber Singers (MUS 143) focuses on more advanced repertoire from the Renaissance and Baroque to contemporary works for smaller ensembles.
For more information on Goucher choirs follow the link below.
Jazz Ensemble
Goucher Jazz Ensemble, MUS 149, 1.0 credit
Group performance designed to provide experience in reading charts and improvising in multiple jazz styles.
For more information contact:
William "Donnie" Scally
william.scally@goucher.edu
Opera & Musical Theatre Workshop
Opera and Musical Theatre Workshop, MUS 147, 1.0 credit
Performance of works for the stage from the operatic and musical theatre repertoires. Attention both to solo and ensemble singing. Includes both class and coaching. Course concludes with a staged public performance. As needed, sections for opera and musical theater may be offered; students may take one, the other, or both. Prerequisite: audition or permission of the instructors. May be repeated for credit.
Orchestra
Goucher College Orchestra MUS 141, 1.0 credit
The Goucher College Orchestra (GCO) is the student orchestra of Goucher College. Membership is open to Goucher students for credit (1.0) or audit. Goucher faculty and staff may also participate, and should contact Mike Semancik to indicate an interest in participating. Additional musicians are contracted for dress rehearsals and performances depending on student enrollment and repertoire requirements. GCO performs in the college's Kraushaar Auditorium (one of Baltimore's premier concert venues) in the spring and in the warm acoustic of Goucher's Haebler Memorial Chapel in the fall.
Goucher students and faculty often appear as soloists and guest conductors in concert. The orchestra performs major literature from the standard repertoire as well as works by advanced Goucher student composers, and appears frequently with the Goucher College Choirs. The orchestra is staffed by a student manager who helps with stage management and librarian duties.
For more information contact:
Mike Semancik
michael.semancik@goucher.edu
For more information about the orchestra, click the box below: