Music Ensembles

Webster University Chamber Singers resides on Webster University’s main campus in St. Louis. In November 2017, the choir appeared at the National Collegiate Choral Organization biennial conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where their performance was acclaimed for its stylistic diversity and emotional impact. In 2016­-2017, Chamber Singers collaborated with Boston Camerata on the medieval play “Daniel” and with Josh Groban in multiple performances on his international Stages tour. In 2014, the choir performed for the Southwestern American Choral Directors Association regional conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, and for the Missouri Music Educators Association conference at Tan-Tar-A. Multimedia projects include a YouTube channel, the CD Beginnings, and the GIA DVD How to Make a Good Choir Sound Great. Composers regularly seek out Chamber Singers for performances of their works, and student compositions are a regular feature of concerts and tours. They have sung in master class for Stile Antico and Voces 8 and have performed extended works by composers including Bach, Britten, Copland, Duruflé, Finzi, Lauridsen, Trumbore, Vaughan Williams and Vivaldi.

Webster University Chorale is comprised of tenor, baritone and bass-voice students majoring in choral music education, music performance and composition, as well as other academic programs across the University campus.

Under the leadership of Dr. Trent Patterson since 2011, the choir has performed a varied repertoire of accompanied and unaccompanied works. Recent concerts have included Durante’s “Magnificat,” Duruflé’s “Quatre Motets sur des Themes Grégoriens,” Hogan’s “His Light Still Shines,” Lauridsen’s “Mid-Winter Songs,” Puccini’s “Requiem,” Schubert’s “Magnificat (D.486),” Mirjam’s “Siegesgesang” and Vaughan Williams’ “In Windsor Forest.” Large-scale works performed in collaboration with the Webster University Chamber Singers include Britten’s “Cantata Misericordium,” Mozart’s “Regina Coeli,” Orff’s “Carmina Burana” and Vaughan Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem.” Undergraduate vocal music education and graduate choral conducting students assist with sectionals, full rehearsals and occasionally conduct the ensemble in concert performances.

For more information, contact Dr. Trent Patterson.

Webster University Aurelia is an ensemble dedicated to studying and sharing music written for treble voices. Members are treble singers from a variety of disciplines and majors on campus. Aurelia sings choral literature from a variety of traditions and eras, with special emphasis on supporting the work of living composers who are women. In addition to performing at least two concerts per semester, the ensemble partners with other schools and organizations to encourage musical growth in our community. Aurelia was selected to perform at the 2019 Missouri Music Educators Association in-service workshop/conference and has been invited to perform at important University events like the annual scholarship dinner. Rehearsals are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon.

For more information, contact music@webster.edu.

The Webster University Orchestra and Webster University Wind Ensemble each perform significant orchestral and wind band repertoire throughout the semester. Performances include collaborations with professional guest artists from St. Louis and beyond, as well as frequent premier performances of new important works. There is an annual Concerto and Aria Competition Concert featuring the finest solo performers from the university. Under the direction of Dr. Paul G. Davis, the Webster University Orchestra and Webster University Wind Ensemble present concerts each semester.

Instrumental ensembles are open by audition to all students at Webster University, regardless of major!

Webster University Wind Ensemble meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12–12:50 p.m.
Webster University Orchestra meets Tuesday from 7:15–9 p.m. and Thursday from 5:15–7:15 p.m.

For more information, contact Dr. Paul G. Davis or call 314-968-7040.

The New Music Ensemble explores contemporary acoustic, electronic, MIDI and improvisational works by Webster students and faculty, as well as major composers from the 20th and 21st century. Membership is open to instrumentalists and singers from rock, classical and jazz backgrounds. The ensemble rehearses on Tuesdays from 5–6:20 p.m. Auditions are held during the first Tuesday class meeting. The group performs at least one concert each semester.

The Department of Music also offers classical chamber music ensembles: Guitar Ensemble, String Quartet, Woodwind Ensemble, and Piano Ensemble. Enrollment in these ensembles is by permission of the appropriate instructor.

For more information, contact the Music Office or call 314-968-7032.

Jazz Ensembles are combos of three to eight members, directed by a faculty member. Each combo rehearses once weekly for two hours. The combos perform a wide range of music from early jazz to contemporary styles. Students work on improvisation, ensemble balance and interaction, and stylistic awareness. Combos perform for the Monday afternoon jazz seminar class and at least once per semester for the Jazz@Webster concert series.

For more information, contact Dr. Bennett Wood or call 314-968-7032.

Jazz Collective is a variable-membership group that recreates and reinterprets literature from all style periods of jazz. Focus is placed on developing individual skills of improvisation, reading, stylistic awareness and ensemble interaction. Rehearsals are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Dr. Bennett Wood or call 314-968-7032.

The Jazz Singers program currently has two sections, directed by Michael Engelhardt and Keegan Eich. Both sections are fed by the same audition process which happens in late Spring and early Fall. The Gold Standard (section 1) and The Midnight Blues (section 2) delight audiences with their attention to fine detail and musicianship while performing a variety of styles that all fit under the umbrella of jazz. From the classic sounds of Gene Puerling and Paris Rutherford to the more contemporary sounds of groups like Take 6, säje, and Kirk Franklin (and everything in between), the members of each ensemble pride themselves on their ability to adapt tonally and stylistically to the repertoire at hand. 

For more information, contact Professor Michael Engelhardt or call 314-968-7032.

Webster University Opera Studio provides vital performance training and opportunity for the next generation of singer-actors. This highly select ensemble of singers is open to all Webster University students by audition, culminating in two productions every year.

Led by Dr. Jacob Lassetter, Webster University Opera Studio presents complete works and scenes from all periods of lyric theatre. Students receive training in singing-acting, role preparation, and character development. The skills and experience gained from Opera Studio give alumni the tools to succeed in top graduate programs, young artist programs and international performing careers.

For more information, contact Dr. Jacob Lassetter.