Ensembles

Choirs

Choirs

Check out the ETSU Choirs on YouTube! 

The ETSU Chorale has long been recognized as one of the finest university ensembles in the United States. The choir has toured both nationally and internationally, and appeared in numerous state and national conferences. Since 2013, the Chorale has been conducted by Dr. Matthew Potterton. He continues to build on the long tradition of outstanding choral singing at ETSU established by Dr. Thomas Jenrette, Professor Emeritus, during his thirty-three year tenure. Members of the Chorale are chosen through a selective audition process and must be dedicated to the highest level of artistry. The group performs in a variety of styles and genres, ranging from music of the Renaissance to newly composed works. In January of 2015 the choir toured New York and Washington D.C. and performed in some of the nation's most beautiful venues including the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, as well as the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. In 2016, the Chorale was selectd to perform for the Tennessee Music Educators Association's All-State Conference in Nashville. In 2019, the Chorale traveled to Wales to compete in the Llangollen International Choral Festival.   

Check out the ETSU Chorale on Facebook
Listen to the ETSU Chorale on Sound Cloud

Greyscale, under the direction of Dr. Alan Stevens, performs a broad mix of repertoire including jazz and pop, as well as contemporary original compositions. Greyscale has become a recognized success on the ETSU campus and throughout the region. Greyscale toured and appeared on invited performances in New York City and Washington D.C., including a show at the renowned B.B. King's on 42nd Street in NYC. They have hosted The Swingles (with the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts) and New York Voices on ETSU's campus. Greyscale has performed for the Rossini Festival (Knoxville, TN), Blue Plum Festival, and Founder's Park Concert Series in Johnson City, the Tennessee Music Educators Association All-State Conference in Nashville, the Niswonger Children's Hospital "Broadway Comes to Greeneville," and has been the featured performer on WETS 89.5 Studio One multiple times.
Greyscale annually competes in the ICCAs and advanced to the seminfinals in 2020. Awards at the ICCAs have included Best Solist (Rebekah Cormack) and Best Vocal Percussion (Paul Adedokun). They have appeared at many high-profile ETSU events, including the Distinguished President's Trust Banquet, the President's Classroom, Fall Faculty Convocation, Student Convocation, Athletics Night of Champions, and the Spring Fling. Greyscale released their first album in April of 2016, self-titled "Greyscale." This was followed by "Spectrum" in 2017, "Five Alive" and "Christmastime in Tennessee" in 2018. All are available on Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, CD Baby, and more. 

Instagram ETSUGreyscale 

East Tennessee Belles Women's Choir is open to all students on campus who are dedicated to the performance of choral music. The group tours throughout the region, and performs a four-concert series each year. The ensemble is directed by Dr. Matthew Potterton. 

 Check out East Tennessee Belles on Facebook
Listen to East Tennessee Belles on Sound Cloud

BucsWorth Tenor Bass Choir was formed in 1989 at East Tennessee State University by  Dr. Thomas Jenrette, now Professor Emeritus, as a primarily a cappella chamber ensemble called “Seven BucsWorth.” This referred to the number of singers in the ensemble and a play-on-words reference to the ETSU teams, the Buccaneers. The number of Bucs changed over the years, but the ensemble soon became one of the most popular choral groups in the region. In 2013, under the direction or Dr. Alan Stevens, the ensemble was expanded to a full traditional choir and has since grown to forty or more Bucs each semester. 

Under Dr. Stevens’ direction, BucsWorth has been recognized as one of the premier university Tenor Bass choirs in the nation. BucsWorth received third place in the 2017 American Prize Competition for University Choirs, and has been selected to perform at the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses National Seminar, the Tennessee Music Educators Association State Conference, and the Young Men’s Power Sing in Atlanta. BucsWorth performs a diverse repertoire of both traditional and contemporary choral music, including performances with the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and frequent collaborations with other university Tenor Bass ensembles. BucsWorth has premiered works by Dan Forrest and Daniel Gawthrop, and has hosted guest artists including Alice Parker, Ola Gjeilo, Brad Holmes, and Chanticleer (with the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts). 

BucsWorth is composed of students from across all campus disciplines, and it is open to all. They meet only twice a week, but perform a series of four concerts each year and frequent appearances for local events throughout the northeastern Tennessee region.

You can find more information about BucsWorth Tenor Bass Choir and keep up to date about all concert appearances and events on their Facebook page.

Check out BucsWorth on Facebook
Instagram:  @ETSUBucsWorth

Concert Bands

Symphonic Wind Ensemble 

Performs representative traditional and contemporary works for the wind medium.
Open to all university students by audition. 
Directed by Dr. Christian Zembower. 

Concert Band 

Performs music of all forms, from classic to popular.
Open to all university students by consultation with the instructor.
Directed by Dr. Christian Zembower. 

For more information regarding bands, contact Dr. Christian Zembower

423-439-4296 or zembower@etsu.edu

Athletic Bands

ETSU Marching Band

15 Mathes Hall  
PO Box 70312
Johnson City, TN 37614
Phone: 423-439-4775    Fax: 423-439-7088

Want to be a Marching Buc?? 

Submit the
MARCHING BUCS INTEREST FORM

ETSU Marching Band - FAQ

• How do I audition?

  Brass/Woodwinds: If you have previous high school marching band experience, you do not need to audition for a spot in the hornline.

  Percussion:  Auditions are required for a spot in the drumline.

  • For more information, contact our Marching Percussion Director, Mr. Logan Ball, balllj1@etsu.edu

  Colorguard: Auditions are required and will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on the Arena Floor of the Mini-Dome.  Please complete the Marching Bucs Interest Form prior to audition.

  • For more information moorejd@etsu.edu

  Teaching videos for audition routines:

  Tennessee Waltz

  Fight Song

  Seven Toss

  Pull Hits

  Drop Spins

  Majorettes: Auditions are required and will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the University High School gymnasium.  Please complete the Marching Bucs Interest Form prior to audition.

  Audition Requirements for Majorettes:

  • 2 turn
  • Toss illusionCandidates will be required to perform a solo routine that is no longer than 2 minutes, including 1 and 2 batons. A group routine will be taught at auditions.
  • Wear a twirl costume or leotard. 

  For more information:
   etsumajorettes@gmail.com

• How do I enroll?

  Fill out your information at the link listed above if you are planning to participate!

  When registering for classes, Marching Band is: MUSC 1201
  *Please note: Incoming Freshman should NOT register for the Freshman Preview since it conflicts with Band Camp

  If I'm attending Northeast State Community College can I participate?
  Yes! You can enroll for the marching band class at ETSU and be a member of the Marching Bucs. For more information and assistance with registering, contact Shayna Kyle at kyless@etsu.edu 

• Are Scholarships available?

  Performance Awards of various financial levels are available to instrumentalists (brass, woodwinds, and percussion) and will be awarded based on the performance level of the individual auditioning as well as the overall needs of the band.

  Auditions for brass and woodwinds include a prepared selection that best showcases your musical abilities. Contact Dr. Moore to schedule an audition, moorejd@etsu.edu

• How much time will be involved?

  Band Camp is scheduled for the week before classes begin:  August 15 – 21, 2020.
  
  Class meets MWF 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  Saturdays of Home Football Games are required.

  High School Exhibitions and Bands of America Regional Championship are additional dates. 

   

• What expenses are involved?

  Uniform shoes
  Gloves
  Flip Folder/Music Lyre (Hornline)
  DrillBook Next app
• Housing Options:

  There are many on-campus housing options available with varying amenities, price points, and locations. While on-campus living is not required, except if required by a scholarship or program, it is strongly encouraged for first-year students as the best strategy for transitioning to the University. The convenience of being on campus with other Marching Bucs is a great way to connect and become a part of the ETSU Family. There is an Arts Living-Learning Community that is designed for students studying/ interested in the fine and performing arts to live together, connect across disciplines, and practice creativity and collaboration. For more information, email  housing@etsu.edu 
  or visit www.etsu.edu/housing or call 423-439-4446

• Northeast State Students:

  Northeast State students interested in participating in the ETSU Marching Bucs should apply to ETSU as a dual admissions student. In addition to participation in the Marching Bucs, students are given the opportunity to receive dual advisement at both institutions, ensuring transferability of coursework, as well as access to all ETSU amenities, including, but not limited to, the Charles C. Sherrod library, ETSU football and basketball games, student concerts, etc. Additionally, students who apply within their first semester at Northeast State receive a waived application fee to ETSU. For more information, or for assistance with the application and/or registration process, please contact: 

  Shanya Kyle
  423-439-8300
  kyless@etsu.edu 

ETSU Buccaneer Brass Basketball Band

Open to all university students by consultation with the instructor.
Directed by Dr. Joe Moore

Jazz Bands

JAZZ ENSEMBLES and JAZZ COMBOS

The instrumental jazz ensembles are devoted to the study of jazz and pop styles. Attention is given to improvisation and understanding stylistic techniques. Participation is open to all university students through consultation with the director. Click here to audition.

Additional guest artists who have performed at ETSU include The Airmen of Note, Spyro Gyra, USAF Airman of Note Alumni, and Rita Collidge. Solo artists also include saxophonists Chip McNeil, Jim Snidero, Walt Weiskopf, Joe Carello, and Frank Grosso; trumpeters Tony Scodwell, Greg Wing, Jon Yates, Jim Ward; trombonists Conrad Herwig and Rick Simerly, pianist Lenore Raphael and Mark Maegdlin, bassist Jon Schwabe, and percussionist Marvin Sparks and famed Tonight Show Band percussionist Ed Shaughnessy.

For more information regarding the ETSU Jazz Ensemble or Jazz Combos contact Martin Walters at waltermb@etsu.edu

Opera

OPERA THEATRE

For more information regarding the ETSU Opera Theatre Workshop contact:

Ms. Karen Smith
Director - ETSU Opera Theater
423-439-6954

Orchestras

Chamber String Orchestra

Dr. David Kovac, conductor

Find them on Facebook

The ETSU Chamber String Orchestra is a select ensemble of students that performs a wide variety of repertoire ranging from classics to contemporary. If you are interested in auditioning for the Chamber String Orchestra, contact the conductor, Dr. David Kovac. 

Johnson City Symphony Orchestra

 Robert Seebacher, conductor

www.JCSymphony.com
Find them on Facebook

The 2018-2019 Season marks the 50th anniversary of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra! In 1968, patrons of the arts began raising funds for the brand new Johnson City Symphony Orchestra. They believed that with the population of the TriCities, two colleges and a university, and a constant influx of new people there should be a professional orchestra in the region. JCSO began with twenty-eight members and is now a fully professional orchestra of over eighty members. 

The ETSU Department of Music and JCSO are partnered to provide opportunities for students of all orchestral instruments. This experience is invaluable, and allows students who successfully audition to play along side outstanding professional musicians.  

The JCSO has achieved recognition for its sustainment of the arts in Northeast Tennessee. The Orchestra provides quality entertainment and music education for all people. The orchestra is supported by both individuals and businesses in the community, allowing the JCSO to further its mission to provide and promote excellent symphonic music throughout the region.

Dr. Robert J. Seebacher

Artistic director and conductor of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, Director of Instrumental Programs at Centre College in Kentucky, and Assistant Conductor for the National Chorale in New York. He has appeared with the Lexington Philharmonic, Youngstown Symphony, Warren Philharmonic and Mobile Symphony orchestras. Dr. Seebacher’s previously held positions include Director of Orchestras and Conductor of Opera at the University of South Alabama as well as assistant conductor with the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre and the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Dr. Seebacher served on the faculty of the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts until its elimination by the Department of Education. While in residence there, he conducted opera and taught conducting, music theory and history, as well as French horn.  He has conducted numerous all-state and honors orchestras in Kentucky, West Virginia and Alabama. His guest artist collaborations have included those with Chee-Yun, Béla Fleck, Mark O’Connor, Midori, the Canadian Brass, Arlo Guthrie and Lynn Harrell.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education (cum laude) from Youngstown State University, a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Bowling Green State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Seebacher has participated in training workshops at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan. He conducted the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as part of their inaugural conducting symposium. His teachers include William B. Slocum, Stephen L. Gage, John Nardolillo, Emily Freeman Brown and Gustav Meier.

 

Percussion

The ETSU Percussion Ensemble is directed by Dr. Matthew Geiger and Mr. Logan Ball

The percussion ensemble is open to any ETSU student by audition. Contact Dr. Geiger for more information.