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Choral Ensembles
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       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. The Chorale is conducted by Dr. Matthew Potterton, who became the Director of Choral and Vocal Activities in 2013. 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. The Chorale is a featured performing-ensemble at the 2016 Tennessee Music Educator's Association's conference in Nashville.

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

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Greyscale, under the direction of Dr. Alan Stevens, is one of the premier ensembles in the ETSU Department of Music. Greyscale has become a recognized success on the ETSU campus and throughout the region. In January of 2015 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. In April of 2015, they hosted New York Voices on ETSU's campus. The group 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 (2017), the Niswonger Children's Hospital "Broadway Comes to Greeneville," and has been the featured performer on WETS 89.5 Studio One multiple times. 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." Their follow up album, "Spectrum," was released in March of 2017. Both are available iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, CD Baby, and more. Compact Discs are available for purchase from the ETSU Department of Music office. In March of 2017 Greyscale hosted the first annual BucAppella Choral Festival on ETSU's campus. Deke Sharon, the internationally-renowned producer of the the Pitch Perfect move franchise, was the headline clinician. Greyscale will host The Swingles at ETSU in March of 2017 with the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts. 

The select group of twelve singers who formed the initial ensemble called themselves "Greyscale" to represent the non-specific type of music they performed – avoiding categorization in any clearly-defined, black-and-white genre. The constant challenge for Greyscale is to find creative arrangements that blend jazz, pop, folk, and classical styles into new unaccompanied vocal works. Greyscale is inspired by ensembles such as The Swingles, Real Group, Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, Voces 8, and Pentatonix. The singers in Greyscale are selected through a rigorous audition process. Students must re-audition each year, and they must be able to perform as both an ensemble singer and a lead vocalist. 

Check out Greyscale on Facebook
Instagram @ETSUGreyscale
Twitter @ETSUGreyscale

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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

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BucsWorth Men's Choir was formed in the early 1990s at East Tennessee State University as a primarily a capella chamber ensemble called "10 BucsWorth" – which referred to the number of guys in the ensemble and a play-on-words reference to the ETSU mascot, the Buccaneers. In 2013, the ensemble was expanded to a full men's choir under the direction of Dr. Alan Stevens.

BucsWorth is composed of men from across all campus disciplines, and it is open to any student by audition. BucsWorth performs a mix of traditional and contemporary choral music and often collaborates with the East Tennessee Belles, their sister ensemble at ETSU. BucsWorth is a founding partner-ensemble in the "Men in Song Choral Festival," an annual two-day festival that draws over 200 men from the eastern Tennessee region to sing together and promote choral music education. BucsWorth has had the privilege to work with Alice Parker, Daniel Gawthrop, Ola Gjeilo, Chanticleer, New York Voices, and many local ensembles.

BucsWorth frequently performs throughout the Tri-Cities region. In 2016 BucsWorth was selected to perform at the Intercollegiate Men's Choruses National Seminar on the University of Illinois campus. In 2014 BucsWorth was the featured ensemble at the "Young Men's Power Sing" in Atlanta, hosted by the Atlanta Youth Singers and the Atlanta International School. In April of 2018 they will perform for the Tennessee Music Educators All-State Conference at Opryland in Nashville, TN. You can find more information about BucsWorth Men's Choir and keep up to date about all concert appearances and events on their Facebook page.

Check out BucsWorth on Facebook
Instagram @ETSUBucsWorth

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.

 

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 For more information regarding bands, contact Dr. Christian Zembower

423-439-4296 or zembower@etsu.edu

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

 Want to be a Marching Buc?? Apply now!

Dr Joe Moore

Director

 

 

Logan Ball

Marching Percussion

 

 Tom Massengill

Colorguard Instructor

 

 

 

Candice Mitchell

Majorette Instructor

 

 

Patti Marlow

Executive Aide

 

 

   

ETSU Marching Band - FAQ

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ETSU Buccaneer Brass Basketball Band
Open to all university students by consultation with the instructor.
Directed by Dr. Joe Moore

Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Combos: Martin Walters, Director

 

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

The Department of Music offers a variety of instrumental chamber ensembles, which are open to music majors and non-majors through instructor approval.  

Tuba & Euphonium Ensemble

Directed by Dr. Stephanie Frye

    

Flute Choir

Directed by Rebecca Paluzzi

 

Additional Chamber Ensembles: 

Trombone Choir, Directed by Dr. Justin Waller

 

 

Opera Theatre,  Karen Smith, Director

"Mozart Mayhem"

The Tender Land



Haensel and Gretel

For more information regarding the ETSU Opera Theatre Workshop contact:

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

Johnson City Symphony Orchestra

 

 

The Department of Music is proud to be affiliated with the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra. Music majors and minors receive credit by performing with either (or both) of these ensembles. Students are accepted by audition only.

Click here for complete audition information

 

 

 

 

 

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.