...a harmonious foundation
for the future
Click to see a list of Woodwind Faculty
Click to see a list of Brass/Percussion Faculty
Click to see a list of Strings Faculty
Click to see a list of Ensemble Directors
Ensembles
Ensemble participation is an important component of instrumental studies at Bowling Green State University. Such training fosters important musical, social and organizational skills, encouraging independence and responsibility in an ensemble setting In the spring of each year, the college hosts a Chamber Music Competition with monetary and performance awards recognizing the winning groups. Coached by faculty and/or graduate students, these ensembles also participate in tours and national competitions; indeed, BGSU student groups have won top prizes in the MTNA National Competition, the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Auditions, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and the Arriaga National Chamber Music Competition.
Click for a directory of Ensemble Faculty
Athletic Band
The Athletic Band is auditioned group formed midway through the fall semester to provide music at selected basketball and hockey games. It continues into the second semester for the remainder of the basketball and hockey seasons. The director of the Athletic Band is Dr. Carol Hayward.
Concert Band
Falcon Marching Band (FMB)
Exists only during football season and performs for all home games, selected other events and a concert. Auditions are held at the beginning of rehearsals in August. Students report (and move into their assigned residence halls) for marching fundamentals, drills and music rehearsals about seven days prior to the opening of classes. Flag corps and twirler auditions are held at other times (Flags: April and early August; Twirlers: early August). Information on current dates for these auditions can be obtained from the band office. The director of the FMB is Dr. Carol Hayward.
The largest student organization on campus, the FMB performs at all home football games and various other university functions. They have also performed at the University of Akron, University of Michigan, University of Toledo and Eastern Michigan, Miami, West Virginia, Marshall, Ohio State and Ball State universities, as well as professional football games at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, the Pontiac Silverdome, and Cleveland Browns Stadium, and many high school band festivals. Additional trips have included bowl games in Fresno, Calif. (Raisin Bowl), Las Vegas (Silver Bowl), Detroit (Motor City Bowl), and Mobile, Ala. (GMAC Bowl). In 2007, the band was proud to have been invited to perform in exhibition at the Bands of America Regional in Indianapolis.
Numbering 220 members, the band serves as a showcase of the finest in musical and visual performance, as well as a centerpiece for athletic spirit. The FMB is composed of students from all colleges of the University and membership is open by audition to students of all class levels and all majors.
The band performed an original composition composed especially for the Falcon Marching Band by Ryan Nowlin ’00, ’04, entitled New Frontiers. It includes original visual design by Jason Sivill ’04 and percussion book by Michael Sander ’97.
University Band
The University Band performs the finest in wind literature, emphasizing the core repertoire and contemporary publications that provide a strong basis for the music educator. The University Band is one of three concert bands at BGSU. This ensemble is open to all university students, and it meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30–1:20 p.m. Throughout each semester, the University Band performs two concerts. The director of the University Band is Dr. Kenneth Thompson.
Wind Symphony
The Wind Symphony is the most advanced-level performing ensemble in the band area. Seating and placement are through audition. The ensemble performs contemporary and standard literature for winds and percussion. Each fall, the Wind Symphony performs in the New Music Festival and recently was selected to perform at the College Band Director’s National Association Conference in Chicago. Performing on the Band New Music Reading and Directors Clinic in January, the ensemble also performs at least two concerts each semester. The Wind Symphony meets Monday from 8–10 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30–3:45 p.m. in the fall and Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4–5:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 4–5 p.m. in the spring. The director of the Wind Symphony is Dr. Bruce Moss.
Bassoon Ensemble
Maya Stone, Director
The Bassoon Ensemble performs a variety of music and musical styles. Begun in 1996, the ensemble has presented concerts on and off campus.
Clarinet Choir
Kevin Schempf, director
The Clarinet Choir performs new works and transcriptions for multiple clarinets, and presents a concert each semester.
Classical Guitar Ensemble
Chris Buzzelli, director
The Classical Guitar Ensemble has participated in the Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival. Recently, we have aquired a number of alto, bass and contrabass guitars for use in the Classical Guitar Ensemble.
Flute Choir
Conor Nelson, director
Flute Choir is usually offered in the fall semester and at other times upon request. Smaller ensembles are available both semesters. The ensembles offer the experience of using the alto and bass flutes along with piccolos and standard flutes.
Horn Club
Andrew Pelletier, director
The Horn Club, founded by the late Herbert Spencer and now under the direction of Andrew Pelletier, is comprised of students, staff, alumni and community members performing a wide variety of music of transcribed and original music for horn ensemble. The group performs several times annually, both on and off campus, including educational outreach concerts.
Percussion Ensemble
Roger Schupp, director
The Percussion Ensemble was first organized in 1968. Comprised of graduate and undergraduate percussion majors at the college, the group performs on a number of concerts each semester.
Trombone Choir
William Mathis, director
The Trombone Choir, under the direction of William Mathis, is comprised of undergraduate and graduate trombone majors in the college performing a wide variety of music of transcribed and original music for large and small trombone ensembles. This group maintains both a performance and pedagogical mission, where students of all levels perform together and learn from each other. The ensemble performs regularly on- and off-campus and has been featured at churches, public schools and universities in Ohio and Michigan.
Trumpet Ensemble
Charles Saenz, director
The Bowling Green Trumpet Ensemble was founded in 1983 by Professor Emeritus of Trumpet Edwin Betts and several graduate trumpet students at the College. Currently under the direction of assistant professor of trumpet Charles Saenz, the ensemble, comprised of ten to 12 members, performs on a regular basis on and off the campus including regular trips to perform at the annual Ohio meetings of the International Trumpet Guild.
The Ensemble provides students the opportunity to hone their performance and ensemble skills in an intensive chamber music environment, exploring the breadth of trumpet ensemble music from the Baroque to the present.
Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble
David Saltzman, director
Comprised of 16 members, the ensemble provides students with an intensive chamber music experience of the literature written for and transcribed for the ensemble.