Brass Ensembles
Explore the Brass Program at SDSU
The SDSU Brass program offers a comprehensive musical education with a focus on performance while working with world-class faculty. Large ensembles, chamber music and solo performances all play an important role in the development of SDSU brass musicians. Together, large ensembles, chamber music, and solo performances provide opportunities for the professional development of each individual student.
Brass Chamber Music
We believe in performance opportunities catered to the student. Our roster of chamber ensembles has expanded exponentially in recent years, with students playing a collaborative role in facilitating the creation of, coordinating personnel for, and finding new music for chamber groups.
Ensembles perform twice per semester on campus and also have the opportunity to take a more involved approach in the community, performing in unique venues, such as the Zoro Garden in Balboa Park. Through these performances, students gain valuable experience playing in a variety of settings, improving and expanding upon the fundamentals of musicianship.
Each chamber ensemble will work closely with renowned studio faculty to expand their repertoire and read pieces that vary in style and difficulty. At SDSU we cultivate artistry, collaboration, and community engagement through performance.
Every semester, the brass chamber music program includes:
- Brass Quintets
- Mixed Brass Chamber Ensembles
- Horn Ensemble
- Trombone/Euphonium Choir
- Trombone Quartet
- Trumpet Ensemble
- Tuba Ensemble
Large Ensembles
SDSU brass musicians take part in large ensembles throughout their studies. The experiences and learning opportunities within these ensembles are integral to students’ development both professionally and musically. The School of Music and Dance offers a variety of orchestras and wind ensembles, ensuring a balance of different playing settings for musicians.
As the top orchestral ensemble at the university, membership in the orchestra is through audition and is open to all qualified students regardless of major via audition. The Symphony Orchestra performs repertoire that is representative of many musical style periods and historic contexts. The program offerings are carefully balanced to provide performers and audience members alike with a wide and varied selection of quality musical works. Standard orchestral literature is the foundation, providing the experience necessary for students pursuing a career in music. Auditions are held prior to each semester.
The SDSU Wind Symphony is the premiere wind group at San Diego State University. Membership is selected through audition from the most outstanding wind and percussion musicians attending the university, regardless of major. The ensemble promotes the repertoire of the past as well as the music of today, embracing the wind band movement. Under the leadership of Dr. Shannon Kitelinger, SDSU’s Director of Bands, the ensemble builds on its long tradition promoting the advancement of the wind band medium.
The Symphonic Band is a select group of auditioned musicians that perform advanced repertoire to develop their technical and musical abilities. This ensemble exposes musicians to a wide variety of wind band repertoire, both classic standards and new music from renowned composers. The Symphonic Band seeks to educate members through dynamic performances with high artistic standards. The group performs in traditional campus based venues as well as unique sites on and off campus including the SDSU Student Union and the Magnolia Theatre.
The Symphonic Brass ensemble meets every Friday under the direction of Dr. Eric Starr. Composed of the Symphonic Band brass section, this stand-alone ensemble rehearses brass and percussion repertoire that is featured at Symphonic Band concerts. In addition to classics such as the works of Giovanni Gabrieli, students also explore brass band literature and contemporary pieces by living composers, gaining a well-rounded experience from both traditional and modern repertoire.
Concert Band is open to all university students and performs a variety of wind literature for varying levels of musicians. The ensemble plays standard music from the symphonic band repertoire, seeking to educate the members through high quality performance standards, while providing a viable musical outlet for SDSU music students of all levels. The Concert Band is open to all musicians at SDSU and encourages the pursuit of lifelong music making. Many Music Education majors use Concert Band to cultivate their skills on a secondary instrument, providing a stronger foundation for their future teaching careers.
