Ensembles
All University of Tennessee ensembles are open to all students.
Appalachian String Band
The Appalachian String Band plays bluegrass and other acoustic, Americana music. There is only one mandatory performance each semester , but other performance opportunities are typically available. No experience with these genres is necessary, but a basic proficiency on your instrument is. Instruments that are typically accepted include fiddle (violin), banjo, guitar, mandolin, upright bass, dobro and voice. Depending upon space in the ensemble, other stringed instruments could be considered. An audition is required. All skill levels encouraged to apply, but acceptance is based on the need to balance instruments and ability. If there are enough people and the right mix of instruments, the ensemble will split into more than one band.
Contact Professor Sean McCollough for more information.
Bands
Concert Band, Pride of the Southland Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble
Founded in 1869 – the third oldest collegiate band program in the country – the University of Tennessee Bands is among the most distinguished, historic, and comprehensive band programs worldwide. We build upon the legacy of our alumni through exceptional and innovative musical experiences, while honoring our rich traditions. We strive to provide an environment promoting musical performances of the highest quality, fostering refined music making and music learning from the concert hall to Neyland Stadium and across the globe.
We hope you will explore our website to discover our rich history and learn about our ensembles, events, faculty, and staff members, or enjoy the sights and sounds of “The Pride of the Southland Marching Band.
Contact Professor John Zastoupil for more information.
Balinese Gamelan
The College of Music at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is home to a Balinese seven-tone semar pegulingan. This type of gamelan developed during the 13th through 16th centuries and remained important within Balinese court life through the 19th century. Since then, the music has spread far beyond its initial royal associations. In addition to the proliferation of semar pegulingan instruments outside the courts, the repertoire has been adapted to gamelan without courtly ties. More recently, the ensemble’s unique tuning and instruments have inspired efforts to revive older repertoire and styles of playing as well as the production of new compositions.
The semar pegulingan at UTK consists of a large collection of bronze-keyed metallophones, bronze gongs, drums, and bamboo flutes. We also have pair of gender rambat that allow us to more faithfully adapt repertoire from the related gamelan pelegongan, which is associated with Bali’s legong dances as well as innovative instrumental compositions by the twentieth-century composer I Wayan Lotring.
The UTK Gamelan was established by Professor Leslie Gay Jr. (Musicology) in 2018 and has been under the direction of Professor Jonathan Adams (Musicology) since 2021.
If you are interested in joining or would like to inquire about a workshop or performance, please email Professor Jonathan Adams jadams@utk.edu.
Students interested in participating for credit should register for MUEN 312 (undergraduate) or MUEN 512 (graduate). This is an experiential-learning course that involves a hands-on introduction to Balinese gamelan music and participation in a community modeled on cultural dimensions of its performance. The course is open to all students. No previous experience playing gamelan or background in music is required.
We meet on Thursdays at 4:30pm during the Fall and Spring semesters. Feel free to drop by!
Choral Ensembles
Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Gospel Choir, Men’s Chorale,
UT Singers, Women’s Chorale
UT choral ensembles offer a rich environment in which to create music, develop personal artistry, and participate in the power of voices joined in song. All students may be a part of this exciting experience by participating in one or more of the University’s choirs: Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Men’s Chorale, Women’s Chorale, Gospel Choir, or UT Singers. By singing in these choirs, students experience the rewards of performing a variety of great choral literature. They also benefit from this experience by meeting and developing lasting friendships with other students who have similar interests. All UT choirs are open to any UT student, regardless of major or previous choral experience and offers one hour of undergraduate or graduate credit.
Contact Professor Angie Batey for more information.
Electroacoustic Ensemble
The newly formed Electroacoustic Ensemble provides a unique platform for students to develop and design instruments while using them in a multidisciplinary performance setting. Now a chamber music class, the ensemble fosters the interaction between music majors and students from other disciplines. Since its inception, the ensemble has maintained active outreach goals; it has performed in many venues including the Electro-music Festival in NY and has completed its first fully student-produced album Vantablack, and participated in the Big Ears Festival and the 2019 ISIM International Conference in Augsburg University.
Contact Professor Jorge Variego for more information.
Flute Ensemble
Contact Professor Maria Fernanda Castillo for more information.
Horn Choir
The University of Tennessee Horn Choir is comprised of all members of the University of Tennessee horn studio. The UT Horn Choir performs at International and Regional horn workshops, on tours throughout the Southeastern United States, and at many other special events in the community. The group varies in size year to year, allowing for the study of different types of literature, from horn quartets to full horn choir repertoire.
Contact Professor Katie Johnson-Webb for more information.
Jazz Ensembles
Jazz Big Band, Small Jazz Ensembles
Quality jazz ensemble opportunities abound at the University of Tennessee. The faculty coached groups play regularly on campus, and are active in the community as well, presenting concerts throughout the entire region. With the focus on improvisation, the groups play a wide variety of material from the Great American Song book, Jazz Standards, Bebop classics, and contemporary Jazz artists as well as student and faculty original music and arrangements. The goal is to prepare students for the rich and comprehensive demands expected of today’s creative musician.
Directed by Keith Brown, the Big Band is a vital part of each student’s education. The group performs a wide variety of music ranging from the libraries of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, as well as student and faculty compositions and arrangements.
The band performs many concerts each year which often includes concerts featuring guest artists of renown. Guest artists of recent years have included Frank Foster, John Clayton, Marvin Stamm, Steve Kovalcheck, Dick Oats, Michael Dease and Terell Stafford.
Contact Professor Keith Brown for more information.
Opera Theatre
UT Opera Theatre, VolOpera
The University of Tennessee Opera Theatre is an artist training program aiming to unlock your potential as singer. As a member of UT Opera Theatre, you’ll gain a secure technical foundation in all areas vital to the development of a successful and fulfilling professional career, including acting, movement, diction, production, stage experience, career orientation, and promotion.
Contact Professor Kevin Class for more information.
Orchestra
Chamber Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra
The University of Tennessee Orchestra Program is one of the most prominent and comprehensive collegiate orchestral programs in the state, where students perform in several concerts annually in a variety of ensembles. The UT Symphony Orchestra (UTSO) is a 70-piece ensemble which performs symphonic literature from the 18th century through the present, including symphonies, overtures, choral-orchestral works, large-scale string literature, and concertos featuring the outstanding faculty of the College of Music and renown guest artists. The Chamber Orchestra performs orchestral works written for ensembles of a smaller scale, while the Contemporary Music Ensemble is dedicated to works composed from 1950 to the present. The UT Opera Theatre performs two full-scale productions each year, and Orchestra Program members play for all performances.
Contact Professor James Fellenbaum for more information.
Piano & String Chamber Ensembles
Contact Professor Evie Chen for more information.
Percussion Ensembles
African Diasporic Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Percussion Ensemble, UT Steelband
The University of Tennessee Percussion Studies division offers dynamic and collaborative performance opportunities for UT students, regardless of their major. Percussion-specific ensembles include Ensemble Knox, our professional-grade collaborative chamber ensemble; the UT Chamber Percussion Ensemble; and the UT African Diasporic Percussion Ensemble, which houses the UT Steelband.
Contact Professor Andrew Bliss for more information.
Rhythm and Blues (R&B)
One of the newest ensembles at UTK, the R&B ensemble preserves the rich tradition of African-American popular music through study and performance. Repertoire includes music by artists such a Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, The Meters, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone, and more. Auditions are held each fall during the first week of classes and the ensemble performs regularly.
Please contact Professor Denin Slage-Koch for more information and to sign up for an audition!
Saxophone Ensembles
Performing at studio recitals and special events, the UT saxophone ensemble consists of the entire classical saxophone studio. Directed by Professor Adams, this ensemble presents an eclectic mix of original and transcribed works for saxophone ensemble.
Contact Professor Allison Adams for more information.
Trombone Choir
Under the baton, or pencil, of Professor Alex van Duuren, the UTK Trombone Choir travels the country representing the School of Music as a premier performance ensemble of the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center. Our ensemble is celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2015, and is a storied and historical ensemble of the UT College of Music. Members enjoy performing contemporary works and classic arrangements for trombone choir, performing at local schools and professional engagements, as well as traveling for national competitions. Come hear the Trombone Choir!
Contact Professor Alex van Duuren for more information.
Trumpet Ensemble
The UTK trumpet ensemble is comprised of music performance and music education majors. In this group we study all ensemble techniques, especially those unique to a trumpet section. We have performances in local schools, local events, our own trumpet studio recitals and aim to participate in competitions and conferences. Non-majors and minors can participate by auditioning.
Please contact Professor Arthur Zanin if you have any questions.
Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble
The University of Tennessee Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble (UTTEE) is made up of music majors, music minors, and elective music students. Membership is by audition only, but everyone interested is encouraged to contact Professor Lapins to audition. This group is designed to take students beyond the traditional “back-row” challenges of concert bands, and give everyone the chance to play beautiful melodies, exciting accompaniments, and enjoy the spotlight. This group has performed at regional, national and international conferences, and regularly performs on campus and throughout Tennessee.
UTKlarinettenchor (Clarinet Choir)
The UTKlarinettenchor was founded in 2013 as a semi-chamber music ensemble with the intent of providing a comprehensive performance and pedagogical experience for clarinet students, both majors and non-majors! Students are given the opportunity to learn auxiliary instruments while honing their leadership skills in a positive and enthusiastic environment! The UTKlarinettenchor has been invited to perform at a variety of conferences such as the Tennessee Music Educators Association’s, and most notably, the International Clarinet Association’s 2019 ClarinetFest. The ensemble is dedicated to outreach concerts that include hosting our very own Single Reed Day Honor Invitational! This invitational is held every spring to engage and collaborate with over 130 regional high school students each year! Additional performance opportunities include local and regional tours to middle schools and high schools in the area. Impromptu concerts are often held during holiday occasions and allow our clarinetists to create community and involvement across campus! Whether performing on stage in AMB Cox Auditorioum, the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, or the Student Union Building, our clarinetists are sharing their performance skills with the community by engaging in vibrant, effective, and meaningful events! This is an exciting opportunity that meets every spring semester, once a week, Monday evenings! Come be a part of Tennessee Clarinet Tradition!
Contact Professor Victor Chávez for more information.