Classical & Jazz Ensembles

The Department of Music offers a wide variety of traditional ("classical") performance ensembles. For audition and rehearsal information, contact the directors of each ensemble.

Brass Ensemble

Director: Peter Dubeau

Classical Guitar Ensemble

Director: Timothy Olbrych

Early Music Ensemble

The Early Music Ensemble plays Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music on period instruments. Our collection includes recorders (8 sizes), viols (3 sizes), lutes, vielle, gothic harp, hurdy-gurdy, rebec, rauschpfeife, krummhorns, cornamuses, a quintet of gemshorns, cornetto, baroque oboe, baroque flute, baroque bows for string players, and access to several harpsichords and a 1740 organ housed in the Wren Chapel pitched at a =417 and in fifth-comma meantone tuning. Some students play their own old instruments, including baroque violin and baroque flute. Click here for a news story on ensemble member Evan Callaway ('12) who built a contrabass recorder for his Monroe project. For other samples of the ensemble's playing, search "W&M Early Music Ensemble" on YouTube.

The ensemble gives two major concerts per year, in November and April, in the historic spaces in and near campus such as the 1693 Wren Chapel and the 1715 Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg; the group also performs half a dozen other times per year for local and distant events. The ensemble has performed throughout the mid-Atlantic and in 2008 released a CD of music of Bach and Handel on period instruments. About 15 students per year are chosen to join the group, including, in some years, one singer per voice part. Rehearsal times are chosen at the mutual convenience of the students and the director. For audition information, contact Director Ruth van Baak Griffioen.

Jazz Combo

Director: Harris Simon

Jazz Ensemble

Director: [[pkbhasin, Paul Bhasin]]

Mixed Ensemble: Gallery Players

Director: [[sfviax, Susan Via]]

Enrollment is open to Advanced Instrumentalists. Course is offered for one credit hour and meets one hour weekly. Repertoire includes Chamber orchestra and large chamber ensemble works. Performance venues include the Muscarelle Museum, Great Hall of the Wren, and Bruton Parish Candlelight Concerts. 

Opera Workshop

Director: Ryan Fletcher

Percussion Ensemble

Director: John Lindberg

Saxophone Ensemble

Director: James Nesbit

String Ensemble

Director: Neal Cary

  The String Ensemble class is for small chamber music groups with strings.  This includes, but is not limited to, string sextets, quintets, quartets, trios, and duos.  Groups can also include piano.  The class is by permission only to ensure that everyone can be placed in an ensemble, and to help create groups where students are well-matched in experience and ability.  Students are encouraged to form their own groups if possible, but this is not a requirement.  Coaching is on either Mondays or Tuesdays, and begins late - usually 10:00 PM or later.

Viol Ensemble     

Director: Sarah Glosson

Woodwind Ensemble

Director: Patti Carlson