Ensembles

Brass Ensemble

This ensemble provides an opportunity for brass students to perform chamber music. The group features a full brass choir and smaller brass chamber ensembles. Brass Ensemble meets twice a week and performs concerts every semester. For more information contact:

Dr. Alex Zacharella
Director of Bands/Professor
Phone: 479-788-7972
Email:  Alex.Zacharella@uafs.edu

 

Jazz Band

Performing high-energy shows for sellout crowds, this audition-based ensemble has performed with the New York Voices, Dizzy Gillespie, Rolling Stones saxophonist Ernie Watts, and many more world-renowned artists. This band takes pride in covering a full spectrum of jazz music from vintage to contemporary styles. The band performs several major concerts each year in addition to the Jazz Noon Show brown bag lunch concerts and other community events. For more information or to arrange an audition, contact:

Dr. David Tyson
Assistant Professor
Phone: 479-788-7538
Email: David.Tyson@uafs.edu

Jazz Catz

This select auditioned ensemble is recognized statewide as the region's most outstanding vocal jazz ensemble. Jazz Catz has performed with The Manhattan Transfer and at Carnegie Hall. Other performances include the Mid-America Jazz Festival, South Central Regional Conference of the International Association for Jazz Education, and the University of North Texas Jazz Festival where the group was named Most Outstanding University Vocal Jazz Group. The ensemble has worked with and been praised by noted vocal jazz arrangers, including Michele Weir, Rosana Eckert, Phil Mattson, Paris Rutherford, and others. For more information or to arrange an audition, contact:

Don Bailey
Director of Jazz Studies
Phone: 479-788-7554
Email: Don.Bailey@uafs.edu

Jazz/Rock Lab Ensemble

This ensemble provides a training ground for students to learn basic techniques and style characteristics related to jazz and rock performance. For more information contact:

Leonis Chamber Singers

The university's premiere choral ensemble, the Leonis (Latin for Lions) Chamber Singers are an auditioned group of 40 to 50 singers that performs a wide variety of outstanding choral literature from the Renaissance to the present. In addition to four major on-campus concerts, this ensemble presents concerts at various off-campus locations. Rehearsals are 1-1:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information or to arrange an audition, contact:

Dr. Timothy Workman
Director of Choral Activities/Associate Professor
Phone: 479-788-7543
Email: Timothy.Workman@uafs.edu

Lions Athletic Band

The Lions Athletic Band is a select group of 40-50 musicians that performs at all home basketball games. Lions Athletic Band auditions are open to all university students. For more information contact:

Men's Chorus

Men's Chorus is a fun and exciting place to explore topics specific to the tenor/bass voice. Designed to be a place where music majors and non-majors alike can sing together, the Men's Chorus provides comradery, performance opportunities, and fun while pursuing musical excellence through a diverse and wide-ranging repertoire. The chorus rehearses 3-3:50 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more information or to arrange an audition, contact:

Dr. Timothy Workman Director of Choral Activities/Associate Professor
Phone: 479-788-7543
Email: Timothy.Workman@uafs.edu

 

 

 

Opera and Musical Theatre Workshop

Focusing on solo and ensemble repertoire from both musical theatre and opera with individual instruction in music and dramatic preparation, interpretive ability, and the understanding of proper performance techniques, each member of the group has the opportunity to perform a role as part of the main stage production or a variety of roles in a scenes program at the end of each semester. For more information or to arrange an audition, contact:

Dr. Elizabeth Momand
Professor
Phone: 479-788-7540
Email: Elizabeth.Momand@uafs.edu

 

 

 

Percussion Ensemble

The Percussion Ensemble consists primarily of percussion majors and provides students with the opportunity to perform and become familiar with the ever-growing volume of percussion ensemble literature. Composing and conducting opportunities will also be presented and encouraged. The ensemble presents public performances and clinic sessions each semester. Participation in the percussion ensemble is expected for as many semesters as possible so that students can acquaint themselves with the literature and techniques. This ensemble meets 4-4:50 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more information contact:

Dr. Brant Blackard
Visiting Assistant Professor
Phone: 479-788-7544
Email: Brant.Blackard@uafs.edu

 

 

 

 

Piano

The keyboard area offers a supportive, rewarding, and challenging course of study for piano soloists, future music teachers, educators, chamber musicians, and accompanists. In addition to performing solo piano works, piano majors perform multi-hand compositions and work collaboratively as accompanists with instrumental and vocal majors. Piano students take an array of classes that contribute to their overall musical education, including piano literature, piano pedagogy, and accompaniment. For more information contact:

Shalon Lester
Adjunct Instructor
Phone: 479-788-7530
Email: Shalon.Lester@uafs.edu

 

 

Wind Ensemble

The university's premier instrumental ensemble, Wind Ensemble has earned an exemplary reputation throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma for outstanding and exciting performances. This ensemble is an auditioned group of more than 60 instrumentalists that performs classical and modern wind ensemble repertoire. Wind Ensemble performs several major concerts per year and has had the honor of performing with many great conductors, composers, and guest artists. For more information or to arrange an audition, contact:

Dr. Alexandra Zacharella
Director of Bands/Professor
Phone: 479-788-7972
Email: Alex.Zacharella@uafs.edu

 

Women's Chorus

One of the university's longest-standing vocal ensembles, Women's Chorus is the perfect place for individuals to master the unique challenges that come from being a treble voice. The repertoire is fun and engaging with messages that are often empowering. Concerts include major on-campus musical events as well as exclusive invitations to perform privately throughout the year. Auditions are available to all UAFS students. Women's Chorus rehearses 2-2:50 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more information or to arrange an audition, contact:

Dr. Timothy Workman
Director of Choral Activities/Associate Professor
Phone: 479-788-7543
Email: Timothy.Workman@uafs.edu