Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles
The Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir is an elite vocal ensemble chosen by audition and performs on campus and community concerts throughout the academic year. The choir rehearses and performs challenging choral music literature written especially for smaller choirs.
The Chorale
A mixed ensemble focused upon the rehearsal, study and performance of choral music. Repertoire may include accompanied and unaccompanied works from all style eras and genres, modern music, world music, and performances of multiple mediums. Choral music experience is recommended. No audition is required.
Glee Club
The Glee Club was organized in 1906 and is the oldest student organization on campus. The Glee Club performs frequently on and off campus. Repertoire includes traditional chorus music, contemporary vocal percussion, and original compositions.
Treble Choir
The Treble Choir performs a variety of accompanied and a cappella music across classical and popular music styles.
Jazz Program
The Georgia Tech Jazz Program provides a great opportunity to study one of America’s greatest and most unique art forms. The Jazz Ensembles explore music from the late 1920’s through the present day, including works by composers such as Duke Ellington, Bill Holman, Sammy Nestico, Charles Mingus and Pat Metheny. Emphasis in these groups is focused on ensemble playing and the art of improvisation, an essential element in jazz tradition. Typically, two large jazz ensembles are offered each semester, as well as the opportunity to perform in small jazz combos. Each ensemble presents several concerts during an academic semester, in addition to numerous on and off-campus events throughout the year. The Jazz Program also strives to bring professional artists to campus on a regular basis, and students will often have the opportunity to perform with these musicians and clinicians in concert during the year.
Percussion Ensemble
The percussion ensembles meet in the Fall and Spring and focus on traditional and contemporary ensemble literature as well as transcriptions of popular music. These ensembles are offered to students with prior percussion background. Interested students should contact Chris Moore for permission.
Athletic Bands
The Yellow Jacket Marching Band and Basketball Pep Bands are elements of the Georgia Tech Band Program. The Marching Band and Pep Bands perform at all home games and travel to several out-of-state events, including the ACC Tournament, NCAA Tournament, football games, and bowl appearances. These trips are financed by the Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Tryouts for the auxiliary units are held each spring. Wind and percussion auditions occur at the mandatory band camp held the week before the start of fall classes. More information on athletic bands: http://marchingband.gatech.edu/
Symphonic Band and Concert Band
The Symphonic Band and Concert Band perform masterworks as well as contemporary wind literature designed for the rich sonorities of an expanded instrumentation. The Concert Band provides ensemble performance experiences in a wide range of musical styles and periods for all students at GT. Symphonic Band performs the latest contemporary music as well as standards of the repertoire. Symphonic Band has been involved in commissions of new music from many composers, including Andy Akiho, James David, Steven Bryant, and Julie Giroux. The music performed in these organizations varies from semester to semester and is selected to provide a challenging opportunity for musical growth. By rehearsing and performing at the highest possible level of artistry, each student will be challenged to improve their individual musicianship and ensemble skills. The highest quality repertoire for wind instruments will be the core of the curriculum, allowing for a wide variety in the musical, educational, and philosophical foundations of the course. Auditions are required and take place on the first Tuesday of each semester.
Orchestra
The School of Music currently offers two orchestral ensembles: the Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra (GTSO, advanced), and Concert Orchestra (intermediate). The orchestra program also provides access to master classes, professional engagements, and recording opportunities. Students are encouraged to pre-register for orchestra and then audition during the first week of each semester.
Rock / Pop Ensemble
The Georgia Tech Rock/Pop ensemble performs repertoire drawn from all styles of American vernacular music from roughly 1950 onwards, as well as derivative genres from overseas. Each semester, the group divides into multiple bands, each exploring one style or era of Rock/Pop music. Each band also performs their own original songs. Guitarists, bassists, drummers/percussionists, keyboardists, brass players, and singers are all invited to audition.
Laptop Orchestra
The Georgia Tech Laptop Orchestra consists primarily of music technology majors. Students in the ensemble learn about audio synthesis, sound design, approaches to notation and improvisation in experimental music, and interactive music programming and instrument design. They present concerts which include music arranged for laptop orchestra, music composed for laptop orchestra, and music created by the students in the ensemble.