Ensembles

The band department houses two large ensembles: the University Band and the Wind Ensemble:

The Concert Band focuses equally upon standard large band repertoire along with carefully selected transcriptions. Membership in this ensemble is open to all university students by audition.

The Wind Ensemble is a highly selective student ensemble performing standard and contemporary wind repertoire suited to the reduced instrumentation of the ensemble. Membership is by audition.

About the Department of Bands

The New Orleans Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art was founded in 1919 by Dr. Dernest E. Schuyten, of New Orleans. In September 1932, the Conservatory affiliated with Loyola University and became the College of Music of Loyola University.

In the early 1940s the band was established under the direction of Benjamin Samuel Konikoff. Later that decade, John B. Whitlock became the director of the bands. In the early 1950s, the former trumpet instructor Georage A. Jansen took over as director of bands. In the 1960s, the band directorship then passed on to Dr. Joseph Hebert.

Audition Information

Auditions will occur during the first few days of the fall semester.

Notable alumni

• Charles Fernandez
• Antonio J. Garcia
• Victor L. Goines
• Major Scott A. Guidry
• Dr. Rodney R. Lafon
• Dr. Anthony Purcell
• John Reeks

Festivals + Community Ensembles

• Invitational Band Festival
  Open to High School bands by audition recordings. A nationally acclaimed composer will serve as clinician for the wind ensemble and high school bands.

• Loyola Bourgeois Band
  Any High School in the Greater New Orleans area can submit two of their students to participate. Any instrument and all high school grade levels are accepted. There are two rehearsals and a concert conducted by Col. J.R. Bourgeois and Loyola faculty.

The choral program at Loyola University New Orleans has a long and illustrious history.  The choirs make regular appearances at various events in the city, including the Red Mass, Mass for St. Patrick’s Day, and the popular Christmas at Loyola concert.  The Loyola choral program provides students the opportunity to experience the beauty, artistry, and teamwork of choral singing while honing their vocal and music reading skills in a supportive and challenging setting.

Conductor

Dr. Meg Frazier has been Director of Choral Activities at Loyola since 1998.  Previous conductors include Mel Ivy, Larry Wyatt, and Steven Edwards. Under her leadership, the choirs have continued the tradition of excellence, providing the University and New Orleans community opportunities to hear choral music of quality from all historical eras, focusing on sacred a cappella repertoire. 

Chamber Singers

Chamber Singers is a highly select, invitation-only ensemble comprised of the finest choral singers at Loyola.  Students wishing to participate in this ensemble must demonstrate exceptional solo and ensemble vocal technique, a thorough grounding in music reading and ability to prepare independently, and a curiosity for and love of diverse, challenging choral repertoire.

Loyola Chorale

The Loyola Chorale is the University’s premiere auditioned choral ensemble.  Comprised mainly of music majors (although that is not a requirement), the Chorale performs four times a year, including a regular appearance at the annual Christmas at Loyola concert each December.  The Chorale makes regular tours and has sung for state and regional ACDA conferences, as well as at Carnegie Hall and various venues in Europe.  

University Chorus

University Chorus is a large, open-membership choir whose repertoire includes masterworks of choral and choral/orchestral literature.  The University Chorus is a frequent collaborator with other local music ensembles, including the Louisiana Philharmonic and the New Orleans Opera Chorus, on large-scale choral works such as Verdi’s Requiem and Orff’s Carmina burana.  The University Chorus performs two concerts a year at minimum.

Loyola Choral Festival

Once per year, the Loyola Choral Festival brings together the talents of visiting singers, Loyola faculty, and guest clinicians to learn and enjoy music together.

The jazz bands offer vocalists and instrumentalists an opportunity to perform music in the popular and jazz idioms along with study of arranging and techniques of improvisation. Both Jazz Band and Jazz Workshop Band are open to all University students by audition. Musicians have the opportunity to perform in both Jazz Ensembles and Combos.

Ensembles available include:

• Jazz Ensemble
• Jazz Workshop Band
• Jazz Training Band
• Jazz Combos
• Traditional Jazz Combo
• Afro-Cuban Ensemble
• Jazz Vocal Ensemble
• Jazz Guitar Ensemble

Jazz Festival

Loyola hosts one of the oldest educational jazz festivals in the country. Each year in March a famous guest artist joins the Loyola Jazz Ensemble to share knowledge with and perform for student jazz musicians from all over North America.

This ensemble concentrates on music and stage direction simultaneously. In addition to learning the staging of their own parts in scenes of operas, students are instructed in the techniques of operatic stage deportment applicable to any role.

Every year, voice students at Loyola have the opportunity to audition for and perform in a full-length opera as well as an opera scenes program. Students are not only immersed in the experience of learning and performing operatic repertoire, but they are also given chances to learn from visiting directors, choreographers, and even stage-fighting experts. Loyola's opera theatre program is directed by Carol Rausch, the music director for the New Orleans Opera Association.

More information on Opera Theatre Program

• Loyola Symphony Orchestra
  The Symphony Orchestra is the premiere orchestral ensemble at Loyola University. It is primarily staffed by 60-70 music majors. Full-scale orchestral works are frequently performed in this ensemble (i.e., Stravinsky’s Fire Bird, Dvorak’s New World Symphony) The Symphony Orchestra (LSO) performs at least two concerts each semester and collaborates with Loyola Ballet and Opera Theatre in the production of a full ballet and an opera.
• The Loyola Strings
  This smaller orchestra is staffed primarily by music majors. The Loyola Strings performs 1 to 2 concerts each semester. Repertoire varies form baroque-to contemporary with mostly strings and limited winds and percussion. Upperclassmen are also given the opportunity to perform as soloist.
• All Loyola String Orchestra
  The ALSO is designed specifically for String Music Education majors to become proficient on a secondary string instrument and to develop pedagogical techniques. Music or non-music majors who wish to continue playing a string instrument while studying at the University as well as community members and beginners are welcome and encouraged to join as well. No audition is necessary. “You are much too young to retire as a string player yet…” Simply register and show up with your instrument. If you do not have an instrument, show up anyway and we will help you find an instrument.
• Small String Ensembles
  These small string ensembles are staffed primarily by students in the Music Department. The Small String Ensembles perform 1 concert each semester along with various community outreach projects depending on the interest of the ensemble and the need of the music department. Each semester’s repertoire is taken from the large chamber music repertoire from baroque to contemporary works while focusing on a particular period each semester. No Audition is required but non-music majors must contact Dr. Montès prior to registering for the class.
• Chamber Ensembles
  Chamber Ensembles provide students with the opportunity to perform a broad selection of repertoire including Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary. Membership is open to all university students.

All students must contact Dr. Jean Montes to be considered for membership in one of the ensembles.