{"id":178,"date":"2017-10-16T22:07:18","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T22:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-music\/ensembles\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T18:01:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T18:01:13","slug":"ensembles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/ensembles\/","title":{"rendered":"Music Department Ensembles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ensemble Audition Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Auditions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

General Distribution Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Participation in the same ensemble for four consecutive semesters fulfills the Fine Arts general distribution requirement. See Majors & Minors<\/a> page for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n \"percussion\"\n <\/a>\n
\n

African Music Ensemble<\/h3>\n

The Macalester African Music Ensemble, founded in 1987 and directed by Sowah Mensah, performs traditional African music primarily from Ghana, but also from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Guinea, The Gambia, Kenya, and Tanzania.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Asian\n <\/a>\n
\n

Asian Music Ensemble<\/h3>\n

Directed by Chuen-Fung Wong, the Macalester Asian Music Ensemble performs traditional and modern music from East and Central Asia.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Chamber\n <\/a>\n
\n

Chamber Music Program<\/h3>\n

The Chamber Music program at Macalester is coordinated by Mark Mandarano, and offers an opportunity to explore and perform repertoire for small ensembles.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Choral\n <\/a>\n
\n

Choral Ensembles<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0Chorale is the large choral ensemble of Macalester College, directed by Michael McGaghie. The\u00a0Concert Choir\u00a0is the advanced, select vocal ensemble of Macalester College, directed by Michael McGaghie.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Early\n <\/a>\n
\n

Early Music Ensemble<\/h3>\n

Directed by Brazilian recorder player Cl\u00e9a Galhano, the Macalester Early Music Ensemble focuses on Renaissance and Baroque repertory.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Jazz\n <\/a>\n
\n

Jazz and Pop Combos<\/h3>\n

Jazz and Pop Combos are forums for students to receive coaching in the performance of standards and\/or original music, directed by Peter Hennig.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Mac\n <\/a>\n
\n

MacJazz<\/h3>\n

MacJazz, directed by Joan Griffith, is an 18-piece big band that performs and records classic and contemporary big band jazz.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Orchestra\"\n <\/a>\n
\n

Symphony Orchestra<\/h3>\n

The Macalester Symphony\u00a0Orchestra is a select ensemble of 50-60 students conducted by Mark Mandarano.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Pipe\n <\/a>\n
\n

Pipe Band<\/h3>\n

Directed by Mike Breidenbach, the Macalester College Pipe Band is comprised of students, faculty, alumni, and community members, who are all dedicated to playing the bagpipes and drums at the highest level.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n
\n \n \"Wind\n <\/a>\n
\n

Wind Symphony<\/h3>\n

The Wind Symphony provides an opportunity for Macalester students to rehearse and perform the concert literature for winds and percussion, under the direction of Shelley Hanson.<\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article> \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Student-run ensembles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A cappella groups are student-run organizations. \u00a0For more information about a cappella groups such as the Sirens, Trads, and Mac of All Trades, visit the\u00a0Student Organization Directory<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ensemble Audition Information Auditions General Distribution Requirements Participation in the same ensemble for four consecutive semesters fulfills the Fine Arts general distribution requirement. See Majors & Minors page for more info. Student-run ensembles A cappella groups are student-run organizations. \u00a0For more information about a cappella groups such as the Sirens, Trads, and Mac of All […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":913,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-178","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/913"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=178"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2459,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/178\/revisions\/2459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/music\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}