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Ensembles

World Music

The World Music Ensemble program is one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive, offering instruction and performance opportunities in diverse world music traditions. Two world music festivals and the impressive Rainbow Concert of World Music are presented annually. Ensemble participants benefit from the resources of the Ethnomusicology program at the College of Music, which includes internationally renowned faculty members and a sizable group of graduate students. World Music Ensembles regularly perform in the College of Music’s concert and recital halls, and there is a dedicated rehearsal space that also houses a large collection of instruments from around the world. 

African Music and Dance     

The African Music and Dance Ensemble performs music from all across Sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, the ensemble has performed Ashanti drumming and Ga xylophone music from West Africa, amadinda xylophone music from Uganda and Kiganda court music from the kingdom of Buganda, which includes various string instruments, drumming, vocal styles and dance.

Gospel Choir

Specializes in the performance of sacred music from the African-American tradition. Both traditional and contemporary works and arrangements are performed. The Gospel Choir performs frequently at both on- and off-campus events.

Andean Music

Known as “Aconcagua,” after the tallest mountain in the Andes (and in the Western Hemisphere), this ensemble performs music from the many traditions of the South American central Andes (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador). The instrumentation includes kenas, sikus, tarkas, charangos, guitars, arpa índigena, bombo, and cajon.

Balinese Gamelan

“Sekaa Gong Hanuman Agung” performs both traditional and contemporary gamelan music of Bali, as well as works for gamelan by Western composers. Focusing on both gong kebyar and baleganjur gamelan styles, this ensemble features 25-30 musicians playing on a spectacular set of handmade gongs, metallophones, drums, cymbals, and flutes from Bali, Indonesia.

Brazilian Ensemble

The Brazilian Music Ensemble, also known as “Grupo Jaraguá,” performs traditional and contemporary music from Brazil, including genres such as choro. The ensemble features a variety of instrumentations, from vocal works with modern pop band instruments to works that showcase less common instruments such as melodica.

Chinese Ensemble

The Chinese Music Ensemble includes instruction and performance on various Chinese instruments, with a current emphasis on the zheng. Other instruments in the College of Music’s collection include pipa, qin, erhu, ruan, dizi, yangqin, sheng, suona, and xiao. Chinese song and percussion traditions have also been featured on recent concert programs.

Irish Ensemble

This ensemble focuses on traditional and neo-traditional Irish fiddle repertoire, which is taught in a traditional oral-aural manner. Singing and dance traditions are encompassed within the range of repertoire, and other instruments used in Irish traditional music (guitars, tinwhistle, flute, bodhrán) are included in the ensemble as well.

Old Time Ensemble

This ensemble focuses on the traditional music and dance of North America. Students learn ballads and Appalachian-style fiddle tunes on a variety of instruments including fiddle, guitar, banjo, ukulele, mandolin, dulcimer and piano and are given the chance to learn clogging and square dancing. The group gives several community outreach concerts each year in addition to their performances on campus.

Steelband

“Mas ‘n Steel,” a Trinidadian-style steelband, consists of “pans” made by Manette, Alexis, and Reynolds. The ensemble offers instruction on all instruments, and performs frequently at FSU and throughout the state of Florida as part of its activities. Repertoire includes traditional works for steelband, Panorama compositions, and a wide range of arrangements encompassing classical, jazz, and popular music styles.