Performance Opportunities
The Music Program produces a wide variety of events each term, including band, orchestra, and choir concerts, jazz concerts, chamber music performances, opera scenes and full productions, and student recitals. Guest artists are frequently invited to perform and offer master classes.
Choral & Vocal Studies
University Singers - MUS 1200/3200
Chamber Singers - MUS 2200/4200
The Chamber Singers is an auditioned ensemble. Performing music from around the world, and from time periods spanning from the Renaissance to the 21st century, this is CSUB's advanced choral ensemble. Open by audition to students registered in the University Singers MUS 1200/3200.
Treble Singers - MUS 2780/4780
The Treble Singers ensemble is open to all treble voices on campus. Faculty and community members are welcome. No audition required.
Opera Theatre - MUS 2210/4210
Singers have the exciting opportunity to expand their repertoire and gain performance experience by participating in CSUB's Opera Theatre Program. Open by audition.
Voice Classes - MUS 1140 & 1150
Offered every semester, the voice class series is an opportunity to learn and practice basic singing technique. Meeting times vary.
For more information, contact Dr. Angel M. Vázquez-Ramos, Director of Choral & Vocal Studies.
Instrumental Studies
Concert Band - MUS 2220/4220
Open by audition to all university students, faculty, staff, and members of the community, the Concert Band is the premier large instrumental ensemble at CSUB. The Concert Band performs the highest quality literature for winds, including outstanding new repertoire. The Guest Composers Series has featured 43 guest composers in residence in the past eight years.
Symphonic Band - MUS 1220/3220
Open to all university students, faculty, staff and members of the community with consent of the director, the Symphonic Band is geared towards a quality musical experience for all. The group rehearses and performs works from the standard wind band literature. The Symphonic Band encourages those with any instrumental music background to join, with no audition required.
Chamber Orchestra - MUS 1230/3230
Open to all students and members of the community with consent of the instructor, this ensemble performs rich and diverse repertoire for both string and chamber orchestra.
Pep Band - MUS 1210/3210
Open to all university students, the Big Blue Runner Crew is a fixture with CSUB athletics, boosting spectator spirit at over two dozen events each year.
For more information, contact Dr. Leo Sakomoto, Director of Instrumental Music Studies
Jazz Collective - MUS 1250/3250
Open by audition to all University students, the Jazz Collective specializes in performance of representative repertoire for medium to large jazz ensembles. Over 40 guest soloists and composers have been featured at the annual Jazz Jam. Former members of the group have won Downbeat awards, Betty Carter Kennedy Center awards, Chamber Music of America grants, highest awards at competitive jazz festivals, and selection to the California Collegiate All-State Big Band.
Jazz Combos - MUS 2240/4240
Jazz combos are open by audition to all university students, faculty, staff, and members of the community, instrumentalists and vocalists alike. Traditional and contemporary jazz styles are featured in ensembles ranging from trios to septets. The creation and performance of original works is strongly encouraged.
Guitar Ensemble - MUS 1240/3240
Open to all university students, faculty, staff, and members of the community, this ensemble focuses on original compositions and arrangements for multiple guitars, including a variety of duets, trios and quartets.
Guitar Class - MUS 2780
Designed for students with little or no background in guitar playing, this course introduces proper right and left hand finger techniques. Students learn tuning methods, fingering logic, scales, arpeggios, chord strumming techniques and types of right hand strokes.
For more information, contact Jim Scully, Director of Jazz Ensembles
Chamber Music - MUS 2230/4230
The Chamber Music program focuses on small ensemble performance. Students have the opportunity to perform in a variety of instrumental ensembles in which they will develop both performance and listening skills as they play one-on-a-part with their peers.
Piano Classes - MUS 1120, 1130, 2120, & 2130
Piano classes develop playing technique and skills in note-reading, harmonization, transposition, improvisation, and analysis, in solo and ensemble settings.
For more information, contact Dr. Soo-Yeon Park, Director of Keyboard Studies