Beyond the Classroom

Founded in the fall of 2015, The BSU Bear Band is an extra-curricular musical ensemble supported by the Department of Music, Athletic Department, and President's Office whose purpose is to provide meaningful musical and social opportunities for BSU students and community members alike. They provide musical entertainment at home games during the football, men's basketball, and women's basketball seasons. The band is open to all musicians who are interested in participating.
Dr. Spencer Aston, director.

The Choral Society annually performs major works by celebrated composers. Recent performances have featured Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's Creation, Handel's Messiah, Rheinberger's The Star of Bethlehem, and Faure's Requiem. The Chorale is open to all members of the Bridgewater State University community. The Chamber Singers, the "singing ambassadors" of the university, are selected by audition from the larger University Chorale. Primarily an a cappella group, the Chamber Singers perform many concerts on and off campus and tours annually.
Dr. Steven Young, director

Flute Ensemble is a course comprised of both music majors and non-majors in the study of performance of flute choir repertoire. Students will prepare a repertoire of a mixture of styles, from the Baroque to the contemporary. The course will culminate in a performance of the chosen musical selections. The choir meets in Horace Mann Auditorium (Boyden Hall). The semester will end with a spectacular concert.
Donald Zook, director

Under the umbrella of the Southeastern Association for Cooperation in Higher Education in Massachusetts (SACHEM), BSU students have the opportunity to earn credit and perform with the Great Woods Symphony Orchestra, a college-community ensemble based at Wheaton College in Norton, MA. An audition is required for participation. For further information, contact the department chair, Dr. Donald Running.

The Jazz Band is open to all students wishing to perform in a number of different jazz styles from classic swing to funky soul. Performances provide the student with an opportunity to apply musical skills acquired through practice and rehearsal. Numerous opportunities are available for composition, arranging, and improvisation.
Vladan Milenkovic, director

Khakatay means laughing out loud in Senegal, West Africa. Khakatay performs traditional repertoire from the West African countries of Guinea, Senegal, Mali, and the Ivory Coast. Traditional rhythms used for various rituals and celebrations constitute the body of Khakatay's performing material.
Jeremy Banchiere, director

The Opera Scenes Ensemble is a course in which young singers will explore the physical aspect of singing through mostly operatic repertoire which will be staged and performed. The young singer will work to motivate the vocal phrase through dramatic movement and thought. The student will be asked to research his or her character, the composer, the plot, and the style of the opera with an eye toward the successful understanding and portrayal of the character. This course may be taken for credit a total of two times.
Maryte Bizinkauskas, director

Pop Vocal Ensemble performs pop/rock, musical theater and jazz music. Students get the opportunity to sing in the full ensemble as well as small groups and solo. Music each semester is chosen collaboratively between the students and the professor. Students who have other skills such as playing guitar or piano can get a chance to utilize those skills. At the end of each semester the group culminates with a performance in The Horace Mann auditorium with a band and microphones.
Heather Holland, director

String Ensemble is a course open to all students who play a string instrument.
John Shiu, director

The Ukulele jam is an extra-curricular ensemble that meets once a week. Participants do not need an instrument or experience playing the ukulele to join.
Paula Bishop, director

The ensemble performs a variety of both classic and contemporary wind literature. Their concerts often feature BSU faculty members and students as soloists. Literature is selected to encompass standards of the wind band repertoire including music of Holst, Grainger, Sousa, and Alfred Reed. The ensemble is also committed to the performance of local, regional, and world premiers of compositions written for the wind band.
Dr. Donald Running, director

Established in 2015, the BSU Middle School Honor Band Festival annually provides the opportunity for outstanding musicians in seventh and eighth grades to be nominated by their band directors for involvement in the one-day event. The honor band rehearses and performs with the BSU Wind Ensemble and Dr. Running – Director of Bands and Chair, BSU Dept. of Music.

Established in 2012, the BSU Honor Band Festival annually provides the opportunity for outstanding musicians in grades 9-12 to be nominated by their band directors for involvement in the one-day event. The honor band rehearses and performs with the BSU Wind Ensemble, Dr. Running – Director of Bands, BSU Dept. of Music and a featured guest conductor.

The Jazz Festival was begun in 1989. The festival's goal has long been to unite Southeast Massachusetts jazz students together with respected jazz artists in a non-competitive, educational setting. The festival has included middle school, high school and college jazz bands in varying years. Currently, the festival is open to all sizes of high school jazz ensembles.