Purdue Concert Bands

Purdue Bands boasts one of the most extensive concert band programs in the country, offering five different bands with membership based on musical ability and a varied approach to programming.

The premier ensemble is the Purdue Symphonic Band directed by Jay S. Gephart, which features the finest instrumentalists on the Purdue campus. Its membership is by invitation only following auditions and usually numbers 70 wind, brass and percussion players.
 
Other concert band opportunities at Purdue include Fall Concert Band, Purdue Concert Band, University Concert Band, Collegiate Band and Varsity Band. The breadth of opportunities allows students to participate on a level that matches their ability and interest – from the serious musician to the dedicated hobbyist. Each concert band rehearses two to three days per week for two hours each day, and presents two concerts each semester. The entire Purdue Bands faculty – Prof. Max Jones, Dr. Pamela J. Nave and Ishbah Cox - work with these bands. In recent years the Purdue concert bands have had the privilege of working with many of the world’s great band composers including Frank Ticheli, Timothy Mahr, David Holsinger and Robert Jager, David Gillingham, Philip Sparke and Roger Cichy.

 Concert band membership is determined through auditions conducted each semester. Participating students earn two hours of academic credit each semester.

Brass players are also eligible to participate in Brass Choir directed by Ishbah Cox. A non-credit ensemble, it gives an annual spring semester concert and performs at special events

Purdue Symphonic Band

The Purdue Symphonic Band is regarded as Purdue's top concert band with membership granted only to the best musicians on the Purdue campus. Directed by Jay S. Gephart, this internationally-known ensemble typically numbers around 70 wind, brass and percussion instrumentalists.

This ensemble presents formal concerts on campus each semester, and historically boasts an impressive record of performances around the world including Canada, Japan, South America and Europe . In March of 2006, the Symphonic Band made its Carnegie Hall debut as the Showcase Band at the New York Wind Band Festival. Its rich history also includes performances under the baton of some of the world’s finest conductors ranging from John Philip Sousa to Arthur Fiedler, and from Karl King to Harry Begian.

Performances of the Symphonic Band have featured nationally recognized guest soloists as well as solo performances by the Purdue Applied Music faculty. Recent soloists have included Susan Rider, trumpet, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band; Patrick Sheridan, freelance musician and internationally famous tuba virtuoso; Rex Richardson, former member of Dallas Brass and professor of trumpet at Virginia Commonwealth University. Guest composers the band has worked with include Frank Ticheli, Timothy Mahr, David Holsinger, Robert Jager, David Gillingham, Philip Sparke and Roger Cichy.

 The curriculum for the Symphonic Band consists of wind literature representative of the genre throughout the 20th century. Special emphasis is placed on the performance of contemporary literature written by prominent and emerging composers in the field of wind composition. Additional emphasis is placed on the historical development of music through the performance of transcriptions of orchestral masterworks.

Concert Band Auditions

Individual auditions can be scheduled by contacting Pat Newton @ 765 494-0770 or email @ panewton@purdue.edu.
If you are not able to travel to campus before BGR week or until classes begin, you may audition during the first week of classes in the fall. Audition sign-up sheets will be posted beginning August 17 on the glass case in the basement of Elliott Hall of Music.  Concert Band/Orchestra wind auditions will take place through August 28th.

Required audition music is available at purdue.edu/bands/audition. The files are password protected. User name and password can be obtained by contacting the band department at (765) 494-0770 or by emailing the webmaster webmaster@purduetrumpets.com or by visiting the Members Only page.

Contact Pat Newton at (765) 494-0770 to schedule a music audition in Elliott Hall of Music.
Questions can be directed to Prof. Jay Gephart at jsgephart@purdue.edu.

This information was originally obtained from the Purdue Bands Website @ www.purdue.edu/bands and will be supplemented with original material as it becomes available.