Ensembles

A Capella Choir

The A Cappella Choir of Hamline University, conducted by George S.T. Chu, has toured nationally and internationally, and performed on recordings, radio, and television. They have premiered works of several renowned composers, and received acclaim for their dynamic interpretations of choral masterworks.

The Choir tours abroad every four years. Newspaper critics from England observed: “Rarely have I heard our finest choirs bring out the nuances of this difficult music so excellently.” And from Slovakia: “Built on 100% musicality of each member of the choir, they are spontaneous, uncommonly emotional . . .We import from America many things, but rarely such an atmosphere  as was brought to us by the students of Hamline.”

George S. T. Chu is the fifth director of the Choir, following in the tradition established by John Kuypers (1932-1942) and Robert Holliday (1942-1971). He received his undergraduate degree at Yale, the Doctor of Music from Indiana University, and is the Founding Director of the Oratorio Society of Minnesota. 

Women's Choir 

The Women's Chorale is open to all women at Hamline University who love to sing. The Chorale was founded during WW II when most of the men were gone from campus. It has flourished ever since under the direction of Russell G. Harris, Carol Kelly, and currently, Kathy Thomsen. The Women's Chorale performs sacred and secular music in varied styles from all periods, from Hildegard of Bingen through contemporary music written especially for it by living composers. In addition to concerts on campus, the Women's Chorale has performed for the American Choral Directors' Association of Minnesota's annual convention, and participates annually in WomanVoice, a choral festival celebrating women's choirs and women composers.

back to top > 

Hamline Winds

Membership in Hamline Winds is open to all woodwind, brass, and percussion players, both majors and non-majors. The size of the ensemble is typically 30-35 players. At the beginning of each semester, seating auditions are held for new members. We rehearse every Monday and Wednesday from 4-5:15 p.m. in Sundin Music Hall, which is also our performance space.  Hamline Winds presents two, sometimes three, concerts per semester.  Our repertoire focuses on original works for wind band and high-quality transcriptions and arrangements. In addition to full band activities, Hamline Winds members participate in student-led chamber ensembles which usually include clarinet choir, flute choir, sax quartet, brass quintet and percussion ensemble.  A chamber music concert is held in the first quarter of the spring term.  Chamber ensembles may also be asked to perform in the Honors Day Recital, in neighborhood venues, and in special university-wide events.  

back to top > 

HAMLINE Orchestra

Hamline Orchestra is an ensemble with about 40 members. It has full string and woodwind sections, with partial brass sections. It is open to non-music major and minor students. The repertoire includes symphonies, concertos, suites, and other symphonic works from Baroque to 20th century composers including Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Dvorak, Bizet, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Bartok, Respighi, and others. Hamline Orchestra performs three concerts a year, two in fall semester, and one in spring. The rehearsals are on Mondays and Wednesdays between 5:30-6:45 pm in Sundin Music Hall.

In addition to the full orchestra, members of the cello section formed “Hamline Cello Ensemble” which performs in other concerts both on and off campus. Director Yali You, a cellist, performs regularly with the ensemble. Their performance received praises from a wide audience, including former Mayor Kelly of St. Paul, Minnesota.

back to top > 

Jazz Ensemble 

Hamline Jazz Ensemble is a 25-piece jazz band open to both non-majors and majors. The Jazz Ensemble meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Jazz Combo, a small and select group taken from the membership of the full ensemble, rehearses separately and functions primarily as a student-directed group. Recently there have been two active combos featured on Jazz Band concerts. In addition to the end-of-semester concert, the Jazz Band and Combos host a high-school Jazz Fest and a small college Jazz Fest at Hamline’s Sundin Hall, with such well-known clinicians and judges such as Nachito Herrara, Pete Whitman and Dean Sorenson. They participate yearly in the Eau Claire Jazz Fest where individual music students have regularly earned “Outstanding Musician” awards and in 2006 the Jazz Combo placed second in the overall competition.

back to top >