Chamber music plays a central role in the musical development of our students, both on and off campus. All instrumental areas participate, performing works from the standard repertoire, as well as new music, for area and mixed ensembles. Additionally, master classes and concerts are regularly provided by visiting guest artists.
Events
News
If you are a viola student or string instructor in the state of Colorado, you’ve most likely interacted with CSU viola professor, Margaret Miller. In 2023, the senior instructor of music coached, adjudicated, and performed at multiple conferences, academies, masterclasses, and camps across the Front Range and beyond. Here are some of Ms. Miller’s recent […]
Colorado State University’s Trombone Choir performed four world premier pieces at the 2023 International Trombone Festival, including compositions by Chris Evan Hass, Amber Sheeran (B.M. Music Education, CSU ’21), James M. David (CSU Professor of Music), and Kevin Poelking (CSU Assistant Professor of Bands). The group was invited to perform based on a submitted recording. […]
The Duo Francois – comprised of CSU faculty violinist Ron Francois and pianist Silvana Santinelli – will be featured at the FICA21 festival at the University of Veracruzana in Xalapa, Mexico. The International Camerata 21 Festival (FICA 21) of the Faculty of Music of the Universidad Veracruzana (UV) has been held uninterrupted since 1998. Founded by […]
Brass Area
Comprised of the students of the CSU Trombone Studio and other talented trombonists from the CSU community, the Trombone Choir is the primary performing ensemble of the Studio. The Trombone Choir studies and performs music from all musical eras and genres stretching from Renaissance dances to funk and heavy metal. Students are encouraged to explore arranging and composing for the group. Community outreach is a hallmark of the CSU Trombone Choir, with special focus paid to performances in public spaces and for audiences of all ages. The ensemble made its debut in Fall 2013 and has been invited to perform at the 2014 Big12 Trombone Conference at Texas Tech University and the 2023 International Trombone Festival.
Strings Area
Chamber music forms an important part of the core string curriculum at CSU. Listening, leadership, communication, and musicianship skills are essential components of great performances and are developed within this experience. The skills learned in chamber music and small ensembles form a part of training the complete musician and those skills transfer to orchestral and solo playing. Our world-class string faculty offers a lifetime of experience to CSU string students. Working with the Lincoln Center concert series, CSU offers students access to guest artist concerts and masterclasses each year. Ensembles receive weekly coaching from our string faculty and participate in guest artist masterclasses and public concerts each semester. Chamber music students may also participate in community outreach.
Graduate String Quartet
Pluto String Quartet
Each year, the strings area provides excellent opportunities for our most advanced graduate students. Headed by Professor Margaret Miller, the graduate string quartet performs each semester while immersing themselves in the business of running a professional ensemble. Many outreach activities provide the quartet with additional performing experience.
Woodwinds Area
The CSU Flute Choir is made up of music majors and non-music majors. The ensemble is dedicated to performing exciting and challenging works for flute choir. The flute choir has performed at the National Flute Convention as a featured college choir, selected by audition by the NFA. The choir performs several formal concerts and outreach concerts during the academic year and consists of C flutes, piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute.
Faculty Chamber Music
The CSU faculty is passionate about bringing creative new elements to classical music-making through repertoire that includes European and American compositions. Concertgoers are likely to hear one-of-a-kind transcriptions, original works, rarely-performed pieces, and new works for a variety of instrumentation.