Ensembles Overview

Hamilton's eight ensembles offer a breadth of opportunity for musicans that is exceptional for a college of its size. Students are encouraged to participate in more than one ensemble, and many do. The College recognizes the educational value of ensemble performance participation in any of these groups earns one-quarter course credit, up to a limit of one-half credit each term.

The Hamilton College Orchestra

was founded in 1970 and has grown to include more than 70 students. The Orchestra has performed works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Wagner, Hindemith and Ives, as well as concertos by Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn with student soloists. The orchestra has toured New England, Romania and Bulgaria. Planning has begun for a trip to Japan. Membership is determined by audition.

Conductor: Heather Buchman
Rehearse 3 hours per week
Perform 2 to 4 concerts on campus each year
Earn 0.25 credit per semester
Membership determined by audition

The Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Ensemble was formed in 1981 in response to student initiative. Focusing on the big band sound, it also provides opportunities for student improvisation within an ensemble context. The ensemble performs several concerts on campus each year. In addition, it has toured New England with the College Orchestra and performed in Carnegie Hall. Membership is determined by audition.

Director: "Doctuh" Mike Woods
Rehearse 2 hours per week
Earn 0.25 credit per semester
Membership determined by audition

The Hamilton College Choir

The Hamilton College Choir, founded in 1867, carries forward a long tradition of choral excellence. In addition to several concerts on campus and in neighboring communities, the 60-voice choir tours annually during the spring recess. Recent tours have ranged as far as Chicago to the west, Boston to the east, Montreal to the north and Atlanta to the south. In addition, the Choir has toured Europe six times, most recently a tour of Spain in 1997. Membership is determined by audition.

Conductor: G. Roberts Kolb
Rehearse 4 hours per week
Annual Spring tour
Earn 0.25 credit per semester
Membership determined by audition

The College Hill Singers

The College Hill Singers provides an opportunity for qualified singers to participate in a variety of chamber ensembles, with repertory drawn from all historical periods. Membership is limited to those in the College Choir. Their repertory ranges from Renaissance madrigals to 20th-century vocal jazz.

The Hamilton College and Community Oratorio Society

The Hamilton College and Community Oratorio Society, founded in 1975, is an organization of approximately one hundred twenty singers and is open to any member of the community without audition. The Oratorio Society has dedicated itself to bringing together Hamilton students, faculty, staff and their families with members of the surrounding community from as far north as Old Forge and as far south as Sherburne to sing great choral masterworks, accompanied by some of the finest orchestral musicians and vocal soloists in the area. G. Roberts Kolb has been the director of this group since 1981.

Conductor: G. Roberts Kolb
Rehearse 2 hours per week
Earn 0.25 credit per semester
No audition

The Brass Ensemble

The Brass Ensemble, founded in 1959, performs numerous times during the academic year, providing music for various College functions as well as giving concerts off campus, on its own or in conjunction with the College Choir. Its repertory ranges from Josquin and Gabrieli to Hindemith and Dahl. Membership is determined by audition

Conductor: Heather Buchman
Rehearse 2 hours per week
Earn 0.25 credit per semester
Membership determined by audition

The Woodwind Ensembles

The Woodwind Ensemble, founded in 1961, afford an opportunity for the study and performance of music for various combinations of wind instruments. They have performed works by Mozart, Schumann, Jacques Ibert, Irving Fine, Richard Strauss, and Walter Piston. Membership is determined by audition.

Conductor: Heather Buchman
Rehearse 2 hours per week
Earn 0.25 credit per semester
Membership determined by audition

String Chamber Music Groups

String Chamber Music Groups provides qualified instrumentalists with the opportunity to participate in small ensembles that have comprised a variety of string and wind instruments and piano. Their repertory has included works by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Dvorak, and Brahms. Membership is determined by audition.