Ensembles Chamber Ensembles WTAMU Chamber Singers is a highly select ensemble of 12 auditioned singers. Though its members are usually music majors, all university students, regardless of major, are invited to audition. Chamber Singers performs a wide variety of choral music, with particular attention paid to the early and renaissance periods. One of the primary responsibilities of the ensemble is to combine with the Matilda Gaume Early Music Consort in furnishing music for the University's annual Renaissance Holiday Feast. The technical and linguistic demands of the ensemble's repertoire are challenging! Chamber Singers meets M&W from 12-12:50. WTAMU Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Susan Martin Tariq, meets twice weekly for 80 minutes each. All percussion majors are strongly recommended to participate in this class every semester and non-majors are welcome (instructor consent required). The ensemble presents a concert on campus each semester and occasionally performs off campus at community events. The ensemble has performed at the Texas Music Educators Convention in San Antonio and can be heard on the 2003 Evelyn Rivers Christmas Project CD recording. The ensemble performs a variety of musical styles including classical transcriptions, ragtime compositions, world music and contemporary compositions written expressly for the vast array of percussion instruments.
Collegiate Choir
Daniel J. Hall, director WTAMU Collegiate Choir is an intermediate level ensemble of auditioned singers. All university students, regardless of major, are invited to audition. Collegiate Choir is significantly larger than Chorale, and as it continues to grow, it will develop an identity as the University's concert choir. Though the choir performs a wide range of literature, its primary focus will be on larger choral masterworks. Collegiate Choir and Chorale combine annually to perform with the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. Collegiate Choir meets M-F from 1-1:50.
Concert Band
Russ Teweleit, director The West Texas A&M University Concert Band consists of 60-70 members. Membership is open to the entire student body and an audition is not required. The only prerequisite is that the members have successfully participated in their high school band program. The ensemble performs once in the fall and four times in the spring. Rehearsals in the spring are from 11-11:50, Monday through Thursday.
Jazz Band
Russ Teweleit, director The West Texas A&M University Jazz Ensembles consist of two 18 piece big bands. Students also have the opportunity to form their own combos and enroll as a class. Membership is open to the entire student body by competitive audition. The ensembles perform each semester and both groups perform at a nationally recognized Jazz Festival each spring where they have received numerous awards. Recordings of WTAMU's Jazz I are available for $10 by calling Traci at 806-651-2854.
Marching Band
Don Lefevre, director
Russ Teweleit, associate director
Susan Martin Tariq, percussion The WTAMU Buffalo Marching Band has firmly established itself as one of the finest marching bands in the nation. It will typically perform at five or six home football games at Kimbrough Stadium, march in two parades and travel to one out of town football game to support the Buffalo Football Team. The Buffalo Marching Band is frequently asked to perform exhibition performances at marching festivals and contests in the state of Texas. The Buffalo Marching Band traditionally maintains one of the highest grade point averages on campus. Buffalo Band students have been selected as recipients of the Dave Ritter, Martha Estes, C. E. Strain, David Finnell, Paula Hill, Gail & Helen Shannon, Dudley Moore, Mariellen Garner, Gary Garner and Harrington Scholarships. Additionally, students have been selected as WTAMU President Ambassadors, and members of Mortar Board and Alpha Chi. Membership is open to students of all disciplines. The band consists of approximately 80% music majors and 20% non-music majors. The band rehearses five hours and 10 minutes on game weeks, (12:00-12:50 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 12:00-2:00 p.m. on Friday), and 4 hours and 10 minutes on open weeks, (12:00-12:50 p.m., Monday through Friday). Students enroll for one to two hours of credit per semester, which applies to all curriculum electives. Marching Band is a substitute for the Physical Education curriculum requirement.
Opera/Musical Theatre
Cloyce Kuhnert and Robert Hansen, directors The Opera/Musical Theatre Workshop is open to all interested singer/actors by audition. The Opera program generally consists of scenes, small productions, and one major production with orchestra. The Musical Theatre component produces one or two musical productions each year in cooperation with the Theatre Department.
Symphonic Band
Don Lefevre, director The West Texas A&M University Symphonic Band consists of the most select wind and percussion performers in the program at WTAMU. Each fall and spring, 65-70 members are chosen through a competitive audition process that is open to the entire student body. The strong support and involvement given the band program by the wind and percussion faculty of the department of music creates an atmosphere of mutual respect, which insures success of the program. The Symphonic Band has established a national reputation through past performances at the College Band Directors National Association, Carnegie Hall, and ten previous performances at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. Additionally, former members of the ensemble are among leaders in the field of music education throughout Texas and New Mexico.
WTAMU Chorale
Daniel J. Hall, director WTAMU Chorale is a highly select ensemble of auditioned singers. Though its members are usually music majors, all university students, regardless of major, are invited to audition. The choir has a rigorous performance schedule and will vary in size each year according to the artistic and logistical demands generated by chosen repertoire and touring. Its primary goal is to provide the university with a high-quality choral performance organization while challenging singers to cultivate the skills necessary to perform demanding historical repertoire from all periods and styles at high levels of musicianship. WTAMU Chorale will also serve as the University's primary choral-vocal recruiting ensemble, by performing at conventions of the Texas Music Educator's Association and the American Choral Director's Association. Chorale meets M-F from 11-11:50.
WTAMU Symphony
Mark Bartley, director The Orchestra meets four times a week, with the string section rehearsing on Mondays and Wednesdays (often coached by members of the renowned Harrington String Quartet), and are joined by the full wind, brass, and percussion compliment on Tuesdays and Thursdays. | 
