Band & Orchestra

Sacred Heart University's Band program offers multiple distinct performance experiences in one ensemble: Marching Band, Pep Band, and Concert Band. As a Marching Band, students perform at home football games, and are invited guest performers at high school competitions and parades. As a Pep Band, students excite crowds at basketball and hockey games, and as a Concert Band performs at several concerts throughout the year.

The Sacred Heart University Symphony Orchestra is made up of both music majors and non-music majors. The orchestra performs a wide-ranging repertoire, from beloved classical works by Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, and Mozart to exciting pieces by contemporary composers such as Nancy Galbraith, Roger Zare, and Sydney Guillaume. 

Chamber Ensembles are an integral part of the Band & Orchestra program. These ensembles are the laboratories where students enhance their individual artistic skills, and collaborate with other students to make intentional musical decisions in order to perform at a high level.

Chamber Ensembles play a wide variety of music from many different styles and genres, and are often asked to perform for events on and off campus. Students have the opportunity to perform with many different chamber groups such as: String Quartet, Brass Quintet, Sax Quartet, Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Woodwind Quintet, and Percussion Ensemble. Other chamber opportunities may be available based on student interest.

An audition is required for admittance into the program.

In the fall semester, twirlers are part of the Marching Band, and perform field shows for home football games, at local exhibitions, and in parades. In the spring semester, twirlers compete in USTA (United States Twirling Association) or NBTA (National Baton Twirling Association) competitions. Twirlers are required to compete in at least one state and one regional competition. In place of competing at state or regional competitions, twirlers may have the opportunity to perform as part of the Winter Guard for their competitive season. All twirlers are required to participate in a Dance & Movement class each fall semester.

An audition is required prior to the fall semester to be a member of the guard program.

During the fall semester, Guard performs alongside the Marching Band at football games, high school competitions, and parades. In the spring, the Winter Guard competes at local and national levels in the MAC (Musical Arts Conference), MAIN (Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network), and WGI (Winter Guard International) circuits. Both flag and weapon skills are utilized, though weapon experience is not required.

SHU is one of the only guard programs in the country to be supported academically. All guard members are required to take a Dance and Movement class in the fall semester. This class is taught by professional dancers and choreographers and is intended to provide a baseline knowledge of terminology, techniques, and skill-level. No prior dance experience required.

Jazz Ensemble gives students the opportunity to perform music from a variety of jazz styles, ranging from small combos to big band repertoire. Students are able to learn and expand their skills and knowledge of jazz and improvisation.

The Sacred Heart University Wind Ensemble is an audition-only ensemble that performs high-quality repertoire for students seeking a more demanding musical experience. The Wind Ensemble is recognized as one of the top programs in the country, having recently been named a finalist for the American Prize. The Wind Ensemble regularly commissions new works from composers such as Randall Standridge, Omar Thomas and Steven Rosenhaus, and has welcomed renowned artists such as noted Gustav Holst scholar and conductor Jon Mitchell, jazz composer and trombonist Jens Wendelboe, and vocalist Kimberley Locke.

This digital badge is earned by gaining foundational skills in being a tech for the musical and visual components for a marching band, indoor percussion ensemble, indoor wind ensembles, or winter guard. The badge makes students well-prepared for a variety of marching arts styles and programs.