At University of the Pacific, we believe that every music student benefits from opportunities of playing in small groups and we are proud to offer the Varied Ensembles Program. Whether you are exploring chamber music classics or genre-crossing hybrids, the collaborative experience is crucial for your musical development and future career.
The Experience
While playing in small ensembles, you gain techniques for problem-solving in musical interpretation, interpersonal communication and creative collaboration. With each musician fulfilling a clearly audible individual role, personal agency and shared responsibility come to the foreground. It is challenging and fun, and it is a powerful way to hone craft and musicianship applicable to any setting.
Recent Repertoire
Our students explore a challenging, rewarding landscape of classic and contemporary music. They have recently performed works by the following composers:
- T.J. Anderson
- David Biedenbender
- Johannes Brahms
- Daniela Candillari
- Elliott Carter
- Andrea Clearfield
- Bill Douglas
- Antonín Dvořák
- Alyssa Morris
- Niloufar Nourbakhsh
- Florence Price
Guest Artists
Visiting renowned composers and performers work directly with students and provide them with invaluable listening and learning opportunities. A partial list of recent guests:
- Viet Cuong
- Gabriela Lena Frank
- Hub New Music
- Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective
- Catherine Likhuta
- Marian Anderson String Quartet
- Telegraph String Quartet
- Tesla Quartet
- Biliana Voutchkova
- Theresa Wong
- US Air Force Band of the Golden West Chamber Winds
Notable Program Features
- Weekly coaching sessions
- Performance opportunities on and off campus
- Master classes with world-class guest artists
- Opportunities to play side-by-side with Pacific faculty
- Coaches represent a broad diversity of professional experience including Roomful of Teeth, Trois Bois, Splinter Reeds, Trio 180, Quinteto Latino, Elision Ensemble, Lieurance Woodwind Quintet, SFCMP, and Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands
Program Faculty
Contact us
Kyle Bruckmann
Associate Professor of Practice
Program Director of Chamber Music
209.946.3215
