Music

Marching and Pep Bands: The Eagle Marching Band is one of the most exciting and vital organizations on campus. The EWU Marching Band is the focal point of pride and enthusiasm in support of the Eastern Eagle Football NCAA Division 1 FCS Team (2010 Champions!) This highly visible group performs at all home games, selected away games and other events on campus. They have performed around the Northwest, at half-time shows for the Seattle Seahawks NFL team and for teams in the Canadian Football League. The Eagle Pep Band performs at all EWU home basketball and volleyball games.

Symphonic Band: The Symphonic Band is a full sized concert band performing once per quarter on campus. The band's full size and balanced instrumentation allow the group to draw its literature from the best of traditional and contemporary repertoire. Rehearsals are limited to two per week.

Wind Ensemble: The Eastern Wind Ensemble is comprised of the most outstanding wind and percussion students on campus.  The group is dedicated to the performance of the finest in wind literature from all musical periods.  Members are selected by audition and the group performs extensively on and off campus.  Over the years, many guest artists have appeared with the group including Allen Vizzutti, Craig Kirchhoff, Eugene Corporan, Robert Ponto, Gunther Schuller, Libby Larsen, Tom Staples, Mike Boschen, and Thomas Lee. They have performed Washington Music Educators Association conferences, All-Northwest M.E.N.C. conferences, Festival Nelson British Columbia, and the Collegiate Wind Festival at California State University, Fresno.  The group can be heard on their two compact discs entitled CELEBRATIONS and DANCES, SONGS & CELEBRATIONS as well as the EWU Music Department's three CD’s, SOUNDSCAPES, PRISMS, and MILLENIUM

Jazz Bands: Eastern's Jazz Program is one of the most exciting and progressive in the Northwest! In addition to performing music from the standard jazz big band repertory, three groups perform new literature for jazz ensembles, including works by nationally and internationally recognized composers and arrangers, as well as compositions and arrangements by the outstanding faculty and students at Eastern. In addition to performing regular concerts on campus, the EWU Jazz Ensembles are active performing throughout the Northwest on tour and at conferences. Jazz Dialogue Northwest is an exciting three day jazz festival that occurs each November. Nationally renowned artists such as the Woody Herman Orchestra and Kurt Elling are featured in nightly concerts and master classes.

Symphony Orchestra: Since its foundation the EWU Symphony Orchestra was created with the idea of opening new avenues of appreciation and enjoyment of classical music in all possible ways. Strings, woodwinds and brass ensembles, choral symphonic repertoire, Latin American and contemporary repertoire have all been part of this immense palette of human artistic creativity. The EWU Symphony Orchestra serves not only as a musical field for the instrumentalists of the department of music, but also for the non music majors, alumni, faculty and staff interested in sharing a rewarding human, artistic and communal experience. The members and director of the orchestra share the same goal in rehearsal and performance, which is to achieve the highest possible degree of learning, performance and enjoyment. The EWU Symphony Orchestra has been linked from the beginning with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra with whom it shares most of its professors that are very active professional musicians and scholars, and its alumni who are becoming part of the orchestra as well. This Orchestra is a laboratory course designed for the development of the professional performer and the professional educator. Therefore the conductor and musicians should hold themselves to a high professional standard. Through rehearsals, sectionals and performances, students will experience new repertoire, improve musicianship, and grow in ensemble discipline in a collaborative setting.

Concert Choir: This group open to all enrolled students at EWU. The choir has an average enrollment of approximately 60 singers. These singers are music majors and minors, students from other majors, and, occasionally, singers from the community. This ensemble is the destination choir for those who have limited time in their schedules. An audition is not required. Although singers are recommended to participate an entire year the repertoire is selected and rehearsed on a per quarter basis unlike the Symphonic and Chamber Choirs.
This ensemble is designed for incoming freshman music majors and minors as well as upper level students who are preparing to graduate and EWU students who are interested in learning about the choral art. Concert Choir performs on the quarterly choral concert and occasional special events throughout the year.

Symphonic Choir: The 46-voice Symphonic Choir is the premier touring concert choir at Eastern. Membership is by audition and students who are selected are expected to commit to a full year of participation. Although auditions are open to all enrolled students at EWU, the majority of members are upperclassmen music majors and minors. The group performs choral concerts each quarter on campus and tours every spring. The Symphonic Choir also collaborates with the EWU Orchestra to present standard choral/orchestral works as well as repertoire of varying styles by composers new and old

Chamber Choir: The 12-voice Chamber Choir is the most versatile choral ensemble on campus. The focus of the Chamber Choir is to develop a wide range of repertoire that is suitable for both concertizing and entertainment. Members are selected by audition. Although auditions are open to all enrolled EWU students, the majority of members are music majors and minors who are willing to commit to a full year of membership.
Because of the portability of this ensemble, runout concerts are scheduled each quarter, and the members of this ensemble must have flexible schedules to allow them to perform often. Student are required to provide their own formal wear/concert attire. Performances include the quarterly choral concerts on campus, educational outreach concerts, entertainment/banquet performances, and a yearly tour. Past tours have included Italy and regional appearances throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Vocal Jazz Choirs: In the premiere vocal jazz ensemble at Eastern, the auditioned members enjoy intense study and performances in jazz, which includes learning about the entire spectrum of vocal jazz, improvisation and jazz styling. "EWU Vocal Jazz " performs frequently throughout the year, including Inland Northwest concerts, tours, and a spotlighted performance at the Eastern Jazz Festival. For those interested in the ultimate vocal jazz experience, "EWU Vocal Jazz" is the place to be.

Contemporary Ensemble: Contemporary Ensemble allows students the unique opportunity to investigate through performance, the stylistic practices of 20th and 21st century music.

Chamber Ensembles: Students at EWU are encouraged to explore a wide variety of chamber music including string trios, quartets, piano with strings, and woodwind quintets and winds with strings. Groups attend a weekly chamber music class and receive regular coaching with the faculty. Student chamber music performances are regularly presented in the music building and throughout campus.

Jazz Combos: Students have the opportunity to explore jazz and jazz improvisation in small group settings and be coached by one of our outstanding jazz instructors.

Percussion Ensemble: The percussion program at Eastern Washington University offers comprehensive instruction in classical/western percussion instruments and literature for keyboard percussion instruments (marimba, vibraphone, etc.), snare drum, timpani, and auxiliary percussion. The classical focus is on ensemble performance, solo literature, and orchestral excerpts. The percussion ensembles perform a diverse repertoire ranging from jazz and ethnic influenced pieces to more traditional classical compositions.