The University of West Georgia Marching Band - The Sound that Lights the South - is open to all UWG wind, percussion and guard students on campus. As a class, all students participating in marching band receive credit for this ensemble. The Marching Band performs in a variety of venues including home games, select away games and area marching band exhibitions. The Marching Band is a unique ensemble that combines Drum Corps-style marching techniques with Show Band elements for pregame and halftime shows.
Concert Choir, a traditional choir of 50-60 voices, is directed by Dr. Kevin Hibbard. The choir performs standard choral repertoire of classics, spirituals, and major works with orchestra. Placement auditions for new members are scheduled prior to the start of classes. The most recent performance featured student concerto competition winners performing the Allegro from Mozart's Horn Concerto No 1, K. 412 and "Verdi prati" from Handel's Alcina, as well as the full UWG concert choir, singers from Atlanta's Collegium Vocale, and the Carroll Symphony Orchestra performing Luigi Cherubini's Requiem in C minor.
Opera Workshop provides opportunities for soloists, chorus members, and support staff. Directed by Dr. Dawn Neely, the Opera Workshop performs full-scale operas and scenes. Individual coaching is provided for singing roles. Recent productions include Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, Chatterboxes; Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, and Cosi Fan Tutte; Susannah by Carlisle Floyd; Bizet's Carmen; Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and La Boheme; The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan; Verdi's La Traviata; P.D.Q Bach's The Stoned Guest, and Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus.
Conducted by Dr. Josh Byrd, The University of West Georgia Wind Ensemble is a select instrumental wind and percussion ensemble open to all UWG students by audition. As the premier wind band at UWG, the ensemble is comprised of the most advanced woodwind, brass, and percussion players at the university. This ensemble performs a wide range of literature and regularly features some of the finest guest soloists and composers in the southeast. The Wind Ensemble meets during both fall and spring semesters. Audition materials can be found at uwgbands.com.
The Symphonic Band is conducted by Dr. Cale Self and serves as a non-auditioned concert band open to all students, faculty, and staff at UWG. The Symphonic Band meets during the spring and performs two concerts over the course of the semester.
The Wolfgang, the University's Pep Band/Basketball Band provides entertainment at home basketball games. This group is a favorite among Wolves fans, featuring exciting musical arrangements and spirited performances. Auditions are held during the fall term. This ensemble is made up of 25-30 select players who are selected by audition. The band performs at men's and women's home basketball games. The repertoire of the Wolfgang Basketball Pep Band consists of a variety of jazz, rock, and other popular musical styles.
The University of West Georgia Jazz Ensemble consist of a big band and jazz combos that perform both on campus and on tour. Each year the Jazz Ensemble hosts the Sunbelt Jazz Festival, featuring clinic sessions and performances by notable world-class artists such as Bobby Shew, Chris Vadala, Jerry Coker, Vincent DiMartino, Steve Weist, Rob McConnell, Gary Foster, Lew Soloff, and others. The band performs each semester and in the spring takes a performing tour throughout the Southeast. The ensemble serves as the resident band for the annual Sunbelt Jazz Festival. Auditions are held each semester.
The University of West Georgia Saxophone Ensemble is recognized as a national leader in performance and repertoire for large saxophone group. It has performed by invitation at national and regional meetings of the North American Saxophone Alliance, the AXPONA International Conference of Audio Engineers, the UWG Saxophone Symposium, and performs regular concerts on campus. In further recognition of its musical excellence, the Ensemble has received an invitation from MidAmerica Productions to perform a concert in Zankel Auditorium of Carnegie Hall in spring 2013. In 2010 it gave the first performance of 10 + 1, a new work for solo piano with orchestra of saxophones written for and dedicated to the UWG Saxophone Ensemble by Lucie Robert, Professor of Composition at the Paris Conservatory. The Ensemble has a wide repertoire, from the Renaissance to 2011, and performs a balance of original works for large saxophone group and arrangements/transcriptions. One of the highlights of the 2011-12 season will be a complete performance of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition on April 9, 2012. The Ensemble is populated by music majors, non-majors, and UWG alumni who are now distinguished music educators in the West Georgia region. Membership in the UWG Saxophone Ensemble is open to all UWG saxophonists regardless of major by audition. Please contact Dr. John Bleuel (jbleuel@westga.edu) for more information.
Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Kevin Hibbard, is a select ensemble of 16-20 voices. They perform madrigals, choral chamber music, and popular music. Auditions for the group are held prior to the beginning of the term.