VOCAL

Students singing
Choir of the West

The Choir of the West is the premier choral ensemble at Pacific Lutheran University.  It is comprised of undergraduate majors from a wide variety of academic disciplines, achieving a reputation of excellence for its performances at professional music conferences, national and international tours, and numerous recordings.  The choir regularly joins the University Symphony Orchestra in performances of major choral/orchestral works, and participates in the annual Christmas Concerts on campus and in Seattle and Portland.

University Chorale

The Pacific Lutheran University Chorale is a mixed choir spanning a variety of academic disciplines.  The Chorale participates in the Christmas concerts, tours annually, and performs in concerts on campus and in local churches. Further, the University Chorale often joins the Choir of the West in performances with the orchestra.

University Singers

The women’s ensemble performs sacred and secular music. They present an annual Sounds of Christmas concert during the Christmas season. They also tour annually in the Spring.

University Knights Chorus

The study and performance of repertoire for men’s voices, the University Knights Chorus performs each Fall and Spring semester often with the University Singers and University Concert Band.

Choral Union

This ensemble is a mixed chorus, open to the community as well as PLU students, and explores major works in the choral/orchestral repertoire. They often perform with Tacoma’s Northwest Sinfonietta.

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Opera

The Opera Workshop explores stage production of chamber opera and opera scenes. Workshop members participate in all facets of production, including set and costume design, staging and performance.

INSTRUMENTAL

PLU Orchestra in Lagerquist Concert Hall on Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. (PLU Photo/John Froschauer)
University Symphony Orchestra

This ensemble undertakes an ambitious four-concert series of programs exploring the finest in orchestral repertoire. In addition, the members of the orchestra participate in the annual Christmas concerts, hosts an annual orchestra invitational involving several high school orchestras, and presents a Spring concert featuring outstanding PLU soloists.

Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble presents four major programs each year, tours annually in the Northwest, hosts the annual Northwest High School Honor Band Festival, and often plays off campus at high schools, festivals, and conventions. In addition, the group joins forces with the University Symphony Orchestra to provide ceremonial music for all university events such as convocations and graduation.

Concert Band

The PLU Concert Band is a non-auditioned ensemble made up of PLU students in all areas and disciplines of the university as well members from the PLU community. The band rehearses one evening per week and performs at the conclusion of each semester. Membership is open to all students with prior high school music experience

Jazz Ensemble

The University Jazz Ensemble is a jazz big band, varying in instrumentation according to repertoire. The ensemble performs regularly on the PLU campus, at jazz venues in the Puget Sound area, regional high schools, and national jazz festivals. The UJE is featured annually on the Holiday Jazz Jam, a live Christmas season broadcast with famous jazz artists from the local and national scenes. The ensemble performs jazz big band repertoire from all eras of the music, from Duke Ellington to Maria Schnieder, and covers all styles of jazz from early swing to jazz/rock.

Jazz Combos

This class is an organized jazz combo rehearsal and forum and also serves as an advanced improvisation class. The PLU jazz combos have performed at numerous jazz venues and jazz festivals.

Instrumental Areas

These groups prepare and present chamber music from the last three centuries.

Strings
Brass
Woodwind
Early Music

Piano

Percussion

Harp

Bassoon

Saxophone