College of Fine Arts and Design

The UCO School of Music recognizes the Chamber Music experience as an integral part of a musician's training. Players in the various chamber ensembles usually focus on one-on-a-part performances, which allow the musicians to experience the highest levels of responsibility and flexibility. This type of individual performance responsibility helps the student musician to mature and grow, as they learn to function and perform like a professional. In addition, chamber ensembles allow students to experience music from every different compositional style period, from medieval and renaissance music to current pieces by living composers. The chamber ensembles function almost as a music "lab" experience, where the musicians can apply what they learn in theory and history.

These ensembles are not conducted, but rather, there is a unique rapport between the students and the faculty who "coach" them. Because of flexible size, instrumentation, personnel, and the high quality of the finest groups, many of these ensembles have the opportunity to perform in highly visible performance venues for influential audiences.

Chamber Music Initiative

The School of Music currently has seven honors chamber groups on scholarship for the Spring Semester. These leadership groups are determined by audition and the groups selected perform on and off campus numerous times per semester. Music outreach is an important facet to our chamber music program--and many of these groups have performed in nursing homes, assisted living centers, as well as for elementary and middle schools.Through their study of chamber music these students learn valuable communication skills that will aid them in whatever career path they choose.

If you are interested in having one of these groups perform for your organizations events, please feel free to email the contact person listed.

The Vitale Quartet has been performing together since 2012.  With backgrounds from Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, and China: it is one of the most diverse chamber groups at UCO. The quartet has been invited to play at many middle and high schools in the Edmond area, and is regularly the entertainment at many important events across the UCO campus.  On campus, the quartet has had the honor to collaborate with, record, and perform some of UCO composition student’s original compositions.  The quartet has had the privilege to be coached by Dr. Ralph Morris and Dr. Tess Remy-Schumacher.

For more information please contact Jose Batty, jbatty@uco.edu.

The Old North Trio was established in the fall of 2012 in response to the Chamber Music Initiative at the UCO School of Music. Under the direction of Dr. Dawn Marie Lindblade, the trio of violin, clarinet and piano made its debut in the November 2012 Chamber Ensemble Concert.  With Shenghui Luo on violin, Abigail Pappas on clarinet, and Taylor Bauer on piano, this ensemble continues to make great advancements both in, and out, of rehearsal. The Old North Trio has performed many times on the UCO campus, such as master classes with renowned pianist Barry Snyder, and clarinetist Wesley Ferreira. Among these, the trio has also performed off campus in assisted living centers and will perform for more audiences in the upcoming future.

For more information please contact Taylor Bauer, tbauer@uco.edu.

Harmonia Winds is the premiere student woodwind quintet at the University of Central Oklahoma. Comprised of five outstanding musicians, Hilary Carden-flute, Am’re Ford-oboe, Hannah Howard-clarinet, Mark Kuhn-bassoon and Travis Welborn-saxophone. All members of Harmonia are also members of Kappa Kappa Psi, the National Honorary Band Fraternity. The quintet has been performing together since the fall of 2012. Recently the quintet has had the privilege of performing in the OKC metro area as well as in various events on the UCO campus. The Harmonia Winds woodwind quintet is unlike other woodwind quintets in that the horn has been replaced with an alto saxophone. This premiere group strives for unity within the ensemble, making this their motto for every rehearsal and performance.

For more information please contact Hannah Howard, hhoward4@uco.edu. 

The Leadership Cello Trio, formerly a quartet, started in 2010 as a means of expressing music in a fun way apart from the ordinary. In 2012, the group accepted the role as a leadership ensemble through the University of Central Oklahoma and began playing classical and contemporary music as a way to show the school a unique way to portray the traditional chamber music setting. Members Sarah Willson, Daniel Sharp, and Eric Holmberg select their repertoire based upon contemporary crossover music, exemplifying the band Break of Reality, while also playing traditional cello trio and duet music in order to supply any musical demands requested. The Leadership Trio started out of friendship and only continues because of the great friends that enjoy creating music. This is the true essence of successful chamber music.

For more information please contact Sarah Willson, swillson@uco.edu.

The ATM Triet consists of Amber Zuniga, Tookah Sapper, and Mackenzie Rogers. This ensemble stems from the notion of uncommon pianists- 6 hands, one piano. Formed in 2012, the ATM Triet has performed numerous recitals and master classes, and has an ever-expanding repertoire, ranging from the romantic works of Sergei Rachmaninoff to the more modern music of ABBA.  The goals of the Triet are to master the collaboration and cooperation of three people playing together on a single piano, and to produce beautiful music less often performed in concert.  Although the instrument of the ATM Triet is the piano, all three members are pursuing another main instrument. Amber Zuniga is a junior voice performance major and collaborative piano minor, Tookah Sapper is a junior voice performance major and collaborative minor, and Mackenzie Rogers is a senior voice performance major. They are under the direction of Dr. Linda Owen, an esteemed member of the piano faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma.

For more information please contact Mackenzie Rogers, lmackenzierogers@gmail.com.

Five Minds; One Voice—the Vocal quintet, Una Voce, is a collaborative effort by five vocalists, comprised of Vocal Performance and Vocal Music Education majors, from a variety of backgrounds. Una Voce was formed in January of 2013 as a result of the Chamber Music Initiative at the University of Central Oklahoma and is UCO’s only student-led chamber vocal group. Their influences range from classical to christian; folk to funk, and jazz to pop. Each member brings their own unique flavor to the group’s lush vocal harmonies. The group is comprised of: Lauren Rose (Soprano), Griffin LaVictoire (Alto/Tenor), Micah Cain (Tenor), Jamie Montgomery (Baritone), and Troy Anthony Small (Bass). Una Voce’s repertoire ranges from the Real Group to The Beach Boys, from John Clements to The Beatles to name a few. Una Voce is coached by Dr. Karl Nelson, the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma.

For more information, please contact Lauren Rose, lrose5@uco.edu.

The Central Sound Brass Quartet is one of the University of Central Oklahoma’s Leadership Chamber Ensembles. This group is comprised of all freshmen. These members are Randy Goodnight (Trumpet), Marcus Shields (Trumpet), Evan Drumm (Trombone), and Tim Kempf (Bass Trombone). The Brass Quartet has performed many times both on and off the University of Central Oklahoma campus. This group regularly performs for assemblies and recitals in the Edmond area. The Central Sound Brass Quartet is coached by Dr. Ryan Sharp.

For more information please contact Randy Goodnight, rgoodnight@uco.edu.

Studio Chamber Groups

In addition to the Chamber Music Initiative, there are also studio chamber music groups that students perform in. These groups are fantastic opportunities for majors and non majors to work together with our esteemed faculty. Please feel free to contact the professors listed if you would like one of these groups to perform at your school or event.

The UCO Flute Choir, directed by Dr. Emily Butterfield, professor of flute, performs campus, school and community concerts. This semester the ensemble will perform a shared concert with Cantilena, the women’s chorus, on Saturday, April 13 at 4:00 p.m. in Radke Fine Arts Theater, Center for Transformative Learning. Then later, on Thursday, May 9, the ensemble will perform music for Mother’s Day at 6:30 p.m., at the Bethany Public Library. Students in the ensemble play concert flute, piccolo, alto flute and bass flute. Repertoire from recent performances includes McMichael Rose Cottage, Glinka Oh, Little Apple, Boyce Symphony No. 1, Clarke Walk Like This, McGinty Greensleves, Schocker Flutes in the Garden, Red/Kile In Remembrance

For more information please contact Dr. Emily Butterfield, ebutterfield@uco.edu.

The UCO Percussion Consort, directed by Mr. David Hardman plays music written and arranged for the vast family of percussion instruments. From duos and trios to large works involving twelve or more players, the ensemble's repertoire reflects the history of percussion, as well as its place in the twenty-first century.  The Consort, founded in 2003 by David Hardman, UCO Director of Percussion Studies, performs regularly to large audiences at the UCO Jazz Lab and Mitchell Hall Theater on campus. 

As advocates of new music, the Consort has premiered two new works for percussion, and they frequently collaborate with other musicians, singers, and dancers.  They perform a feature concert each year at the Oklahoma Percussive Arts Society Festival, and appear at other venues around the state.  The UCO Percussion Consort is open to all UCO percussion majors and other UCO students with permission.

For more information please contact Mr. David Hardman, dhardman@uco.edu.

The UCO Trombone Choir is directed by Jeff Kidwell. The ensemble is a natural extension of the trombone studio, implementing performance techniques and skills that are emphasized in applied study and lessons. Trombone Choir can be taken for credit, and the wide variety of traditional and contemporary jazz/pop/commercial literature that the group rehearses and performs builds and strengthens the trombone section in every large ensemble on campus. There is a great deal of camaraderie and collegial spirit among the players in the trombone studio and Trombone Choir. They have performed at International Trombonists Association conventions in Nashville, TN, Denton, TX, and Colorado Springs. Campus performances include special events and even student recitals. The group has an active performance schedule throughout the year in local Oklahoma City area venues, such as the Oklahoma Trombone Workshop in Norman, and the St. Patrick's Day Celebration at Rose State College.

For more information please contact Mr. Jeff Kidwell, jkidwell@uco.edu.