Bands

On this page:

Steps to Audition for Wright State Bands

The School of Fine and Performing Arts offers a wide range of performing ensembles. These ensembles are open to all students at the university, regardless of major, and, in some cases, to community members. Auditions are required for all music majors/minors throughout their course of study. Placements will be determined by the ensemble director in collaboration with your applied studio instructor.

Band Auditions will be held on Friday, August 21, Monday, August 24, and Tuesday, August 25. Band placement auditions take place in Dr. Shelley Jagow's office, Room M085B. Students may warm up in any of the practice rooms located on the all three floors of the CAC.

  • Complete the online Band Registration Form.
  • Winds and String Bass: Auditions will be held on Friday before classes begin and during the first two days of classes. The auditions take place in Dr. Jagow's office, M085B in the basement of the Creative Arts Center. For more information contact shelley.jagow@wright.edu
  • Percussion contact: Auditions will be held by the percussion instructor; contact gerald.noble@wright.edu 

Wind Symphony

  • Rehearses MWF 1:30–3 p.m. [MUE 2690/4690/6690]
  • Audition required; for more information contact shelley.jagow@wright.edu

Concert/Symphonic Band

  • Rehearses MWF 3:35–4:30 p.m. [MUE 2660/4660/6660]
  • NO AUDITION; simply register for the course and show up for rehearsal
  • For more information contact shelley.jagow@wright.edu

Jazz Band

Pep Band

Wright State University Bands

Wind Symphony

The school's premier wind band, this ensemble performs original compositions and transcriptions for band and wind ensembles. Audition required.

The Wright State University Wind Symphony (MUE 2690/4690/6690)
Shelley Jagow, Ph.D., director
shelley.jagow@wright.edu

The Wright State University Wind Symphony is the university’s most elite symphonic band organization. Its student members, typically comprised of approximately 50 students, are chosen annually by competitive audition. The Wind Symphony performs the finest in symphonic wind repertoire, ranging from transcriptions to state-of-the-art original compositions. The band rehearses on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:30-3 p.m. in Room 190 of the Creative Arts Center.

Symphonic (Concert) Band

Performs band music of all styles. Open to all students without an audition.

The Wright State University Symphonic (Concert) Band (MUE 2660/4660/6660 section 01)
Shelley Jagow, Ph.D., director
shelley.jagow@wright.edu

The Wright State University Symphonic Band is a performing wind band open to all Wright State students from a wide variety of fields of study within the university. The band rehearses on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:35-4:35 p.m. in Room 190 in the Creative Arts Center. The band performs at least one concert each semester with musical repertory ranging from pop concerts to wind band classics and contemporary compositions. In addition, a one-day off-campus tour performance is often organized at a high school within the greater Dayton area. 

Varsity Pep Band

photo of students in the pep band at wright state

Performs jazz, rock, and contemporary music at all home basketball games and for other campus activities. Audition required (contact the director for details).

Varsity Pep Band (MUE 2670/4670/6670)
Contact: Jerry Noble, Director of Percussion

The Wright State University Raider Pep Band provides musical entertainment and spirit at home men’s and women’s basketball games, as well as other select events around campus and the community.  Members of the band receive free admission to all games performed, plus the opportunity to receive scholarship money. 

Jazz Ensemble

The university's premiere jazz ensemble, this group performs repertoire of the 20th and 21st century, primarily using the traditional 17 to 18-piece Big Band format and instrumentation. Students learn crucial elements of ensemble execution, professionalism, jazz history, style, and improvisation. While membership is open to any Wright State student regardless of major, auditions are required (to access the Jazz audition excerpts, click on the appropriate link below).

Students interested in joining the Wright State University Jazz Ensemble should look at the audition materials (below), and contact Matt Anklan at matthew.anklan@wright.edu.

Conducting Faculty