Brass Ensembles

The School of Music offers a variety of chamber music opportunities for brass musicians, including both same and mixed instrument ensembles. Emphasis is on more traditional mixed-instrument groups, such as brass quintets. One brass quintet is selected during most semesters to perform outreach concerts in conjunction with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra’s program Music on the Move.

Coaching of brass chamber music groups is typically assigned to an appropriate studio professor. Coaching occurs weekly with schedules based upon the availability of the ensemble members. Other appropriate studio professors often work with individual players outside of ensemble time and/or work with the ensemble on an as needed basis.

Guest artists typically offer master classes on campus that include coaching for many of our brass chamber groups. Most recently, the American Brass Quintet came to campus for a mini-residency and worked with our chamber music groups.

Performance opportunities for student chamber music ensembles include various recital formats on campus as well as off-campus possibilities, including outreach series, professional conferences, and competitions.

If you would like to play in a chamber group, please speak with your applied studio teacher.

The Ball State University Fanfare Trumpet Ensemble is our studio’s premiere performing group. Participation is limited to six students who have not only demonstrated outstanding performance capabilities but who have also made a commitment to the long-term success of our studio.

The Fanfare Ensemble is dedicated to the preservation of the trumpet as a cultural heritage. Throughout the course of history, society has used this instrument to mark the highs and lows of human existence: weddings, funerals, military exercises, academic commencements, religious services, parades, and holidays.

Our ensemble aspires to serve as the leading source of ceremonial trumpet music in Muncie and the surrounding community by providing quality performances for these landmark occasions. 

The Trumpet Ensemble provides an opportunity to study and perform a wide range of repertoire.

The ensemble is an extension of the trumpet studio and primarily includes trumpet majors and minors.

Coaching is offered by the trumpet professor and guest artists.

One credit hour is available.

The Robert E Marsh Horn Ensemble focuses on ensemble repertoire for horn choir.

Directed by Prof. Gene Berger and occasionally by the graduate teaching assistant, the ensemble is an extension of the horn studio, with activity mainly offering a platform for horn majors and minors to work together for pedagogical reasons—with occasional performances at student recitals and other venues. The ensemble has also performed at numerous conferences and schools throughout the Midwest.

Members can also arrange music, ranging from classical repertoire to popular songs.

The ensemble is named after the first full-time horn Prof. Robert Marsh, who started the ensemble in the 1950s.

To join the ensemble, contact Prof. Gene Berger.

Founded in 1960, the Ball State University Trombone Choir maintains a long tradition of performing a variety of original compositions and transcriptions.

Participation in trombone choir is an essential component of trombone studies at Ball State. Students will expand their musicality, technique, and ensemble skills through the preparation and performance of a wide range of musical styles spanning five centuries.

The Ball State University Euphonium-Tuba Ensemble, under the direction of Prof. Matthew Lyon, typically comprises 16 students. It includes music majors and nonmajors, graduate students and undergraduates.

The ensemble performs in recital on campus every semester and has performed throughout east central Indiana, including numerous school concerts and venues such as the Charles Street and Washington Street Festivals in Muncie, the Factory Outlet Stores and Muncie Mall, and Arts Place in Portland.

The ensemble plays a varied repertoire from classical, to jazz, to popular pieces.

To join the ensemble, contact Prof. Lyon.