Participation in the Symphonic Band is by invitation only. It engages in music ranging from medium, advanced, to advanced wind compositions. The Symphonic Band's campus performances are supplemented by periodic tours, and by convention and conference appearances.
Marching "101" Band
The Marching "101" Band is comprised of approximately 380 students and performs at all home and various away football games, parades, conferences, and events on campus and within the community. Students who wish to enroll must addition by attending a required pre-season training session prior to the fall term.
The Jazz Ensemble consists of approximately 30 members. It tours the Southeast performing a variety of transitional and contemporary jazz music. The Ensemble in past years has been fortunate to perform with such outstanding professional jazz musicians as Clark Terry, Joe Sample, Kenny Barrell, "Dizzy" Gillespie, Max Roach, Johnny Williams, Horace Ott, and many others.
The Saxophone ensemble is comprised of saxophone students that play soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone. The ensemble performs literature from Baroque, Classical, and Romantic arrangements to 20th century European and American compositions.
The Brass Ensemble is a performance based repertoire class that explores the diverse literature for various cultural, secular and sacred events within the university community. While a major component of the ensemble focuses on the brass quintet, additional attention is dedicated to mixed brass ensembles.
The Percussion Ensemble performs repertoire from a wide range of styles including: contemporary and "classic" percussion repertoire, avant-garde, experimental, Afro-Cuban, Jazz, Rock, African, Middle-Eastern, Ragtime, etc. Typically, the ensemble will perform at least once/semester and embarks on an annual tour.
The String Ensemble performs repertoire from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century. Its members range from violin, viola, cello, bass, acoustic guitar, and other orchestral instruments the String Ensemble presents major concerts on campus and within the community, The String Ensemble has performed at the Southern Conference of African American Studies (SCAASI) in Savannah, GA and in Charlotte, NC.
The South Carolina State University Concert Choir is the premier vocal ensemble of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at South Carolina State University. It serves as a choral laboratory for students of music, allowing them to explore music of different eras, styles, and composers. The repertoire of the concert choir ranges from the major works of the classical composers to spirituals, contemporary pieces and some gospel music. The choir also provides a choral experience for other members for the university community, and encourages students of different disciplines to become active in music making. The choir, as a performance ensemble which performs a capella as well as with piano, instrumental ensembles and full orchestra. The Concert Choir serves the University, the community of Orangeburg, as well as provides opportunities for its members to discover other towns, cities, states, and periodically, other countries as well. Although the ability to read music is encouraged, it is not an entry requirement. Entry to the choir is by audition.
The SC State Women's Chorus is open to all female voices in all majors throughout the University. The choir provides a fun environment for the learning of repertoire composed and/or arranged for female voice. The Women's Chorus often performs in tandem with the Concert Choir. Acceptance to the Women's Chorus is by audition process though the ability to read music is not required.
The SC State Men's Chorus provides an opportunity for male voice singing to all enrolled university students. The choir provides a fun environment for the learning to repertoire composed and/or arranged for male voice. The Men's Chorus often performs in tandem with the Concert Choir. Acceptance to the Men's Chorus is by audition process though the ability to read music is not required.