Music
Ensembles
The Vanguard University Department of Music is home to a variety of ensembles, including the Concert Choir and the Concert Band, the Jazz Ensemble/Combo, the String Orchestra, and the worship band Vanguard Worship Collective.
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Interested in booking one of our ensembles? Complete our booking request form!
All students are welcome to participate in ensembles regardless of major or minor. If interested in participating, check out the audition information below.
Members of the Vanguard University Concert Choir are selected through an audition and interview process. The ensemble represents almost all of the 40 academic majors offered at Vanguard University, with more than half of the members being non-music majors. Concert Choir performs locally at churches, schools, and conferences while performing a traditional, classical, sacred, praise and worship, and contemporary Christian arrangements. This ensemble has recently been headed by Dr. Jae Hyeok Jang who pushes the students to performance perfection while keeping the mood positive and fun!
Outside of major university events, notable venues that Concert Choir has performed in are the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York. Concert Choir frequently travels to local churches and high schools to showcase their wide range of repertoire. In the case of high school visitations, a choral exchange often occurs as well as a time for mentorship from Vanguard to the high school students.
The Vanguard University Concert Band also selects students through an audition and interview process and is the largest instrumental ensemble sponsored by the Department of Music. Concert Band is committed to excellence in music performance and is well received by all audiences due to its wide range of orchestral repertoire including classical, popular, sacred, and traditional as well as contemporary Christian music.
Concert Band performs on campus, at schools, churches and concert halls throughout the academic year and will often partner with One Voice to expand on the musical texture. Some notable locations which they have performed at is Carnegie Hall in New York as well as the City National Grove of Anaheim!
The Vanguard University Jazz Ensemble/ Combo is one of the more intimate ensembles that Vanguard has to offer. Students undergo rigorous repertoire as well as dive into the theory and function of Jazz. In this ensemble, a musician's metal is tested by improvising solos as well as following the progressions of ever changing music. Members can expect to grow in knowledge of jazz as well as have opportunities to showcase their skill in live performance in a variety of venues.
Vanguard University's Jazz Ensemble/ Combo will frequently play for high end events for the university, such as the Presidential Scholar Reception. Due to the nature of Jazz music, they will often be asked to perform for intimate events such as weddings or for town hall meetings at Costa Mesa City Hall.
The String Orchestra invites local string players of all ages to be a part of our newly launched Music Academy, which is under the direction of Professor Sorah Myung. Myung has a wide array of performance experience at well known venues such as the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters. In this ensemble, students receive technical training on their instrument and merge with our university Concert Band to form a full orchestra.
String Orchestra often travels with Concert Band in their performances as to complete a full orchestral sound. Typically, the ensemble will host local high school string students to help cultivate growth as well as maintain strong community integration.
The Vanguard Worship Collective has recently been restructured to equip our students with Worship Leadership skills. Members of the Vanguard Worship Collective are selected through audition and interview process, and each student is additionally a member of another of our large ensembles. Beyond performing locally at churches, schools, and conferences, the students of this small ensemble gain experience in song writing and study the heart behind leading a congregation of believers. These students represent a wonderful cross-section of the academic majors offered at Vanguard University, both music and non-music majors.
The Vanguard Worship Collective primarily ministers at local schools and churches. These tours are a growing opportunity for the student leaders as they are not only able to represent the University and God’s Kingdom, but also gain a cross-cultural awareness and perspective.
All incoming Vanguard students who are interested in the music program and/or participating in a music ensemble are required to perform an audition in their primary performing medium. We encourage all to audition with us regardless of experience!
- Submit the Audition Request Form.
- Once this form is submitted, the Music Department will contact you to schedule an audition time.
- Audition appointments are scheduled on a first come first serve basis and are approximately 30 minutes in length.
- Auditions are used to gauge performance level, range on an instrument, and helps inform ensemble placements as well as potential music scholarships. See the Audition Guidelines for requirements specific to your instrument and chosen major.
We understand that auditioning for college can be a daunting topic, so we are here to answer any questions that you may have before taking steps toward the audition process! You can contact us or speak to any of the staff or faculty in our department about auditioning, scholarships, participating in our ensembles, general department questions, and more.
