Recitals and Concerts
Studio recitals are held at the end of each semester in Leshowitz Recital Hall. Concerts take place at varying times during the semester and are held in Memorial Auditorium and the Student Center Ballrooms. Family and friends are welcome to all of our recitals and concerts.
Chamber Program
Chamber performance can be one of the most rewarding music experiences. Chamber groups are small ensembles with mixed instruments of varying configurations usually consisting of three to five performers per group. Intermediate through advanced students interested in participating in a chamber ensemble are placed in a group with musicians of similar technical ability. Chamber Ensemble students meet as a group once a week with their chamber coach. The coach provides guidance for performance addressing musical issues such as articulation, dynamics, phrasing, balance of sound, interpretation and more. Chamber Ensemble students are also actively involved in the musical shaping and interpretation of the repertoire they are learning enhancing their understanding of musical expression, communication, and artistry. The chamber ensemble experience is a wonderful way to improve intonation, rhythm reading, musical expression and nuance as well as explore and experience the vast array of amazing repertoire created for chamber ensembles.
- Chamber Winds
The Chamber Winds ensemble is open to woodwind, brass and percussion players. This is a small ensemble comprised of one instrumentalist per part. Students in the ensemble have the opportunity to perform pieces of various musical styles in a fun supportive environment. Rehearsals are sixty minutes in duration and held once a week with an experienced coach/conductor. - Harp Ensembles
The Harp Ensembles offer young harpists the opportunity to experience the joy of making music with a group. This is a wonderful addition to private lessons as it helps further develop listening skills, rhythmic accuracy and performance readiness. - Chamber Music for Adults
The Extension Division’s chamber ensembles for adults are open to strings, piano, woodwinds and brass players. Ensembles are organized by interest and ability and are coached by experienced Extension Division faculty members.
Orchestral Ensembles
The Extension Division offers three orchestras designed to suite a wide variety of students’ needs. The Extension Division’s orchestral program is the only pre-college program in Northern New Jersey to blend an exceptional artistic environment and side-by-side rehearsal/performance experiences with talented collegiate mentors from the John J. Cali School of Music. Students who already participate in a school program or another youth orchestra will benefit and further enhance the dimension of their music learning and experience in this unique setting.
- Cadet Strings
Cadet Strings is an entry level ensemble designed for string students who have completed Suzuki Book I or the equivalent. Woodwind and percussion students are also welcome. The ensemble encourages intonation, note and rhythm reading in a fun dynamic environment! Rehearsals are forty-five minutes in duration and held weekly in The Murray L. and Miriam Cole Studio. - Youth Orchestra
The umbrella orchestra of some fifty pre-college, college and continuing education musicians, the Montclair State University Youth Orchestra performs standards of the orchestral repertoire Baroque through contemporary. This ensemble is open to strings, winds, brass and percussion. Rehearsals are sixty minutes in duration and held weekly in The Bergen Foundation Orchestra Rehearsal Hall. Please see the current catalog for audition information. - Chamber Sinfonia
The Chamber Sinfonia ensemble is an advanced chamber orchestra for exceptional string players. Rehearsals are two hours in duration, the first hour being participation in the Youth Orchestra, and held weekly in The Bergen Foundation Orchestra Rehearsal Hall. Please see the current catalog for audition information.