Orchestra
Are you interested in playing with our bands, orchestras, or choirs in the upcoming semester? We offer a variety of exciting performing opportunities for both music majors and non-majors of a variety of skill levels.
- Click this link: Ensembles Interest Form
- Tell us about yourself in the form.
- We will keep you in the loop about rehearsal times, audition dates, and we'll also include videos of recent performances.
Visit the Ensembles Interest Form for more information and we look forward to telling you about our performing ensembles.
The core repertoire of the Orchestra spans a broad range of eras and styles. Performances in fall '22 included Philip Glass's "Low" Symphony; Beethoven Piano Concerto Nr 3; Mignone Concertino for Bassoon and Orchestra; a full run of "Into the Woods" at the Hammer Theater with the Broadway orchestration; and holiday concerts in Saratoga, Sacramento (Sofia Theater), and downtown San José (Montgomery Theater).
In 2021-22, the SJSU Orchestra performed in the Music Concert Hall, Hammer Theater, Montgomery Theater (SJ), Castro Valley Performing Arts Center, and elsewhere. Repertoire included Stephen Hartke's Ship of State, Dvorak's New World Symphony, an opera double bill of Roberto Rodriquez's La Curandera and Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury, Mozart's Symphony No. 41 ("Jupiter"), and Buon Natale with tenor and alum Pasquale Esposito.
The mission of the orchestra is to deliver an outstanding music education for our students, and to perform at the highest level with passion, energy, and commitment.
Music majors focusing on string performance must participate in Symphony Orchestra as their major ensemble. Auditions take place the two days before classes begin each semester.
The conductor of the SJSU Symphony Orchestra is Dr. Fred Cohen.
Dr. Fred Cohen
Director, School of Music and Dance; Orchestra
408-924-4677
fred.cohen@sjsu.edu