Ensembles
Bands
The Baylor University Wind Ensemble is the premier wind band of the Baylor School of Music and has been praised as "one of the flagship programs in our state, and because of that, the nation."
The Baylor University Symphonic Band is comprised of advanced musicians (both music majors and non-music majors) selected from auditions held during the week prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Meeting twice a week in the spring semester and comprised of students from all facets of university life, this ensemble provides students the opportunity to continue instrumental performance at an enjoyable and accomplished level.
The Baylor Jazz Ensemble provides students with the opportunity to play and perform music from a wide range of styles and musical eras, from the classic selections of the Swing Era to the cutting-edge big band compositions of today.
The Concert Jazz Ensemble provides students with the opportunity to play and perform music from a wide range of styles and musical eras, from the classic selections of the Swing Era to the cutting-edge big band compositions of today.
Comprised of approximately 300 members, The Golden Wave is the largest student musical organization at Baylor University and stands as an icon of campus tradition.
The Baylor University Courtside Players provides musical entertainment to thousands of basketball and volleyball fans across the nation.
Choirs
The Baylor A Cappella Choir is the flagship choral ensemble at Baylor University. Selected by competitive audition, the choir combines some of the most advanced singers at Baylor, both music majors and non-music majors, and focuses on cultivating meaningful fellowship and rich, artistic singing.
Baylor Bella Voce is a highly selective women’s ensemble comprised primarily of undergraduate and graduate music majors, but is also open to non-music majors.
Comprised of around 20 of Baylor’s finest singers, this elite chamber choir focuses on developing choral artistry and a high level of musical fluency through mastery of a wide variety of repertoire—from the Renaissance through modern works—preparing young singers for future professional careers in singing and teaching.
The Baylor University Concert Choir performs music from all style periods of the choral repertoire. This mixed choir has developed a strong reputation of choral excellence, and regularly delights audiences in community performances and statewide venues.
The Baylor University Men’s Choir is open by audition to all male students on the Baylor University campus. The BUMC meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00am to 12:15pm for one university credit-hour.
The Baylor University Women's Choir is a community of singers dedicated to the four pillars of Diversity, Virtue, Harmony, and Musicianship. Annual performances include the Family Weekend Choral Concert, fall and spring concerts, and A Baylor Christmas.
Founded in August of 2012, VirtuOSO is the premier pop/a cappella/vocal jazz ensemble at Baylor. Devoted to creativity, variety, and excellence, this group performs arrangements ranging from four to fourteen parts, most written in-house by students, graduates, or their director, supplying every component using only their voices.
Orchestras
The Baylor Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an ensemble of artistic excellence, where musicians will find an environment of camaraderie, motivation, and inspiration through a variety of repertoire from all periods, and where they can grow professionally and artistically.
The Campus Orchestra is designed to provide an orchestral experience in a relaxed environment for those students whose schedules will not permit them to commit to a rigorous schedule or literature demands. Students with any major, faculty, and staff are welcome to join.
Specialty Ensembles
An extensive chamber music program is a central element of instrumental study at Baylor. The demands of one-on-a-part performing experiences are vigorous growth as music makers.
The Baylor Early Music Ensembles, under the direction of Dr. Jann Cosart, perform music from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Eras. Cultural contexts and historical performance practices are explored in the rich musical repertoires of our past.
The Baylor Bronze Handbell Ensemble has students with varied ringing experience. Although this is not an auditioned ensemble, those interested in joining the group should have some experience ringing handheld instruments.
The Wayne Fisher Jazz Program features two big bands, the Baylor Jazz Ensemble and the Concert Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, and academic jazz studies in theory and improvisation.
Students regularly get the opportunity to perform and hear new music in all of the many ensembles offered at Baylor (large and small).
The Baylor Percussion Group (BPG) is the Percussion Department's primary performance ensemble and annually presents concerts of the most significant percussion works of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Baylor Opera Theatre trains performers in basic skill sets to perform as a singular artist and soloist; through practical application in staging, music rehearsals and specialized lectures.
Students taking courses such as Music in World Cultures and Traditional Music and Culture in Latin America engage in music making (hands-on experiments), including class sessions focusing on African and Middle Eastern drumming, and South American instrumental and vocal music.