Hit all the right notes: you’ll do that here.

At Southeast, our diverse ensemble offerings give students the opportunity to enjoy an extensive range of musical styles and genres, to challenge themselves with group collaboration and to have valuable experiences that will help them improve and grow as musicians. 

The Department of Music offers performance opportunities for students of all majors in our various ensembles. Some ensembles require an audition and others are open to join.  

There’s a wide selection of ensembles so you can find your perfect fit.  

Athletic Bands

Southeast’s Athletic Bands consist of our Marching Band and Show Band. The Marching Band performs at all home football games, on-campus spirit rallies, parades, and more. The Southeast Show Band is a select group of students that perform at Southeast Redhawk basketball games and University Student Affairs events.

Concert Bands

At Southeast, our concert bands consist of Wind Symphony and Concert Band. The Southeast Wind Symphony is the principal wind and percussion ensemble on campus. The Concert Band is a traditional wind band that features brass, percussion, and woodwind musicians in a large group setting.

Jazz Band

Jazz at Southeast Missouri State University has been active for more than 20 years and consists of both big band and combo-performance opportunities. Southeast has two jazz ensembles, including both music majors and non-majors. Auditions for membership in the Jazz Studio will take place during the first week of classes in the fall semester.

Percussion

The Southeast Missouri State University Percussion Ensemble is comprised of undergraduate students and is open to any percussionist at Southeast. Each semester the percussion ensemble performs a wide variety of repertoire representing many eras, styles, and composers.

Music Ensembles & Master Classes

  • The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra provides the Southeast Missouri region with five to six orchestral concerts per year. The symphony performs the standard symphonic orchestra repertoire from the Baroque era to the music of today and has presented a number of world premieres. Additional free concerts, tours, and educational events are presented each season.  
  • Southeast has an active string chamber music program with multiple small ensembles operating simultaneously.  String Quartets, Trios, and Quintets all get weekly coaching sessions with string faculty and also rehearse independently. String ensembles perform each semester and in addition are often called on for outside performances and playing gigs in the area. Chamber music is open to both music majors and minors. 
  • Master classes, workshops, and residencies allow students to perform for each other and receive critique from the instructor or a guest artist in a conservatory style group master class setting. Technical and musical points are addressed, as well as general discussion about the musical profession. Master classes meet regularly and there are frequent opportunities to perform for renowned artists. 

Guitar Ensemble

The Southeast Guitar Ensemble, open to all Southeast students by audition, performs each semester, offering programs of transcriptions and original compositions for multiple classical guitars. In addition, guitar majors in the ensemble learn and perform standard chamber music repertoire for classical guitar in a variety of configurations.

Opera Theatre

The Opera Theatre at Southeast Missouri State University showcases the best that opera has to offer through beautiful singing and innovative storytelling. Each academic year we produce a fully staged opera and a smaller scenes program with solos, duets, and small ensembles.

Choral Ensembles

At Southeast, our choral ensembles consist of University Choir, Chamber Choir and Choral Union. The University Choir is a mixed ensemble made up of talented music majors and non-music majors that serves as the premiere choral ensemble. Chamber Choir is open to all students providing experience with singing in a small group and the opportunity to learn how to collaborate with others. The Choral Union is a mixed choir comprised of both student and community members serving as a symphonic chorus.

Keyboard

Students who play piano, organ or guitar have the opportunity to study with our talented faculty and perform as soloists or accompanists for other music students. These students may participate in the Guitar Studies Program, audition for the Studio Jazz Ensemble, or play with the Southeast Guitar Ensemble.

Contact Us
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Location
River Campus Seminary, 254
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 7800
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701