Ensembles and Production Opportunities

 

The arts at McNeese State University are an immeasurable presence in students’ lives and a cultural focus for the regional community.  Students and faculty participate in concerts, recitals, master classes, workshops and seminars each year.

 

Student ensembles include: The Pride of McNeese Marching Band, McNeese Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, The Percussion Ensemble, Clarinet Choir, Brass Choir, Concert Chorale, Chamber Singers, Vocal Ensemble, Internships with the Lake Charles Symphony, McNeese String Ensemble, Opera Workshop,  Musicals, Operas,  Plays and more.

 

Voice Division

Opera and Musical Theatre Workshop annually produces scenes and one acts from musical theatre and operatic repertoire. Literature performed by the MSU choral ensembles frequently includes solo opportunities. McNeese choral ensembles have joined the Louisiana Choral Foundation and the Lake Charles Symphony in presentations of major musical works.  Recent collaborations include Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Requiem (Keith Gates), and the oratorio Elijah by Mendelssohn. The Lake Charles Symphony and the Louisiana Choral Foundation have provided solo opportunities for McNeese students, such as Rogers and Hammerstein’s The King and I. The Theatre Division presents Main stage musical theatre productions every spring.  The auditions are open to music majors.  Occasionally there are main stage opera productions.  Recent productions include Suor Angelica, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Little Shop of Horrors, Caroline, or Change, Crowns, and Annie Get Your Gun. The Vocal Chamber Music course provides the opportunity to study duet, trio, and quartet ensembles in classical literature. The voice faculty are members of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.  This organization sponsors student auditions every fall and spring semester. Local community theatres frequently cast McNeese Students in musical theatre productions.