Here at Pitt, we hope you like jammin’, too

Love to sing? Pitt’s got a group that will suit you, whether your taste is classical or… Love to sing? Pitt’s got a group that will suit you, whether your taste is classical or hip-hop. Not a singer but need music in your life? Pitt’s got that covered, too.

From the more professional to the just-for-fun, from dancing around hitting bongos to chanting in perfect rows wearing tuxedos and ball gowns, Pitt has a number of musical groups for students to join.

Some, like the Pitt Pendulums and the Men’s Glee Club, require auditions while others, like the African Drum Ensemble, have optional corresponding classes. Any one of the following ensembles is available to students even if they have no connection to the music department at Pitt.

Some groups, like Heinz Chapel Choir, have one large concert per semester, and many Pitt music groups perform at charity events throughout the year, helping to bring in crowds and raise money and awareness for causes like Katrina relief or African refugees.

Many of the vocal music groups are a cappella. Heinz Chapel Choir, directed by John Goldsmith, is a traditional eight-part choir. Goldsmith holds auditions every fall for this elite, co-ed group of 50 singers. Once every three years, Heinz Chapel Choir goes on a summer tour – they traveled to Brazil in 2006. There’s an academic benefit to membership, too. Members receive one credit for participation in Heinz Chapel Choir.

The Pitt Pendulums, directed by Peter McKeon, is a co-ed group with less than 20 members. Another group, Sounds of Pleasure, is an all-girl a cappella group that performs a concert each semester and also lends its talents to various events on campus. They parallel the Pitt Pendulums in singing everything from hip-hop to rock to popular music.

“Last semester we sang songs from Maroon 5, the Fray, Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake and James Taylor,” McKeon said.

“We have one main concert per semester,” McKeon said. “In the fall, we call it Turkey Jam since it usually falls right around Thanksgiving, and in the spring we have Phat Jam and we always have a guest group come,” McKeon said.

Pitt music groups venture out to perform at other locations, too.

“We also always go on one tour a semester,” said McKeon. “The past semester we went to RIT, and we’ve also been to the University of Toronto,” he said.

Other singing groups at Pitt include the Men’s Glee Club and the Women’s Choral Ensemble. Men’s Glee Club hosts three major seasonal concerts throughout the year as well as a fall retreat and a field trip in the spring. They also perform at university sporting events and various concerts around the city during the holiday season. Women’s Choral Ensemble performs different types of songs ranging from secular classics to show tunes. This vocal ensemble holds weekly practices as well as other workshops.

On the non-vocal side, the Pitt Marching Band performs at all Pitt football games, following the team all over the Big East. Various members perform at basketball games, as well. One of the perks is getting to travel all over the country when the teams make it into playoffs, which is happening more and more frequently lately.

The Pitt African Drumming Ensemble brings a mixture of culture and music, performing about three times a semester.

“We do a lot of African events,” sophomore member Rob Wise said. “We love being able to integrate the music with the culture.”

Dressing in African costumes and taking turns dancing to the beat as well as banging on the bongos, the group does just that. Students can join the club or take the class to learn more about African drumming while doing what they love – making music.

We’ve covered vocal music, brass and percussion, but don’t forget about the strings. Directed by Roger Zahab, the University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is comprised of undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and local community members. This organization has been around since 1976, giving students a chance to play their classical instruments in front of audiences at Bellefield Hall in about three concerts a semester.

Other organizations that perform concerts at Pitt include the University Handbell Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble and Some of God’s Children Gospel Choir. Look for informational tables and opportunities to sign up for any of these groups at this year’s fall activities fair.