Music

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Many Wyoming Seminary Upper School students take part in musical activities, focusing on either vocal or instrumental music — or sometimes being involved in both. The music department strives to offer opportunities for every level of experience. Advanced musicians participate in the prestigious Civic Orchestra or Jazz Ensemble, or the select Madrigal Singers. Students whom the directors deem capable of working in a small ensemble have the opportunity to play in a chamber group. Individual lessons are available from world-class faculty members, in addition to the main courses of study.

At the Lower School, Sem's music teachers are dedicated to nurturing a love for music, helping them grow as musicians and appreciative listeners. Music is included in many primary classroom lessons and activities. All students participate in three annual performance of vocal and/or instrumental music.

2020-21 Awards & Accolades

2021-22 Awards & Accolades

Chorale

The Wyoming Seminary Chorale is composed of about 50 Sem students in ninth through twelfth grades. Directed by John M. Vaida, chair of the Wyoming Seminary Visual and Performing Arts Department, the co-educational group sings a wide variety of repertoire ranging from baroque and classical to liturgical and contemporary works. The select Madrigal Singers, a group of about 24 students, also perform with the Chorale. The Chorale is fortunate to have pianist Tsukasa Waltich serve as their accompanist for performances and rehearsals. The ensemble performs several times throughout the school year at concerts and services, both on and off campus.

Civic Orchestra

The Wyoming Seminary Civic Orchestra is a high-quality ensemble comprised of professional musicians, music teachers, area college music majors, adult musicians in other fields, as well as high school students from Wyoming Seminary and other local schools. Under the direction of Dr. Rick Hoffenberg, the orchestra continues a tradition of excellence while stimulating an interest in classical music throughout the community.

Jazz Band

The Wyoming Seminary Jazz Ensemble is an after-school ensemble that rehearses one to two times per week. Led by Jamie Orfanella, this ensemble offers a glimpse into one of the few purely American art forms through the rehearsal and performance of jazz music. Ensemble members will encounter both large and small ensemble music as well as beginning jazz theory to aid in their reading of music, as well as their ability to improvise and create music ideas on-the-fly.

Madrigal Singers

The Wyoming Seminary Madrigal Singers are a select group of 20 voices that performs a varied repertoire of music from baroque and classical to contemporary and world music. Directed by John M. Vaida, Chair of the Wyoming Seminary Visual and Performing Arts Department, the Madrigals are highly regarded both in their home region of Northeastern Pennsylvania and throughout Europe. The ensemble has appeared in numerous festivals and competitions both in the United States and abroad.

Orchestra

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the orchestra has not been able to rehearse for the past two years. But, director Christiane Appenheimer-Vaida hopes to get back into the swing of things in the 2022-23 school year. This ensemble gives string players and the more experienced wind, brass and percussion players the opportunity to collaborate on a wide variety of repertoire that ranges from classical pieces to film scores and contemporary compositions.

Percussion Ensemble

With repertoire that features traditional and non-traditional percussion instruments, the Percussion Ensemble has a long history of performances that entertain and educate. Under the direction of Monica Spishock, the Percussion Ensemble has become a venue for those who wish to understand rhythm, learn more about percussion instruments, improve their percussion technique, or improve their note-reading skills and overall musicianship. Percussion Ensemble invites pianists and other instrumentalists to explore the exciting world of percussion while using the skills they already have. In addition, the Ensemble teaches percussionists important skills they need when participating in the school's larger ensembles, such as Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.

String Ensemble

The String Ensemble, directed by Christiane Appenheimer-Vaida (cello) and John Michael Vaida '00 (violin and viola), provides string players with the opportunity to explore repertoire written specifically for their instruments. The directors' expertise as string players enables them to address both technical and musical issues in great detail and depth. The repertoire ranges from early baroque music to contemporary pieces in a variety of styles.

Wind Ensemble

The wind ensemble, directed by Tyler Harvey, performs with the Jazz Band in two concerts each year and presents both popular and lesser-known pieces in the concert band tradition. This ensemble allows all wind, brass and percussion players the chance to work in a large ensemble. This provides the students with the opportunity to learn the techniques they need, as musicians in general as well as for their individual instruments.