91¿´Æ¬Íø

Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø Bands

Music with us! With eight diverse concert bands, athletics bands and jazz ensembles, we have a place for you! Each ensemble is open to all Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø undergraduate and graduate students.

 

 Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø Youth Winds

The 91¿´Æ¬Íø Bands offer our students the chance to make music in nine performing ensembles to meet your skill and scheduling needs. Music majors and non-music majors have the opportunity to create and perform in athletic bands, jazz ensembles, and concert bands taught by outstanding and engaging faculty. Whether the goal is to become a performer, teacher, or to simply stay active and enjoy music, we have a place for you to music with us!

Athletic Bands

Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø's Athletic Bands Offer the Unique Opportunity to Be Part of the Game Day Excitement and Pageantry

Marching Golden Flashes

The Marching Golden Flashes serve as the most visible musical ambassador of 91¿´Æ¬Íø. Membership is open to all Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø students, regardless of major. As the largest student organization on campus, the Marching Golden Flashes represent every college at the university and over 70 different majors. All full-time undergraduate members receive a $1,000 scholarship for each year of participation. 

Auditions details are typically announced in January. 

Learn More 91¿´Æ¬Íø the MGF

Directed by Dr. Darin Olson

Flasher Brass Pep Band

Flasher Brass Pep Band is 91¿´Æ¬Íø’s pep band which performs at all men’s and women’s home basketball games, post-season MAC and NCAA tournament games, and a variety of other Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø athletic and community events. 

Auditions typically are held in the fall semester with rehearsals beginning shortly thereafter. Keep checking here for additional details!

Learn More 91¿´Æ¬Íø Flasher Brass Pep Band

Directed by Dr. Darin Olson

Questions?

Email: bands@kent.edu
Call: 330-672-0080

Concert Bands

We offer a variety of Concert Bands to fit your schedule and skill level!

Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble is an auditioned ensemble of the university's finest wind and percussion musicians. Consisting primarily of undergraduate and graduate music majors and talented non-majors, the group performs traditional and contemporary wind repertoire of the highest quality.

Rehearsals 

  • Tuesday and Thursday from 1:10 - 3:05 p.m., and selected Fridays from 1:10 to 2:20 p.m.

Joining the Wind Ensemble

Director
Dr. Benjamin Lorenzo

Symphony Band

The Symphony Band is an auditioned ensemble of student musicians from across campus regardless of major who have demonstrated an outstanding level of musicianship and commitment to musical excellence. Consisting primarily of undergraduate and graduate music majors the group performs a broad range of works, representative of all historical periods and styles. 

Rehearsals

  • Tuesday and Thursday from 3:20 - 5:15 p.m.

Joining the Symphony Band

Director
Dr. Darin Olson

University Band

The University Band, also known as the "Communiversity Band," is open to all university students and community members who wish to continue performing traditional band literature.

Rehearsal

  • Tuesday from 7:15 - 9 p.m.

Joining University Band

  • No audition required! Show up to the first rehearsal of the semester, instrument in hand.
  • Can be taken for credit or for no credit. Visit the Community Ensembles page for more information regarding the non-credit option.   
  • Registration: MUS 45225 (Undergraduates) or MUS 55225 (Graduate Students)

Director
Dr. Sarah Labovitz

Questions?

Jazz Ensembles

Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø's jazz studies foster a "real world" atmosphere, promoting the development of fundamental skills in instrumental and vocal jazz.

Through our Jazz Minor curriculum and ensemble performance, students are provided the opportunity to improve individual musicianship, create a personal voice, learn from and be inspired by the rich history, understand the evolutionary process and modern trends of Jazz, while becoming musical leaders and positive contributors to the 91¿´Æ¬Íø experience.

Learn more about the Jazz Ensembles

Bands Faculty & Staff

Learn more about the directors and leaders of the Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø bands and jazz ensembles

Dr. Sarah Labovitz

Associate Director of School of Music and Professor of Music
University Band

Learn more about Sarah

 

Dr. Benjamin Lorenzo

Director of Bands, Director of Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø Youth Winds
Music Education, Wind Ensemble
Learn more about Benjamin

Dr. Darin Olson

Director of Athletic Bands & Associate Director of Bands
Marching Golden Flashes, Flasher Brass, Symphony Band

Learn more about Darin

Bobby Selvaggio

Director of Jazz Studies
Jazz Orchestra, Saxophone
Learn more about Bobby

  • Instrumental Ensemble Auditions

    Instrumental Ensemble Auditions

    Welcome to the Audition Center for all our instrumental ensembles from bands to orchestra to jazz.

    Learn More

  • Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø Youth Winds

    Kent 91¿´Æ¬Íø Youth Winds

    An ensemble for high school woodwind, brass and percussion players held at the Glauser School of Music

    Learn More
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