Student Organizations in the School of the Arts

Group meetings and auditions are publicized on campus. Student representatives to School of the Arts faculty committees are elected annually from student organizations as follows: Student Art Association represents Art History and Studio majors and minors, Mu Phi Epsilon represents Music majors and minors, Cothurnus represents Theatre majors and minors, Orchesis represents Dance minors, and the Musical Theatre Club represents Musical Theatre majors and minors.

Student Art Association

Meetings are held every Tuesday at 12:45pm in the Brodie Art Building Lounge. SAA encourages anyone interested to attend meetings. SAA designs and sets up shows in the Opus Gallery (located on the lower level of the College Union), coordinates trips to off campus galleries, coordinates the art auction for the annual Artists Fighting AIDS benefit, invites guest artists and speakers, and designs and paints campus murals. SAA website. Send email to SAA.

Cothurnus student theatre group

Melanie Blood, Advisor
Cothurnus is a co-curricular student theatre organization that presents opportunities for students to experience all aspects of a theatrical production and apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. Cothurnus funds two faculty supervised shows per year and two to four student directed and designed productions called Vegetable S.O.U.P. (Student Organized Undergraduate Production) per year. These venues are funded by Mandatory Student Fees. Alternative Cooperative Theatre (A.C.T. I's) are weekly workshop opportunities open to any student.

Meetings of Cothurnus are Fridays at 3:30 in the Brodie Student Commons. Anyone interested in theatre arts is encouraged to attend. Veg S.O.U.P. meetings are arranged separately. ACT I performances immediately follow Cothurnus.

Cothurnus Web Site

Cothurnus officers 2007-2008:

Musical Theatre Club

Melanie Blood, Advisor
This organization is open to any student interested in musical theatre. The club is a co-sponser for the main stage musical presented each Fall, as well as producer of the Musical Theatre Repertory Company, which presents a musical revue each semester. Student-directed musicals may also be sponsered by the club. MTC meets Mondays at 5 PM in the Brodie Student Commons. Opportunities are available for performing, directing, staging or choreographing, as well as designing costumes, sets, or lights. Members of the club also present off-campus performances in schools, nursing homes, etc. The mission of the club is to encourage an interest in musicals and to develop performing and producing skills, as well as to aid in general cultural enrichment of the campus population and the community.

Musical Theatre Club Web Site

Musical Theatre Club officers 2007-2008:

Orchesis student dance group

Officers for 2007-2008: What is Orchesis?
Orchesis is Geneseo's student dance organization. Orchesis promotes all styles of dance both on the Geneseo campus and in the surrounding community. Orchesis presents its members with an opportunity to choreograph dances and to perform in student works. There are at least two performances each academic year; one in the fall semester -- Parents' Weekend, Dessert Reception -- and one in the spring semester -- Beyond the Studio Mirror.

Orchesis meets every Thursday at 5:30 in the Brodie Dance Studio, Room 107. Information/Planning meetings alternate with student directed dance classes. Everyone is welcome!

Alpha Psi Omega

National Theatre Honor Society

Revived in 2000 after an almost fifteen year hiatus, the Zeta Nu chapter of Alpha Psi Omega is active again. Students with at least two semesters of service in theatre, musical theatre, or dance; a minimum GPA of 3.2; and a declared major or minor in theatre, musical theatre, or dance, may submit applications to pledge in the fall or spring semester. All those fulfilling the chapter's requirements for membership will be invited to pledge. An initiation ceremony is held at the end of the semester.

Officers for 2007-2008:


President: James Merenda, Email jm41
Vice President: Mike Rosengarten
Secretary/Treasurer: Kaleigh Schwartz
Pledge Master: Eleanor Roach

Freshman Showcase coordinators: Danny Carroll and Meaghan Fitzgerald
Advisor: Melanie Blood

Vocal Miscellany

Alan Case, Director. Geneseo Vocal Miscellany was founded in 1987, for the purpose of providing additional performance opportunities for singers at SUNY Geneseo. In the sixteen years since our first program, a celebration of the birthday of Charles Ives in October, 1987, we have produced over 45 different programs, ranging from performances of the Franz Schubert song cycles Die Schone Mullerin and Die Winterreise to musical revues exploring the songs of Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter, and Harold Arlen. In addition to these concert performances, Vocal Miscellany produces musicals and operas. Productions include CRADLE WILL ROCK, VIOLET, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, ASSASSINS, SWEENEY TODD, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, and THE THREEPENNY OPERA, as well as GIANNI SCHICCHI, GONDOLIERS, and THE MIKADO.

There are many ways to get involved in a Vocal Miscellany production. Many are cast by audition, and these auditions are open to all members of the College community. Other programs are cast by invitation, based on a student's involvement in other activities of the School of Performing Arts. For further information, contact the director of Vocal Miscellany, Alan Case at 245-5824 or case@geneseo.edu  


Student Music Association

Re-founded in 2006 by students interested in music, the Student Music Association's purpose is to bring in guest artists and guest speakers and to organize social events for Geneseo music students. Advisor, Anne-Marie Reynolds.
For more information, contact 2007-2008 officers:
President: Dave Gordon, Email dgg2
Vice President: Irene Fiesinger
Secretary: Krystle Fryzle
Treasurer: Jesse Kinne

Geneseo Symphony Orchestra

James Walker, Director
The Geneseo Symphony is conducted by James Walker, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Music and Head of Instrumental Activities at SUNY Geneseo. An orchestra of close to seventy musicians, the Symphony combines within its ranks gifted student performers and Artist Faculty. Among the latter are members of Geneseo's superb ensembles-in-residence: the Tremont String Quartet and the Geneseo Wind Quintet. Recent performances by the Geneseo Symphony includes works such as Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Respighi's Fountains of Rome and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

The Geneseo Symphony has many non-majors in its ranks and encourages all interested students to watch for audition announcements at the start of each term. Students may contact James Walker directly at 245-5823 or jwalker@geneseo.edu to obtain more information regarding audition preparation.

See Music 165

Wind Ensemble

James Walker, Director
The Geneseo Wind Ensemble is conducted by James Walker, Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Activities at SUNY Geneseo. A large wind band of over forty-five musicians, the Wind Ensemble is dedicated to performing the most exciting and challenging music written for winds. The ensemble performs frequently on campus and in the region. Recent performances have included such composers as Hanson, Khatchaturian, Jacob, Grainger, and Vaughan Williams.

The Wind Ensemble has many non-majors in its ranks and encourages all interested students to watch for audition announcements at the start of each term. Students may contact James Walker directly at 245-5823 or jwalker@geneseo.edu to obtain more information regarding audition preparation. 

See Music 165

Jazz Ensembles

Dr. Jonathan Kruger and Mr. David Gibson, Directors
The Jazz Ensembles pursue musical excellence in preparation and performance in the field of jazz. The group performs works ranging from "big band era" to modern day jazz fusion. A second band has been in existence since spring semester 1999, and currently there are two jazz combos that rehearse following the big bands. In addition, the band tours annually and makes appearances at local clubs. Admission by audition. Contact Dr. Kruger directly at totp@rochester.rr.com

See Music 165

String Band

James Kimball, Director
The Geneseo String Band increases knowledge through experience in performance of music. It brings college and community closer together by playing American and Irish folk dance music for square dances, contra dances, and concerts for students and the community. Admission by audition.

See Music 165

Chamber Singers

Dr. Gerard Floriano, Director
The Geneseo Chamber Singers pursues choral excellence in preparation and performance of early music, and it provides the opportunity for singers to participate in a highly professional ensemble and to share the joy of song. The Chamber Singers tours regionally every year and to Europe every three years. Admission by audition.

Officers for 2007-2008:
President: Lydia Sherrie, Emaillgs3@geneseo.edu
Vice President: Natalie Mack
Secretary: Christiana Shorter
Treasurer: Ben Kneeland

See Music 160

Carol Choristers

Dr. Gerard Floriano, Director
the Geneseo Carol Choristers is a women's chorus that promotes interest in the ideals of musicianship, inspires professional enthusiasm, and provides opportunity to increase knowledge through the performance of music. The Carol Choristers act as a musical emissary for the College while away from campus or on tour. Officers are elected after auditions in the fall. Admission by audition.

See Music 160

Festival Chorus

Dr. Gerard Floriano, Director
A mixed chorus of student and community singers that performs one major work per semsester. Recent works include the Mozart Requiem, the Brahms Requiem, and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Admission by audition.

See Music 160
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