Additional Ensembles

The Valparaiso Community/University Concert Band (CUCB) was founded in 1993 and is open to all interested musicians, regardless of age, without audition.

Rehearsals are held all year on Tuesdays, at the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts, room 1518, 7:15-9:15p. For more information, contact Jeff Doebler (219/464-5087, Jeff.Doebler@valpo.edu) or any band member. One of CUCB’s goals is to support local school band programs. In this light, collaborative concerts have been performed with students from many different schools. The band started a tradition of performing a Sousa-style concert each year in Valparaiso, where the Sousa Band performed four times. On six occasions, Sousa “came back to town,” portrayed by Sousa expert, Keith Brion, who served as guest conductor.

The CUCB appears each summer for Memorial Day at the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso, Salute the Recruits recognition at the Old Town Banquet Center in Valparaiso, Thomas Centennial Park in Chesterton, and the Porter County Fair. On September 17, 2017, Luce Concert Band and Community/University Concert Band performed for 10,000 people as part of a massed band for the Friendship Lasts Forever gala concert at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Pritzker Pavilion is considered to be the premier outdoor concert venue in Chicago.

“VUNUMU” is a creative abbreviation for Valparaiso University New Music Ensemble. All instruments and voices are welcome in this half-credit flexible-instrumentation chamber ensemble. VUNUMU focuses on the music of the 20th and 21st centuries in the classical and experimental traditions, and brand-new music by living composers (including many Valpo student composers).

Some of the styles and concepts we explore include theatricality in music, structured improvisation, graphic and text-based scores, algorithmically composed music, minimalism, electroacoustic music, and more. VUNUMU rehearses 1 to 2 hours per week and performs one concert per semester. The rehearsal schedule is determined based on members’ schedules.

University Singers is a mixed ensemble open to all university students. University Singers is a community of people who enjoy singing with others and want to continue growing as expressive musicians. The choir sings music of many styles, cultures, times, and places. No audition required. Counts toward the Fine Arts component of the Gen Ed Humanities requirement.

Chamber Choir is a small, select, advanced ensemble that sings vocal repertoire from madrigals to jazz. Ensemble members will learn music independently in preparation for weekly rehearsals. An audition is required. Chamber Choir fulfills the small ensemble requirement for music majors.

Valparaiso University Beacon Pep Band

The Beacon Pep Band is a not-for-credit volunteer performing group that plays at all home women’s and men’s basketball games, as well as a few other performances.  Students that meet the performance requirements may be eligible for a stipend of up to $500.  Rehearsals are intermittent throughout the basketball seasons as needed throughout both semesters.  The Beacon Pep Band season runs from late October to mid March.  Contact the band () if you are interested in joining.