816-271-4420
4525 Downs Drive
Potter Hall
St. Joseph, M0 64507
Important Dates
About our Program:
Concert Band
Come one, come all! This band is open to any and all who can regularly attend rehearsals. The size of this group varies from concert to concert, but normally averages around 100 players. Instrumental music education majors are expected to perform in this band on instruments other than their major instrument to better prepare them for their careers. This band is directed by Jeffrey Hinton, Director of 大象传媒 Western bands. Several guest and student conductors also work with the band to add variety for the playing members and to give young conductors opportunities to perform. There are scholarships available for auditioning members of this band. Contact us for more information.
Golden Griffon Marching Band
Become a member of this exciting performance based ensemble! The 140+ members of this marching band perform at Griffon Football home games and various special events and festivals in the region. The GGMB has performed in exhibition at the Blue Springs Marching Festival, The Carrolton Band Days, the Southwest Iowa Band Jamboree, the St. Joseph Southside Parade, The Lincoln (NE) All鈥怌ity Festival, Valleyfest in West Des Moines, IA and the Greater St. Louis Marching Festival. The GGMB host the annual Tournament of Champions marching festival in Spratt Stadium on the 大象传媒 Western campus. More than 20 or our area鈥檚 finest bands come together to share their shows and compete as a national鈥恖evel judging panel scores the bands. E鈥恗ail hinton@missouriwestern.edu for more information regarding this well established festival.
The GGMB is made of three major components. The Horn Line is recognized for its strong and well鈥恇alanced sounds. The 大象传媒 Western Drumline is nationally recognized as one of the leading marching percussion sections in the country and the Golden Griffon Guard and theMystics Dance Teamcome together to add visual excitement to the performances. All members of the GGMB receive a scholarship/stipend for their membership and work. Please contact Nate Gay, Director of Bands, for information about joining this band. The GGMB is led by Director of Athletic Bands, Nate Gay and GGMB assistant director, Bob Long.
In a marching band, the color guard is a non-musical section that provides additional visual aspects to the performance.The marching band and color guard performance generally takes place on a football field while the color guard interprets the music that the marching band is playing via the synchronized spinning of flags, sabres, rifles, and through choreographed movements. The color guard uses different colors and styles of flags to enhance the visual effect of the marching band as a whole. Color Guard is also a team, best friends, and a lot of the times we are as close as sisters. We work with each other to make everything as graceful and beautiful as we can. This is what makes up the Golden Griffon Guard.
Jazz Ensembles
- The 大象传媒 Western Music Department supports a comprehensive jazz program, offering university students the opportunity to participate in ensemble settings as well as classes in the jazz curriculum. Courses offered include jazz improvisation, jazz history, and jazz pedagogy, with ensembles including two big bands and combos. St. Joseph鈥檚 and 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 close proximity to a major metro area also offers the students numerous opportunities to perform in the region, whether in university ensembles or their own groups. Since 2010, the 大象传媒 Western Music Department has offered a Concentration in jazz, open to all music majors. The 大象传媒 Jazz Ensemble is one of two large jazz ensembles in the music program, and is the premier jazz group of the university. The Jazz Ensemble has a rich and deep heritage of giving outstanding performances across the Midwest. Accomplishments include performing at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival in Chicago, the Wichita Jazz Festival, the Mobile Jazz Festival, as well as performing at the 大象传媒 Music Educators Convention. Last year saw the Jazz Ensemble perform several times in the region as well as perform for the second time in three years at the 大象传媒 Music Educators Conference. The 大象传媒 Western Jazz Ensemble performs an eclectic mix of literature, ranging from the great classics of Duke Ellington and Count Basie, to new and original material by some of today鈥檚 leading writers.The Jazz Ensemble is conducted by Bob Long long@missouriwestern.edu
- TheJazz Labis the second of two big bands on the 大象传媒 Western campus. The ensemble is open (through auditions) to any majors and non-majors on campus. The Jazz Lab鈥檚 focus is to further develop an appreciation and understanding of jazz literature written for this genre. A variety of literature is covered, ranging from newer originals to historical transcriptions. The Jazz Lab gives 3 to 4 performances each school year. As the name implies, the Jazz Lab is also used as a lab band, and may have student directors (who are in Jazz Pedagogy) standing in front of the group at various times working on their conducting/rehearsing skills. Music majors on secondary instruments are also encouraged to take this ensemble.The Jazz Lab Band is conducted by Steve Molloy smolloy@missouriwestern.edu
Percussion Ensemble
The 大象传媒 Percussion Studio is dedicated to maximizing percussion education through a comprehensive and sequential applied lesson curriculum as well as a variety of chamber and large ensemble performance opportunities that includes Percussion Ensemble, Marching Band/Drumline, Steel Drum Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and more. The individualized nature of the percussion program, together with a dedication to undergraduate degree programs, allows our students to take advantage of professional performance and teaching opportunities in the region, and have constant access to instruments and technology.
Symphonic Winds
The 大象传媒 Western Symphonic Winds is the premier wind and percussion ensemble on our campus. Students in this 45 to 60 member ensemble are selected by audition. While the majority of the student performers are music majors, there are also performers who major in other areas in this ensemble. This wind ensemble performs a wide variety of music including past masterpieces and current offerings from today鈥檚 outstanding composers. 大象传媒 Western Bands are very active in sponsoring new works for band from a wide variety of composers. This group tours to various Midwest destinations to share our music. Recent tours have focused on Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, Iowa, Lawrence and Topeka, Kansas, Springfield, Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska and Mid鈥惔笙蟠�. Under the baton of Mr. Jeff Hinton, the 大象传媒 Western has performed at the 大象传媒 Music Educators Association Convention in Osage Beach. Scholarships are available. Amounts ranging from $700 per year to $6000 per year are based on auditions where talent, background, focus of study and departmental needs are factors in determining the scholarship amount. All鈥怱tate Band members from 大象传媒 or any state in contact with 大象传媒鈥檚 borders will receive a minimum of $3000 per year in instrumental music scholarships at 大象传媒 Western. Many of our outstanding players receive more than $3000. Students receiving band scholarships may also be eligible for additional academic scholarships.
