OSU Wind Ensemble 2019-2020 conducted by Dr. Erik Leung

The Oldest Band in the Pac-12

Established in 1891, Oregon State University's band program is the oldest in the PAC-12. With more than 500 students participating, the OSU Bands are the largest program in the state of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Students from OSU music programs filter into majors across the entire campus and enhance the complete college experience for so many students. Whether you are looking to be a professional performer, a music educator or to just continue to learn and play your instrument, there is an opportunity for you with OSU Bands.

About the ensembles

Dr. Erik Leung, director

The Oregon State University Wind Ensemble is a 43-member ensemble that features the most outstanding brass, woodwind, and percussion players on campus. The focus of this ensemble is to explore new literature and perform the masterworks of the wind band ensemble genre. The group's latest commissions and consortium partnerships include works by award winning composers Billy Childs, Dana Reason, Kevin Walczyk, Gregory Youtz, Michael Coolen, DJ Sparr, James Mobberly, Dan Welcher and David Gillingham. Recent concerts have included numerous pieces of original music for wind ensemble by prominent wind band composers. The OSU Wind Ensemble’s reputation of excellence extends well beyond campus. Recent performances have included a concert tour in Japan; the College Band Directors National Association West/Northwest conference in Reno, Nevada; the All-Northwest Music Educators conference in Portland, Oregon; the Oregon Music Educators Conference in Eugene, Oregon; and Carnegie Hall in New York City. Open to all OSU students, auditions are held prior to the start of the academic year. The ensemble rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. in the Captain Beard Band Hall (room 202) in historic Community Hall. 

Olin Hannum, director

The 62-member Oregon State University Wind Symphony is an auditioned ensemble featuring music written for the modern Wind Symphony. Compositions performed by the Wind Symphony include pieces by notable composers as Ticheli, Schuman, Barber and Del Tredici. Wind Symphony is open to all students. Auditions are held prior to the start of the academic year. The ensemble rehearses Monday and Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. to 3:50pm in the the historic Beard Band Hall (Community Hall room 202). 

Olin Hannum, director

Founded in 1891, The Spirit and Sound of OSU (the Oregon State University Marching Band) was the first band organized in the PAC-12 conference. Growth and quality of the OSU athletic bands program has garnered regional and national respect in recent years, as the program serves over 450 students each year through marching, pep, concert, and jazz bands. The OSU Marching Band is known as "The Spirit and Sound of OSU" and  is composed of students representing majors across campus. The band performs at all home football games and at select away games. The band prides itself in presenting energetic, entertaining performances, bringing something new to every game, and taking a big part in the game atmosphere at Reser Stadium.

Visit the OSU Marching Band Website for more information.

Dr. Erik Leung, director

Conducted by Dr. Erik Leung, the Oregon State University Campus Band meets all three terms and contains 50-70 members. The ensemble performs classic wind band literature from composers such as Reed, Holst, Sousa and Ticheli and classic transcriptions of the orchestral repertoire.

Ryan Biesack, director

The 20-member OSU Large Jazz Ensemble features the most outstanding jazz saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm section players on the campus. The group performs professional level repertoire and holds concerts on campus and around the state of Oregon. Recent performances have included compositions from Jim McNeeley, James Miley, Douglas Detrick and John Hollenbeck as well as concerts and clinics with guest artists and performers. In addition to contemporary and new composers, the Jazz Ensemble studies and performs classic repertoire from Count Basie, Thad Jones, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

Dr. Erik Leung, director

The OSU Chamber Winds are a small, flexible ensemble consisting of wind players from the OSU Wind Ensemble. The purpose of the ensemble is to give players an important chamber music experience that places responsibility on each individual. Students are exposed to the standards of the wind chamber repertoire, including works by such composers as Mozart, Krommer, and Beethoven and more contemporary repertoire by Hindemith and Milhaud.