Department Involvement

Director: Cera Babb, cera.babb@uwrf.edu, 715-425-4078

The UW-River Falls Chamber Singers (MUSE 129) is a small, select ensemble of auditioned musicians. In this ensemble, students develop advanced musicianship skills, study a wide range of choral literature, and connect with the community through campus performances. Off-campus performance opportunities may also be provided throughout the semester. Membership to this ensemble is open to students in any major by audition. (Fall and Spring)

Rehearsals: Mondays and Wednesdays, 1-1:50 p.m.

• Request Information
• Sign up for a concert choir audition.

Director: Cera Babb, cera.babb@uwrf.edu, 715-425-4078

The UW-River Falls Concert Choir (MUSE 108) is a large ensemble of auditioned musicians. Students in Concert Choir will study a wide range of choral literature, work to develop musicianship and music literacy, and connect with the community through public performances. Off-campus performances and tours may be assigned by the conductor. Membership to this ensemble is open to students in any major by audition. (Fall and Spring)

Rehearsals: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-3:50 p.m.

• Request information.
• Sign up for a choir audition.

Director: Shawn Gudmunsen, shawn.gudmunsen@uwrf.edu 

The UWRF Tenor/Bass Ensemble is dedicated to studying a wide range of choral literature, developing music literacy skills, building community, and achieving excellence in performance. This ensemble is open to students in any major who sing tenor and/or bass. No audition is required. (Fall, Spring)

Rehearsals: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-6:50 p.m.

• Request Information.

Contact: Cera Babb, cera.babb@uwrf.edu

Director: Cera Babb, cera.babb@uwrf.edu, 715-425-4078

The UW-River Falls Treble Choir (MUSE 110) is dedicated to studying a wide range of choral literature, developing musicianship and music literacy skills, building community, and achieving excellence in performance. This ensemble is open to students in any major who sing Soprano and/or Alto. No audition required. (Fall and Spring)

Rehearsals: Mondays and Wednesdays, noon-12:50 p.m.

• Request information.

Director: Deborah Fristad

Learn more about the University Community Chorus on our Continuing Education website.

Director: Craig Hara, craig.hara@uwrf.edu

Learn more about Jazz @ UW-River Falls. 

Director: Tom Barnett, thomas.barnett@uwrf.edu 

Learn more about the Marching Falcons.

Director: Joshua Neuenschwander, KFA B42

Rehearsal Information: 2025-26

• Mondays, 7-9 p.m.
• Location: KFA 129

Performance Schedule: 2025-26 

• Thursday, Oct. 16: St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra Concert (7:30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, Dec. 9: St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra Concert (7:30 p.m.)
• Sunday, March 8, 2026: St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra Concert (3 p.m.)
• Sunday, May 3, 2026: St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra Concert (3 p.m.)

Director: Joshua Neuenschwander, KFA B42

Rehearsal Information: 2025-26

• Mondays and Wednesdays, 2-3:50 p.m.
• Location: KFA 129

Performance Schedule: 2025-26 

• Thursday, Oct. 9: Symphony Band and University Band Concert (7:30 p.m.)
• Sunday, Oct. 12: Homecoming Concert (2 p.m.)
• Thursday, Dec. 11: Symphony and University Band Concert (7:30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Symphony Band and University Band Concert (7:30 p.m.)
• Thursday, May 7, 2026: Symphony and University Band Concert (7:30 p.m.) 

Director: Gary Bird

Director: Erika Hammerschmidt

UW-River Falls brass ensembles provide diverse performance opportunities for students, giving them additional experiences both on and off campus. Members of brass chamber groups are coached by - and often perform with - members of the brass faculty.

In addition, students often choose to create their own chamber groups, extending their studies beyond official course offerings. Please contact our UWRF Brass Faculty if you are interested in learning more about brass chamber ensembles on or off campus. 

Director: Joshua Neuenschwander

Director: Patrick O'Keefe

Director: Joseph Hagedorn

Director: Patti Cudd, patti.cudd@uwrf.edu, 715-425-3389

Director: Patti Cudd, patti.cudd@uwrf.edu, 715-425-3389

The UWRF Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Patti Cudd, is a non-auditioned ensemble that offers the music or non-music major the opportunity to perform many styles of music including compositions written especially for percussion and arrangements-from ragtime to jazz. The Percussion Chamber Ensemble and Marimba Ensemble gives the more advanced student the experience of performing more difficult types of music and encourages the development of a sense of style and independence. These ensembles have performed extensively in the upper Midwest, including special performances in the Twin Cities with William Kraft and at the WMEA Convention in Madison. Over the past few years the ensemble has been involved with the premiere of several new works for percussion, including "Four Score" by Irwin Bazelon and "In Each Other's Presence" by Mary Ellen Childs. Members of the ensemble performed the world premiere of LEGACY, a piece written by Jared Spears for three percussion soloists and wind ensemble.

Director: Ivan Konev, ivan.konev@uwrf.edu

The UWRF Piano Ensemble is open to piano majors and minors, as well as non-majors with previous piano experience. Piano ensemble occurs in the spring semester. Students work together in duets, duos, or larger keyboard ensembles – in the past we have even performed pieces for up to six pianos. Student groups are coached weekly by UWRF piano faculty Ivan Konev.  At the end of the semester, all participating students perform in the Piano Ensemble Concert, on our two fabulous 9-foot Steinway concert-grand pianos.

History

The Piano Ensemble class has been in existence for over 30 years. When it began, students played their recital in North Hall Auditorium on one 7-foot Steinway and an ancient 6-foot Mason & Hamlin, which had to be brought over for the concert. The sounds of the two pianos certainly did not match, but the students had a wonderful time performing in spite of this. When the Fine Arts Building was built in 1973, the music program proudly acquired the two 9-foot Steinways. William Abbott and Carolyn Britton picked them out at the Steinway factory in New York - and had a memorable lunch with John Steinway, himself! Over the years,  students have performed almost all the standard repertoire for two pianos and many piano duets as well. Instructor Ivan Konev has tried to limit the choice of pieces to those originally written for the medium or occasionally an arrangement made by the composer. Works for as many as four pianos, notably the Paris Suite by Milhaud, and works for two pianos and four players, such as the Rondo by Smetana, have appeared on the program. Other outstanding performances were of La Valse by Ravel, En Blanc et Noir by Debussy, works originally for two harpsichords by Mattheson and Pasquini, and new works in manuscript, notably the Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues by the American avant-garde composer, Frederic Rzewski.  

UWRF alumni often comment that their participation in Piano Ensemble class was among their most memorable experiences as students. In 2003, one of those alumni made a remarkable gift to the music department. Mary Ella Jerome, through the Mary Ella Jerome Family Foundation, granted the funds to keep our concert grands in like-new condition. With her support and the dedicated efforts of the late Michael Drost (maintained by Three River Piano Service, Brian Drost), not only have the pianos been restored, but climate-controlled housing for each piano has been provided as well. The music program acquired an additional Steinway 7-foot grand through the generous gift of the estate of Wayne Tyler, former member of the English Department. This beautiful rosewood piano is housed in Ivan Konev's studio.

Director: Patrick O'Keefe

Director: Patrick O'Keefe