The Chamber Works band, composed of students from a variety of majors both in and outside of the Fine Arts Department, is performing its first concert of the year Oct. 5 at noon in the Marsh Center.

Chamber Works, which is overseen by Director of the Music Program Dr. Rhonda DePriest, has 10 small ensembles within it, made up of students from diverse educational focuses.

“The reason we started the Chamber Works program was that there were a lot of student musicians on campus that wanted to be a part of the large groups, including the symphonic and the concert choir, but their schedules won’t allow them,” DePriest said.

The students meet once a week for 50 minutes at a time to rehearse songs and prepare for the two concerts they do each semester. DePriest says that the smaller time commitment allows students of all majors to be a part of Chamber Works.

“They’re nursing majors, criminal justice majors, just about everything under the sun,” DePriest said.

For the Oct. 5 performance, the music performed by the band and choir will be from a variety of composers and backgrounds.

“We really don’t do themes for Chamber Works; it’s really eclectic,” DePriest said. “People are always amazed when they come to the concerts because they see a mix of genres and varying amount of people in the small groups.”

Some members of the smaller ensembles are music majors, as it is part of their curriculum to

take a private lesson and to be a part of a small and large ensemble setting, according to DePriest.

“We have our majors be a part of an individual, small and large music ensemble to see the different sides of what a musician has to be,” DePriest said.

The Chamber Works band includes mostly current students, but some alumni continue to participate as well. Megan Leiter, a sophomore nursing major, plays flute for Chamber Works.

“Being in a small ensemble is a very different feel from performing in a large group,” Leiter said. “Being part of a small group has really given me the chance to grow as a musician.”

DePriest recognizes the difficulty associated with being a part of the smaller ensembles as opposed to the larger symphonic band.

“When you’re in a large ensemble there might be three or four people playing the same part, so there is more comfort in numbers,” DePriest said. “But in Chamber Works, it’s one to a part. So, if they don’t bring their part, it’s pretty tough.”

The first performance will include the wide variety of music, as well as a small reception including light appetizers.

According to DePriest, soon after finishing its first concert, the Chamber Works ensembles will begin preparing for the next performance, Nov. 16. DePriest is also organizing a Performing Artist Series organ recital for Nov. 5. She said the schedule of performances for the band and choir “keeps everyone busy.”

“People don’t understand the scope of what we’re doing here in the department,” DePriest said. “It’s pretty massive.”