Ensembles & Recitals

The opportunity to perform is key to the Petrie student’s education. Whether rehearsing for a wind ensemble concert, performing in a master class, auditioning for an opera role, or performing solo with orchestra, Petrie students are encouraged and challenged to reach their full potential.

Student Recitals

Throughout the school year, Converse students are given the opportunity to perform in weekly student recitals. In addition to these, students majoring in performance offer both Junior and Senior recitals to the public towards the fulfillment of their degree. Non-performance majors may also give elective recitals. The Young Artist Competition, held each May, grants outstanding student soloists the opportunity to perform with the Converse Symphony Orchestra.

Large Ensembles

Converse Symphony Orchestra

Serving as the Petrie School’s orchestra, the Converse Symphony Orchestra presents approximately six performances each year. In addition to the standard orchestral repertoire, the Converse Symphony Orchestra presents oratorios, ballets, and accompanies Converse Opera Theatre productions.

Converse Wind Ensemble

The Converse Wind Ensemble performs quality wind band literature representing diverse musical styles. The Wind Ensemble challenges its members to reach their highest musical potential within an ensemble setting and performs at least two concerts each semester. Membership is comprised of Converse University students and community members by audition.

Converse Chorale

The Converse Chorale is an all-female chorus that performs several concerts annually, including the Festival of Lessons and Carols service. Most of its members are freshman and sophomore music majors, but the choir is open, by audition, to all students. Converse Chorale sings a wide variety of women’s chorus repertory from all of the major style periods, both sacred and secular. Occasionally they collaborate with other ensembles such as the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Holst’s The Planets) and the Spartanburg Festival Chorus (Britten’s Saint Nicolas).

Spartanburg Festival Chorus (SFC)

The Spartanburg Festival Chorus is an SATB choir of Converse students and Spartanburg area community singers. The group specializes in the performance of choral and choral-orchestral masterworks of the last 400 years. Highlights of the last 10 years include performances of Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’s A German Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C Minor, Bach’s Magnificat and St. John Passion, Vaughan Williams’s Hodie and Serenade to Music, and Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna.

The group is conducted by Dr. Keith Jones, Professor of Voice and Choirs, and accompanied in rehearsal by Ms. Julie Smith.

Rehearsals are Tuesday nights from 7:00-9:30 PM in Mayfarth Rehearsal Hall in Blackman Music Building. Interested singers should call Dr. Jones at 864.596.9004 or email him at keith.jones@converse.edu.

Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra

A partnership between the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) and Converse University allows exceptional Petrie School of Music students to win a professional orchestral contract while pursuing their Converse degree. Under the agreement, apprentices perform with SPO in up to five concerts a season and participate in corresponding rehearsals.

Chamber Ensembles

Chamber ensembles at Converse allow students to explore intimate styles of music. These ensemble settings can vary from traditional to contemporary instrumentation, including works of all genres.