Music – Instrumental Ensembles

Benedictine College Instrumental Ensembles aim to promote the highest artistic achievements through a variety of performances, creating positive musical experiences for our student musicians and our audiences. We foster an atmosphere of music excellence in a faith-based environment that addresses the needs of our future performers, educators, and scholars with a commitment to the growth of each individual as an artist and scholar.

Benedictine’s Instrumental Ensembles strive to become a cultural destination for the college and its surrounding community by maintaining a welcoming environment for students across campus and the community.

The Music Department offers a wide array of instrumental ensembles. Our bands include an elite Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, British-style Brass Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Jazz Band. We also offer a College/Community Orchestra. These ensembles are open to all students regardless of major. Music Department participation awards (scholarships) are available to prospective students by audition. A commitment to play in ensemble and take private lessons is required each semester while at Benedictine. The awards are renewable.

Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble is the elite instrumental ensemble of the Department of Music. Under the direction of Director of Bands, Tom Davoren, the finest wind, brass, and percussion players from the Benedictine campus perform core and brand-new repertoire by exciting composers of today. Each year this ensemble works with nationally acclaimed guest conductors, instrumentalists, and composers, and gives at least one world premiere performance. The Wind Ensemble has performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association Conference and undertakes an annual international tour to Ireland every three years, performing concerts, outdoor performances, and for Mass. Membership is based on band program auditions each semester, and is open to the entire student body regardless of major field of study.

Symphonic Band 

The Symphonic Band is an enjoyable, high-level ensemble which is open the entire campus population at Benedictine College. The band aims to foster a love of music-making and building of community through enjoyable performances of popular music and classic band repertoire. Though membership is available without audition, prospective members with an interest in performing on principal parts should participate in the band program auditions that take place each semester. The Symphonic Band completes an annual international tour to Ireland every three years, performing concerts, outdoor performances, and for Mass. 

Orchestra

The Benedictine College/Atchison Community Orchestra is comprised of students, faculty, and local musicians.  Orchestra is open to all college string, brass, woodwind, and percussion players by audition, organized by orchestra conductor Dr. Peter Swanson. It rehearses Thursday evenings and performs standard suites, overtures, symphonies, and other orchestral compositions.

Jazz Band

The Benedictine College jazz band is made up of student brass, wind, piano, guitar, vocal, and percussion performers of all majors.  Directed by renowned Kansas City jazz pianist Dr. Brian Ward, the Jazz Band meets for rehearsals twice a week and performs at concerts, dances, and for events on the college campus. 

Benedictine Brass

Benedictine Brass is an ensemble of brass and percussion instrumentalists open to all students regardless of major field of study. A recommended ensemble for all brass players, this 25-member band performs at on campus events including Oktoberfest and Springiest and in the Atchison community.  Though membership is available without audition, prospective members with an interest in performing on principal parts should participate in the band program auditions that take place each semester.

Percussion Ensemble

The Percussion Ensemble is open to experienced mallet, untuned, and drum set percussionists on the Benedictine Campus. Each semester the ensemble performs the latest music for small and large collections of percussion instruments, featuring up to 18 players. The ensemble works with nationally recognized guest artists and composers, and has performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association Conference. 

Marching Band and Pep Bands

The Raven Regiment, Benedictine’s co-curricular Marching Band, is run by the Athletic Department. The Raven Regiment supports Benedictine football in pre-game and half-time shows during the fall, and forms pep-bands to support volleyball and basketball during the spring semester. Membership is open to all students regardless of major field of study, and a marching band scholarship is available by audition.