African Music & Dance Ensembles
Instruction in the performance of authentic traditional music and dance of West Africa. These include singing in the language and playing percussion instruments indigenous to the area of origin.
Balinese Gamelan
Instruction in the techniques of playing Balinese instruments, collectively called the Semar Pelgulingan.
Baltic Ensemble
Study and performance of Baltic folk music, including recitation songs, antiphonal singing, and part songs.
Brass Ensemble
Ensemble studies for brass, from quintets to dectets or more.
CalArts Salsa Band
Latin jazz ensemble.
Chamber Ensembles
A variety of project-driven chamber ensembles are formed each semester, with faculty members and students often playing side-by-side in these groups.
Collaborative Student Ensembles
Development, rehearsal and recording of experimental pop music.
Contemporary Vocal Ensemble
Study and performance of literature from the 20th and 21st Centuries for small groups of singers. Studies of compositions by CalArts students and faculty are included.
Creative Electronic Ensemble
Interactive languages and the improvisational forms of live electronic music.
Dahomey Women's Ensemble
Ensemble performing traditional drum repertoire from Ghana.
The Ensemble
Varying in size, this conducted ensemble performs major works from all eras, with an emphasis on recently-composed music.
Gender Wayang Ensemble
Small ensemble performances by quartet of metallophones as accompaniment to Balinese shadow plays.
Gong Suling: Balinese Flute Ensemble
Studies of Balinese flute ensemble music, with sixteen bamboo flutes of varied sizes and percussion instruments.
Grids, Beats & Groups
Musicians networked to share a common temporal context and explore live electronic performance of rhythmically complex music.
Improvisation Ensembles
A coached ensemble exploring free and structured improvisational forms.
Japan Ensemble
Featuring sections for strings (koto/shamisen), shakuhachi, and/or taiko (drums).
Jazz Faculty Ensembles
Small jazz groups under the direction of Jazz faculty perform regularly on concerts at the Institute.
Jazz Student Ensembles
Works for small jazz groups performed by all-student ensembles.
Kecak: Balinese Monkey Chant Ensemble
Balinese Monkey Chant ensemble.
Multi-Focus Ensemble
Cross-disciplinary ensembles in which students from various programs within The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts may combine for special projects.
North Indian Music Ensemble
Vocal and instrumental performance studies using both Indian and European instruments.
Percussion Ensemble
Ensemble studies for percussionists, in groups of various sizes.
Period Instrument Ensemble
An ensemble dedicated to historically-informed performance practice on Baroque instruments.
Persia Electric Ensemble
An ensemble exploring the intersection of ancient and new forms.
Sonic Boom
An ensemble/band between avant-garde rock, noise, ambient, new music and other things that fall between the cracks. Explores the hidden tradition of experimental rock music.
Tabla Ensemble
The CalArts Tabla Ensemble is a performing ensemble that draws from the vast repertoire of North Indian tabla, ranging from classical to folk and traditional to contemporary.
Talking Drum Ensemble
Music of the Dagomba people of Northern Ghana.
Vinny Golia Large Ensemble
Large ensemble performing compositions and structured improvisations.
Woodwind Ensemble
A performance ensemble dedicated to studies of works for woodwinds. Audition preparation and woodwind fundamentals are also covered.
World Percussion Ensemble
An experimental performance group that works toward combining instruments and musical structures from various cultures, integrating improvisation, composition and performance practice.