If silence is golden, then the sound of music is platinum. 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music understands this better than anyone else, as three student ensembles have been hard at work gearing up for their 2025-26 debuts this October.
The Band Rehearsal Hall has been consistently occupied, with the Rock and Jazz Ensemble rehearsing at noon on Monday and Wednesdays under the direction of adjunct percussion instructor Eli Chambers. The ensemble 鈥 entering its second year on campus 鈥 focuses on blending vocal and instrumental musicianship together, playing both jazz and pop rock repertoire to broaden members鈥 horizons and bring out the best in their sounds.
鈥淭he ensemble鈥檚 makeup definitely plays a part in how Professor Chambers selects material. Our guitarist graduated, and now there is a cellist in their place,鈥 said Kellen Franks 鈥27. 鈥淏ut he also takes it as a way to make a song our own because our voicing is different from the original.鈥
Riley Matchinga 鈥27, a vocalist in the ensemble, noted the relatively relaxed atmosphere as a major part of her learning experience. Coming from a theatrical and choral background, Matchinga finds rehearsals more laid-back than what she is used to, with having fun as they learn their repertoire just as important as performing it well.
Franks, as an instrumentalist, finds value in the way the ensemble teaches him more about his musical craft and how to perform with musicians across different genres.
鈥淚 love working on a range of styles with instrumentation you don鈥檛 hear as much in pop music,鈥 Franks said. 鈥淚 think this ensemble has really helped me improve my knowledge of theory, too 鈥 we learn the structure behind music-making and how to improvise solos based on chord changes, which is good to know as a music major.鈥
The Rock and Jazz Ensemble will be performing for their first audience this year on Friday, Oct. 17, at 12 p.m. in the Band Rehearsal Hall, located at 208 Third St. A parking lot adjacent to the venue can accommodate concertgoers who arrive by car.
Similarly to the Band Rehearsal Hall, room 217 in the Hermann Fine Arts Center has been full of vocalists, as the Concert Choir and Floodstage ensembles meet to workshop their repertoire. Concert Choir performs both traditional and modern arrangements utilizing four-part harmony, while Floodstage works in the world of contemporary a cappella music.
Scott Rieder, adjunct professor and choir director at Marietta High School, returned for his second year directing the ensembles, preparing them for their concert entitled 鈥淚 Should Be Glad鈥, centered around the identically titled piece arranged by Susan LaBarr.
鈥淚t talks about recognizing one鈥檚 place and responding to what鈥檚 going on in the world with a certain amount of understanding and perspective,鈥 Rieder said about the piece. 鈥淚t says, 鈥榊es, the world can be a very dark place鈥 but where there is darkness, there is also light if you鈥檙e willing to look for it.鈥欌
This year鈥檚 choirs, although having a higher concentration of younger members, are still making sounds consistent with previous years. Reflecting the numerous learning opportunities present for his students with less collegiate choral experience, Rieder has made it a point to cover vocal pedagogy during rehearsals.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of tremendous talent,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 want the students, in addition to mastering their repertoire and giving a good, solid performance, to feel as though they鈥檙e learning more about their voices. A lot of what I learned from a pedagogy standpoint, I learned in choir 鈥 because you get an immediate connection between concept and application during rehearsals.鈥
鈥淚 Should Be Glad鈥 will occur on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, located at 318 Front St. Doors will open for guests at 6:30 p.m., and although there is limited parking onsite, guests are also welcome to park along Front St.
While October already provides plenty of music for community members, the remainder of the semester will debut two other ensembles, as well as welcome the Rock and Jazz Ensemble, Concert Choir, and Floodstage back to their respective concert spaces. To learn more about the Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music and its upcoming events, contact Department Chair Merewyn Weinkauf at mb001@marietta.edu, or visit .