University Band and Choir

University Band and Chorus are both offered one day a week as credit or non-credit courses. Students can take each course for one-credit-hour or they may choose to join the band or the choir for an ongoing period of time. Community members are also invited to join University Band and University Choir. Students can contact their academic advisor for registration details for these courses. To learn more, contact Courtney Nign, assistant director of admissions, at 330-339-3391 or by email at cnign@kent.edu. Band Director James Graves can be reached at jgrave16@kent.edu. Choir Director Shawna Hinkle can be reached at sweisger@kent.edu.

Kent State Tuscarawas University Band

The Kent State Tuscarawas University Band is a wind ensemble composed of Kent State Tuscarawas students, community musicians and talented high school students participating the College Credit Plus program. The band currently rehearses on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center.  The University Band offers students the opportunity to further their instrumental studies within a collegiate-level ensemble.  

To fulfill the objectives of this one credit hour course, each semester the band will present a culminating concert in the Performing Arts Center. The ensemble will perform concert band works of great variety including chorales, marches, holiday music, patriotic themes, cinematic works and orchestral transcriptions.

“I believe the establishment of the university band at Kent State Tuscarawas creates significant opportunities for our students," said James Graves, band director. "Many individuals have enjoyed participating in music ensembles throughout their high school career and will benefit greatly from performing in the university band.”

Kent State Tuscarawas University Choir

The Kent State Tuscarawas University Choir strives to foster musical growth through relevant experiences in music education and vocal performance.

Our Goals:

• Establish a lifelong relationship with music of varied genres, cultural origins, and world languages through exploration of various choral repertoire
• Acquire skills in music education and vocal performance

As part of the  one-credit-hour course, each semester the choir will perform at a public event. During the fall semester, the University Choir performs at the Tuscarawas County Public Main Library in New Philadelphia, Ohio determined by the members of the ensemble and the library Public Relations Associates. The spring semester performance is decided by the members of the ensemble once semester rehearsals commence.

“Ensemble members contribute through sharing vocal warm-ups, providing relevant feedback and engaging in rehearsal leadership, thereby developing their personal skills as independent musicians,” said Shawna Hinkle, Choir Director. “Members also have the opportunity to perform individually and in small groups at rehearsals and performances making participation a more relevant experience.”