School of Music

String Chamber Ensembles

Each year, several string chamber ensembles form under the direction of Alex Russell, M.M., including string quartets and string chamber ensembles. These groups feature a variety of classical chamber literature and perform at churches, weddings, and various other organizations throughout the year in addition to monthly chamber concerts at APU as part of the Noon Concert Series in the Darling Library Rotunda.

Symphony Orchestra

Under the direction of Christopher Russell, M.M., this group of 70 dedicated musicians performs a variety of classical literature, encompassing music from the Baroque period to the 21^st century. In recent years, the orchestra has performed major works such as Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 11 "Year 1905," Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, Brahms' Symphony No. 2, Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 and Lutoslawski's Cello Concerto. In addition, the Symphony Orchestra collaborates regularly with the APU Opera Workshop program and the APU Oratorio Choir.

In October 2008, the APU Symphony Orchestra will give the first performance in the United States of Stockholm Diary by Esa-Pekka Salonen.