Marching Band (M.M.B.)
The Southern Arkansas University Mulerider Marching Band “MMB” is a renown marching band known for its innovative drill design and exciting musical performances. The band begins rehearsals the week before classes begin at the university, with playing and marching rehearsals throughout the day and social activities in the evening. MMB meets during the fall semester representing Southern Arkansas University at ALL home Mulerider football games, select away games, bowl games, and marching exhibitions or contests. This 200 member ensemble is open to all students on the SAU Campus regardless of major.
The Director of the MMB is J.P. Wilson. The Assistant Director is Dr. Andrew Anderson.
Jazz Ensembles
SAU’s jazz ensembles are open to all students by audition during the first week of class during the Fall semester. Auditions typically consist of two or three provided excerpts, major scales, sight-reading and improvisation. Instrumentation for the SAU’s top group, the SAU Jazz Ensemble, is that of a traditional big band (5 saxes, 4-5 trombones, 4-5 trumpets, guitar, bass, drums, piano, aux percussion). SAU also offers the Jazz Lab that serves as opportunity for students who play any traditional band instrument to get experience in the genre of jazz. In addition to the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab, students can enroll in jazz combos to develop their skills as emerging professional musicians in the jazz scene . All of these ensembles present on-campus and off-campus performances of standard and contemporary repertoire with opportunities for individual improvisation and ensemble jazz experience. The SAU Jazz Ensemble routinely performs at Jazz festivals and performances away from campus for recruiting and outreach, such as the North Little Rock Jazz Festival and the Four States Jazz Festival. They have performed with renowned guest artists including Thomas Taylor, Chad Eby, Jon Ailabouni, Trevor Davis, Jessy J, and Nathan Warner.
The SAU Jazz program is home to the annual Southern Arkansas Jazz Festival, hosted on our campus in Magnolia. This festival brings in bands from across the 4 States region for adjudication and clinics, as well as masterclasses and workshops. The event is capped off with a finale concert featuring the SAU Jazz Ensemble and that year’s guest artists.
Director of Jazz Ensembles is Dr. Flint Angeroth Franks
Symphonic Wind Ensemble
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is a 45 piece wind and percussion ensemble consisting of undergraduate musicians at Southern Arkansas University. This ensemble studies and performs a variety of standard and contemporary literature for winds and percussion. They perform concerts throughout the South during the Spring semester. Enrollment in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble requires an audition before the appropriate faculty and permission of the director. For further information contact the Director of Bands J.P. Wilson.
Concert Band
The Concert Band is a 65 piece wind and percussion ensemble consisting of undergraduate musicians at Southern Arkansas University. This ensemble studies and performs concert band literature for winds and percussion and meets MWF 1:10p.m.-2:00p.m.. They perform concerts during the Spring semester.
University Band
The University Band is a 70 piece wind and percussion ensemble that meets TR from 3:10p.m.-4:00 p.m. This ensemble studies and performs concert band literature for winds and percussion. They perform concerts during the Spring semester.
Hearing Health
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