Student Organizations

Join one of the many organizations available to students in the College of Visual and Performing Art!

• American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)

  American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the professional association for design, is committed to advancing design as a professional craft, strategic tool, and vital cultural force.

  Find them on Instagram at @aiga_kutztown

  Advisor: Prof. Karen Kresge

• Applied Digital Art Club

  Applied Digital Art Club serves as a magnification of important concepts within the Applied Digital Arts major. This group encourages further exploration of basic themes within the program, introducing specialized techniques and exercises. While focused on the Applied Digital Arts major, students of all areas of study are encouraged to join.

  Advisor: Prof. Ed O'Brien

• KU Art Alliance

  The KU Art Alliance offers a safe, yet fun, educational environment for those who desire to explore what the art world has to offer from the past and present. Involvement in group discussions, guest lectures, and other group events such as fundraisers are intended to help members advance in this field personally and or professionally.

  Advisor: Prof. Heather Ramsdale and Prof. Pierette Kulpa

• The Clay Club

  The Clay Club is an association of students devoted to working with clay as a medium for artistic expression. Through this association, students work together to sponsor community events, educate others about the value of craft objects and processes, and ignite a passion for the handmade in the larger community. Fundraising events may support charitable causes, fund visiting artist demonstrations, and sponsor students in their pursuit of outside opportunities. The Clay Club holds regular Open Studio nights, an annual Bowl-A-Thon, Class Nights, Sales of Student Work, and Therapy Nights.

  Find them on Instagram @kutztownclayclub and Facebook

  Advisor: Prof. Gwendolyn Yoppolo
  

• Contemporary Crafts Club

  Contemporary Crafts Club is an organization dedicated to students' professional development as artists, practicing new techniques, and challenging their artwork, while learning about contemporary artists and art. The club achieves its goal of promoting craft and student craftspeople through sales, invited artists, exhibitions, and events. The Contemporary Crafts Club holds an annual Fashion Show highlighting student work in all areas of the Crafts Program.

  Find them on Instagram at @ku_contemporarycrafts.

  Advisors: Prof. Liz Hamilton Quay and Prof. Sophia Park

• Metals Society

  The goal of the Metals Society is to get more students on campus interested in the amazing metals program that KU has to offer, along with giving previous and currently enrolled metals students a real-world metalsmithing environment.  Metals society hosts the annual jewelry sale. Students learn techniques and apply that to one-of-a-kind and unique production jewelry.

  Find them on Instagram at @kutztownmetals.

  Advisor: Prof. Sophia Park

• National Art Education Association (NAEA)

  National Art Education Association (NAEA) provides opportunities for art education students to work with children and get involved with the community. Learn more.

  Find them on Facebook and Instagram @naea_kutztown or visit their student-run web page. 

  Advisor: Dr. Nicole Romanski

• Sketchbook Club

  Sketchbook Club meets weekly to sketch personal and group projects, not class assignments. Students from all majors are welcome to drop in. Meetings begin at noon, Fridays, Sharadin 209.

  Advisor: Prof. Kevin McCloskey

• Kutztown University Orchestra

  Led by Dr. Peter Isaacson, The Kutztown University Orchestra has a reputation for musical excellence and sold-out performances. Performing standard and contemporary repertoire, the KUO has featured soloists such as Philadelphia Orchestra Concertmaster David Kim and Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medal Winner Sandra Rivers. KUO members also train with notable instrumentalists from Philadelphia, New York, and the Lehigh Valley. The orchestra holds an annual concerto competition with a college and high school division. 

  Check them out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
  
  Orchestra Audition Information

  Director: Dr. Peter Isaacson

• Kutztown University Marching Unit (KUMU)

  The Kutztown University Marching Unit (KUMU), an energetic part of the campus community, provides music, marching and entertainment for all KU Golden Bears' football games, select away games, marching band festivals/competitions, professional sporting events, parades and campus spirit building activities.

  Visit our website: https://www.kumubears.com/

  Connect with us on Instagram @kumugoldenbears and Facebook.

  Director: Dr. Daniel Neuenschwander

  Assistant Director: Dr. Dana Mandell

• Wind Ensemble

  The Kutztown University Wind Ensemble is comprised of the top woodwind, brass, and percussion students at the university who have demonstrated a commitment to a high level of musicianship. The Wind Ensemble performs at two on-campus concerts each spring term, as well as at various community and outreach events. The Kutztown University Wind Ensemble has recently performed at both Carnegie Hall (2007) and Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall (2009, 2011). During the spring 2013 season, the Wind Ensemble will perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The Wind Ensemble seeks to expose its audiences and membership to the finest wind literature, including the "classics" of the repertoire, transcriptions, and new works by both established and young, up-and-coming composers. The ensemble is active in commissioning new compositions for the wind medium, and has recently joined commissioning consortia for works by Donald Grantham, Richard Danielpour, Jonathan Newman, Rob Smith, Bob Mintzer, Philip Glass, and Joan Tower, among others. An outstanding student, faculty, and visiting artists typically appear as soloists with the Wind Ensemble.

  REHEARSALS

  During the spring semester, Wind Ensemble rehearsals are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:00-3:50 p.m. During the fall term, wind ensemble membership is drawn from the concert band.

  AUDITIONS

  Membership is open to students of all majors by audition. Auditions are held at the start of each semester for all instrumental ensembles. Audition music is generally available in a downloadable electronic format several weeks before the auditions. Please contact Professor Daniel Neuenschwander for the audition music. Auditions sign-ups are available in the Music Office, Old Main 114, a couple of days before the start of each new semester.

  Director: Dr. Daniel Neuenschwander

• Concert Band

  Concert Band meets during the Spring semester to perform a wide variety of wind band literature including standard repertoire, recently published compositions and selections from festival lists. Students need to contact the KU Department of Music to arrange an audition for membership.

  Director: Dr. Daniel Neuenschwander

  Assistant Director: Dr. Dana Mandell

• Kutztown University Symphonic Band

  The Kutztown University Symphonic Band performs a wide variety of wind band literature, including standard repertoire, recently published compositions and selections from festival lists. It is comprised of students from all facets of university life, regardless of major, who wish to continue making music throughout their collegiate years. 

  Director: Dr. Daniel Neuenschwander

• Jazz Ensembles I & II

  Considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education, Kutztown University’s Jazz Ensemble I was honored by the 2024 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards with the Outstanding Performance Award in the category of Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble College Performance.

  Jazz Ensembles I & II have had the opportunity to perform with and receive clinics from many of the greats in jazz performance and education including the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, the Count Basie Orchestra, Randy Brecker, Steve Wilson, John Riley, Tim Hagans, Rick Hirsch, Scott Wendholt, Bob Mintzer, Michael Philip Mossman, Brent Wallarab, Larry Lelli, Scott Lee, Allison Miller, Mike Davis, Fred Sturm, Bob Baca, Tom Walsh, Steve Houghton, Ray Drummond, Bruce Barth, Cyrus Chestnut, Jeff Hirschfield, Bill Reichenbach, Arturo Sandoval, and many others.

  RECORDINGS

  Listen to our recordings on Soundcloud to hear some tracks from the Kutztown Jazz Ensembles!

  DIRECTORS

  Dr. Kevin Kjos & Dr. Todd Walker

  *Auditions for all Commercial Music Ensembles are held at the beginning of each semester. Live sound engineers and both music and non-music majors are invited to participate!

• Rock Ensembles I, II, III, & IV

  For the past several years, Rock Ensemble I has been named by Down Beat Magazine as one of the premiere undergraduate ensembles of its kind.

  KU Rock Ensembles respect the tradition of American rock and soul music while looking to the future to give the students who play and sing in these groups an all-encompassing view of the American musical style that took over the world. Students perform music from the rock genre and all its subcategories: indie, funk, soul, rhythm and blues, folk, country, and more.

  Through participation in the rock ensembles, student musicians get a taste of the real world and the music they will be asked to play and create in the commercial marketplace. With the guidance of their professors, students learn to write their own arrangements for a band with full rhythm sections, horns, and multiple vocalists; prepare their own parts based on recordings and charts, and record and perform at a professional level.

  Rock Ensemble I records at least twice an academic year and the recordings generate albums that are made available to all streaming platforms. All songs are recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by professional sound engineers.

  RECORDINGS

  Spotify - KU Rock Ensemble I

  DIRECTORS

  Dr. Kevin Kjos & Dr. Todd Walker

  *Auditions for all Commercial Music Ensembles are held at the beginning of each semester. Live sound engineers and both music and non-music majors are invited to participate!

• Latin Ensemble

  Description Coming Soon! 

• Jazz Combos

  KU Commercial Music Studies has several faculty and student-led Combos. These Combos range in size from vocal-guitar duets to quartets to septets.

  At the end of each term, the Jazz Combos perform a combined formal concert ("Jazz Combo Night"). Advanced combos also record selections each year for Jazz Ensemble I streamed albums and perform regularly in the area.

  DIRECTORS & FACULTY ADVISORS

  Dr. Kevin Kjos, Prof. Scott Lee, Prof. Ben Sher, Prof. John Riley, Dr. Todd Walker, Prof. Daniel Wilkins

  *Auditions for all Commercial Music Ensembles are held at the beginning of each semester. Live sound engineers and both music and non-music majors are invited to participate!

• American Music Project (AMP)

  Description Coming Soon! 

• University Choir

  Kutztown University Choir is the largest mixed choir on campus and comprises majors and non-majors alike. The choir has most recently opened for the internationally renowned Kingdom Choir as part of KU Presents and featured in Carnegie Hall’s 2023 Christmas Gala. KU Choir premiered Jenni Brandon’s “Night Sky” for choir and Marimba Orchestra at the Wells Rapp World Center for Mallet Percussion and regularly collaborate with the KU Orchestra. 

  Director: Dr. Derrick Thompson

• Vocal Ensemble

  Kutztown Vocal Ensemble is an advanced level chamber choir. Vocal Ensemble most recently collaborated with Cantigas Choir in Hoboken to premiere award-winning Irish composer Sean Doherty’s “Eternal Rebel,” written to commemorate 100 years of Irish Independence.

  Director: Dr. Derrick Thompson

• Circa Treble Ensemble

  Circa is a treble voice ensemble, performing a diverse repertoire of World Music. 

  Director: Dr. Derrick Thompson

• Troubadours TB Ensemble

  Troubadours are a Tenor/Bass ensemble who sing anything from Barber Shop to Georgian Polyphony and pop songs arranged by members within the group. 

  Director: Dr. Derrick Thompson

• Chamber Studies

  Each semester, participating students will have the opportunity to work together in ensembles ranging in size from duets to small chamber orchestras, preparing for a performance repertoire from the Baroque Era to the 21st century. The ensembles will have weekly coachings with embers of our outstanding faculty, culminating in outreach performances at area schools, retirement communities, and churches. In addition, there will be frequent student performances on campus in the University's own inspiring performance venue, the Georgian Room.

  Students learn rehearsal and performance techniques applied to a wide range of repertoires, invaluable assets in preparation for a career in music, whether as a teacher or performer.

  Advisor: Dr. Maria Asteriadou

• Flute Ensemble

  Members of the Flute Ensembles play flute chamber music in duos, trios, quartets, and as a large ensemble. Flutists are encouraged to choose their own repertoire and create flute ensemble arrangements of music they enjoy. Each week, groups rehearse, have coaching, and attend a masterclass. Each semester, there is a recital in the Georgian Room dedicated to the Flute Ensembles. All Flute Majors are required to take part, and students taking Flute Lessons are strongly urged to sign up. Students not taking lessons are also welcome to be a part of the Ensembles; simply contact Dr. Shansky at shansky@kutztown.edu for more information.

  Advisor: Dr. Carol Shansky

• Clarinet Ensemble

  The clarinet program at Kutztown University offers numerous opportunities for students to explore specific areas of interest. The Clarinet Choir is open to the entire university population, regardless of major. This ensemble ranges in size from three to 12 players. Styles of performance range from contemporary original works by Pulitzer Prize winning composers to transcriptions of both well-known and obscure Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic era works, and jazz standards and originals with rhythm section. The instrumentation typically includes the following clarinets: Eb Sopranino, BbSoprano, Eb Alto, Bb Bass, EEb Contra Alto, and BBb Contra Bass.

  Other ensemble activities open to clarinetists at Kutztown University include; Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Marching Band, and Jazz Combos and Ensembles. All students in the single reed studio are encouraged to study the various woodwind instruments as well as to develop a strong pedagogical background in jazz. The goal of the KU performance ensembles is to develop the highest level of performance, musicianship, and pedagogical concepts that will help each student achieve excellence in their chosen careers.

  The constructive environment, personal attention by faculty, and diversity of musical offerings in the clarinet program is characteristic of the entire Department of Music at Kutztown University. The department holds bi-weekly recital hours, where students have the opportunity to perform for their colleagues in a relaxed setting. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the professional accompanist on faculty to prepare major works for performance.

  
  For further information, please contact:

  Advisor: Dr. Dana Mandell

• Saxophone Ensemble

  The KU Saxophone Ensemble is open to the entire university population, regardless of major. This ensemble ranges in size from three to twenty players and performs both transcriptions and original works. All saxophonists also have the opportunity to perform in a Saxophone Quartet. The saxophone quartet literature includes a vast array of master works and is the classical saxophonist's definitive chamber music experience.

  Other ensemble activities open to saxophonists at Kutztown University include Jazz Ensembles and Combos, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Marching Band, Rock Bands, and Orchestra. All students in the single reed studio are encouraged to study the various woodwind instruments. The goal of the KU performance ensembles is to develop the highest level of performance, musicianship, and pedagogical concepts that will help each student achieve excellence in their chosen careers.

  Contact with visiting clinicians is integral to reaching this goal. Recent saxophone clinicians have included Dr. Dan Goble, Adam Kolker, Joe Lovano, Bob Mintzer, Dr. Joseph Murphy, Dick Oats, Javier Oviedo, Dr. Todd Oxford, Rich Perry, Al Regni, Dr. James Umble, Dr. Matt Vashlishan, Dr. Thomas Walsh, Steve Wilson, Allen Won, Todd Yukumoto, as well as the entire saxophone sections from the Air Force Rhythm and Blues Jazz Ensemble, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

  The constructive environment, personal attention by faculty, and range of musical offerings in the saxophone program are characteristic of the entire Department of Music at Kutztown University. Saxophone students are further encouraged to take advantage of the professional accompanist on faculty to prepare major works for performance in bi-weekly recital hours.

  
  For further information, please contact:

  Advisor: Dr. Jeremy Justeson

• Brass Ensemble

  The KU Brass Ensemble performs various types of music, from the Renaissance period to the present day. Rehearsals are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon in Old Main C31. In addition to performing traditional music written for brass, the ensemble regularly premiers new works by contemporary composers. Students are provided with an opportunity to perform in a large brass group, as well as with smaller quintets, quartets, and other chamber music combinations. The Brass Ensemble is open to all students at KU who play Trumpet, Horns, Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba.

  Advisor: Dr. Daniel Neuenschwander

• Trombone Choir

  The KU Trombone Choir performs many genres of music, from Renaissance madrigals to contemporary jazz charts. In addition to transcriptions of other works, there are many original compositions for trombone choir. The Choir performs two formal concerts per academic year in conjunction with the Brass Ensemble. Admission to the ensemble is open to trombones, euphoniums, and tubas.

  Advisor: Dr. Daniel Neuenshwander

• Percussion Ensemble

  Over the years, the KU Percussion Program has provided performance and educational opportunities for students of Kutztown University. In accordance with the original constitution of the KU Percussion Ensemble, students of any experience level are welcomed to join. The membership of the ensemble has included students from Africa, Japan, and the United States. The ensemble provides an opportunity for students of diverse backgrounds to work together and experience, educate, and appreciate the unique elements of cultures of the world. As we look forward to our future, we plan to continue performing music of traditional and concert styles. We have already accepted an invitation to perform at a celebration commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the city of Hershey, Pennsylvania. Whatever our course is, one thing will be certain. It will be dictated by the needs and desires established by the students within the ensemble. Be sure to join us as we grow and explore the world of music and percussion.

  For more information visit the KU Percussion Ensemble webpage.

  Feel free to "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter!

  Watch Youtube videos of KU Percussion here!

  Director: Dr. Frank Kumor

• String Ensemble

  String players at Kutztown University have the opportunity to play in a variety of small ensembles, ranging from duos to quartets, piano trios, and other mixed ensembles. Our repertoire from the Baroque to the present gives students experience playing in many different styles. Performance venues ranging from the concert hall to smaller, more intimate settings will hone their performance skills.

  Advisor: Dr. Peter Isaacson

• National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

  The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States. This Collegiate chapter will allow members to develop a professional identity as a Music Education student as well as have opportunities to interact with and learn from active music educators and administrators. Through these interactions, students will begin to network and create opportunities that may help them gain job interviews and land a job after graduation. This chapter will have meetings at least twice a month, where students will participate in discussions, performances, and demonstrations. This organization will assist the Kutztown University Music department in various activities and projects throughout the year. The executive board creates a supportive and caring environment for aspiring music educators.

  Advisors: Dr. Valerie Trollinger

• Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia

  Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the largest and oldest men's social fraternity in music, promotes brotherhood, service, and American music. Membership is open to any student with a love of music, regardless of major.

  Find them on Facebook.

  Advisor:

• Sigma Alpha Iota

  Sigma Alpha Iota is an international music fraternity for women.

  Find them on Facebook.

  Advisor: Janelle Henry

• Communication Career Club

  The Communication Career Club's mission is to provide students with experiences that help them grow as effective communicators. Through a variety of activities, the club's members will expand their knowledge of communication, and their poise and confidence as communicators.

  Previous activities include:

  • Attending the etiquette dinner as a group; learning how to impress interviewers (and using the right fork!)

  • Hosting guest speakers such as recent graduates, talking about how they use their communication degree in the workplace

  • Providing volunteer hospitality; greeting the public at KU public relations events, such as Decision Makers Forum

  • Visiting KU's Career Services Office for presentations about employment after graduation

  • Speaking to audiences, welcoming the public on behalf of KU's Admissions Office outreach to visitors on KU Preview Days

  To join the Communication Career Club, contact Dr. Emily Cripe.

• Lambda Pi Eta (Xi Kappa Chapter)

  Lambda Pi Eta is the national honor society for students of communication including Communication Studies majors and minors, Electronic Media majors and minors, and PR minors. Our local chapter is Xi Kappa.

  Lambda Pi Eta represents what Aristotle described in his book, Rhetoric, as the three ingredients of persuasion: Logos (Lambda) meaning logic, Pathos (Pi) relating to emotion, and Ethos (Eta) defined as character, credibility, and ethics.

  The goals of Lambda Pi Eta include:

  • To recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement in Communication Studies
  • Stimulate interest in the field of Communication
  • Promote and encourage professional development among Communication majors
  • Provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of communication
  • Establish and maintain closer relationships between faculty and students
  • Explore options for graduate education in Communication Studies

  Students need a 3.0 cumulative GPA with 60 semester credit hours completed, as well as a 3.25 GPA for communication studies courses with 12 semester hours completed.

  The benefits of joining our chapter include meeting other like-minded students who take their studies seriously and getting together with those who enjoy community service (a few hours of which is required in order to be inducted into the organization).

  Previous activities include:

  • Lambda Pi Eta induction ceremonies and celebrations
  • Community Service Projects

  For more information on how to join Lambda Pi Eta, contact Dr. Mary Eicholtz.

• Culture-Arts-Performance Studies

  CAPS@KU is the artistic and intellectual center at Kutztown for faculty and students interested in the aesthetic, historical, literary, practical, and theoretical explorations of performance in a global perspective - storytelling, theatre, dance, oral interpretation, performance art, and performative "roles" in everyday life.

  CAPS@KU official began in the fall of 2014 - but its history traces back to the 1970s.

  The advisors of CAPS are Dr. Lisa Weckerle and Dr. Deryl Johnson. CAPS @KU is housed in the Dept. of Communication Studies and was formerly PERFORUM and KU's Readers Theatre. CAPS@KU is the artistic and intellectual center at Kutztown for faculty and students interested in the aesthetic, historical, literary, practical, and theoretical explorations of performance in a global perspective - storytelling, theatre, dance, oral interpretation, performance art, and performative "roles" in everyday life.

  Instead of one student club, CAPS is a consortium of individuals linked by the passion to study performance. CAPS aids different groups to explore the intersections of arts and culture through performance. The first "official" collaboration was the HELLO MY NAME IS... This project featured KU students with disabilities sharing their stories both on stage and in print and was co-constructed by Mary Smith, Jillian Bickelman, and Professor Patrick Walters.

  For more information about the performances, workshops, auditions or having your performance ideas come to life, please email: caps@kutztown.edu or see Dr. Deryl Johnson in room 110 in the

  Rickenbach Learning Center

  Learning Center.

  To join CAPS@KU, contact Dr. Deryl Johnson or Dr. Lisa Weckerle.

• Public Relations Club

  The Kutztown University Public Relations Club is open to all Kutztown University students. By participating in the club, students have an opportunity to learn more about public relations through real-life situations and to help the local community by doing volunteer work. In addition, participating in the club may help students obtain internships, and graduate students are able to demonstrate to potential employers that they have public relations experience beyond the classroom.

  The Kutztown University Public Relations Club meets every other Thursday of the semester.

  Public Relations Facebook Page

  Public Relations Twitter Account

  Previous activities include:

  • Adopt-A-Block

  • Trick-Or-Treat event on Main Street to hand out candy to the children

  • KU PR Club Fund Raising Bake Sale

  To join the Public Relations Club, contact Dr. Joseph Harasta.

• Laugh Track

  Laugh Track students meet weekly to plan and produce short video comedy sketches in a variety of styles. Requiring no prior experience, students interested in writing, producing, or editing humorous content have a place to hone their skills in the comedic arts.

  Adviser: Dr. Matthew McKeague

• Mic Check

  Mic Check features local bands performing songs live. Shot during the weekends because of how rocking the studio becomes, bands play a number of their songs and share their experiences and insights through interview segments.

  Adviser: Prof. Cara Cotellese

• National Broadcasting Society (NBS)

  The National Broadcasting Society Chapter at Kutztown provides students an opportunity to meet professionals in the broadcasting field in the areas of entertainment and news. Guest speakers and seminars are regularly scheduled for members, providing opportunities for networking and mentorship. 

  Adviser: Prof. Cara Cotellese

• Spotlite

  Spotlite is an entertaining news program featuring interviews and segments for the Kutztown campus. Previous segments on the show have included film reviews, campus events, and man-on-the-street interviews. 

  Adviser: Prof. Scott Bastedo