Student ensembles

Join the Sound of Idaho and perform at football games, Homecoming and major campus events. Marching Band is open to all students during the fall semester. This Idaho band has a reputation that extends far beyond the Northwest. It is our practice to have the West’s finest marching band with the minimum amount of rehearsal. In addition to a great musical experience, students also receive a scholarship each year they participate in the Marching Band. No audition is required. However, Vandal Marching Band requires early sign-up during summer.  

Contact Spencer Martin for more information.

Learn more about Vandal Marching Band

The Concert Band is open to all students and performs two concerts each semester. The group performs standard repertoire. No audition is required. Please register for MusA 1210 if you would like to participate.  

Contact Jason Johnston for more information. 

Symphony Orchestra is open to all string and wind players by audition. The orchestra plays masterworks from all musical periods, concentrating on the “classics” of orchestral repertoire. All string players audition on Tuesday afternoon of the first week of classes (fall semester). All wind players are auditioned by the faculty members of those instruments.  

Contact Steve Fairbanks for more information.  

Wind Ensemble is the university’s premier band. It is open to all students by audition. It is comprised of approximately fifty undergraduate and graduate students and performs the finest in wind band literature. Auditions occur early in the first week of classes. Students audition for the instructor of their instrument. Students should prepare an etude/solo, scales and be able to sight-read.  

Contact Mark Thiele, D.M.A., for more information.  

Jazz bands are open to all majors by audition. Public appearances include campus concerts, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and some travel for off-campus concerts and festivals. All auditions will be held early in the first week of classes. Audition information and sign-up sheets will be on the Jazz Band bulletin board across from Music 2100.  

Contact Vern Sielert for more information. 

The award-winning Jazz Choir program is the largest of its kind in the country, involving over 200 students each semester. Jazz Choir I is the large choir of nearly two hundred singers that performs custom choral arrangements of various styles with the assistance of fifteen to twenty instrumentalists. Jazz Choir II is a highly select small vocal jazz ensemble, specializing in close harmony arrangements and choral versions of instrumental jazz standards. With some exceptions, singers in Jazz Choir II are selected from the membership of Jazz Choir I. Jazz Choir I does not require an audition. Jazz Choir II is open to audition on a limited basis.  

Contact Daniel Bukvich for more information. 

The Vandaleers Concert Choir has a long and proud tradition. This select group performs the finest choral repertoire of all styles and eras, and serves as the premier touring choral ensemble at University of Idaho.  Vandaleers rehearse four hours per week and membership is open to all students by audition. If you are interested in this ensemble, please register for the course, and you will be contacted during the first week of class to set up an audition.   

Contact music@uidaho.edu for more information. 

The Tenor/Bass Ensemble is a musical outlet for all U of I students, faculty and staff who sing tenor or bass. The choir performs diverse literature for tenor/bass voices. A voice placement is required. If you're interested in this ensemble, please register and you will be contacted during the first week of the semester to set up an audition.  

Contact music@uidaho.edu for more information. 

The Treble Choir is a musical outlet for all U of I students, faculty and staff who sing soprano or alto. The choir performs diverse literature written for treble voices. A voice placement is required. If you're interested in this ensemble, please register and you will be contacted during the first week of the semester to set up an audition.  

Contact music@uidaho.edu for more information. 

The opera studio performs a fully staged opera/musical or a scenes program of opera, operetta and musical theater excerpts in alternate semesters. Auditions are at the beginning of the fall semester (for fall productions) or at the end of the fall semester (for spring productions) and singers present either an operatic aria or a song from musical theatre.  

Contact Stefan Gordon for more information. 

The Idaho Brass Quintet, established in 1956, has had a long tradition of excellence throughout the Northwest. Its extensive repertoire spans Renaissance literature to contemporary music and jazz. They perform annual recitals, clinics and community events, both on the U of I campus and on tour. Current members include Sean Butterfield - trumpet, Jason Johnston - horn, Jenny Kellogg - trombone, Vern Sielert - trumpet and Mark Thiele - tuba. 

The Northwest Wind Quintet perform annual recitals, clinics and community events, both on the U of I campus and on tour. Current Northwest Members include Ayça Çetin - flute, Camilla Yoder - oboe, Katsuya Yuasa - clarinet, Javier Rodriguez – bassoon and Jason Johnston - horn.  

The Palouse Jazz Project is a dynamic jazz sextet, equally at home in performance and educational settings. Established in 2006, the group is comprised of faculty members from the Lionel Hampton School of Music at University of Idaho. The Palouse Jazz Project performs jazz standards as well as original arrangements and compositions written especially for the ensemble. As educators, the Palouse Jazz Project welcomes working with students of all ages, developing skills in rhythm, melodic playing, historical context, ensemble playing and basic instrumental technique. Current members include Dave Bjur - bass, Dan Bukvich - drums, Jenny Kellog - trombone, Vern Sielert - trumpet, Vanessa Sielert - saxophone, Kate Skinner – piano and Will St. Peter - guitar.  

For further information, email palousejazzproject@uidaho.edu. 

LHSOM administration

Sean Butterfield
Director, clinical associate professor of trumpet and music theory
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 205
208-885-6231
music@uidaho.edu

Javier Rodriguez
Director of graduate studies, associate professor of bassoon, associate director
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 313
jrodriguez@uidaho.edu

Zachary Sherlock
Administrative assistant
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 206
208-885-6233
zsherlock@uidaho.edu

Alisa Volz
Communications specialist
Shoup Hall, 201
208-885-5627
avolz@uidaho.edu

Janice Todish
Financial Specialist
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 206
208-885-9083
jtodish@uidaho.edu

Auditorium Chamber Music Series administration

Navin Chettri
Manager, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and ACMS, lecturer of music, artistic director of World Music Celebration
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 204
208-885-0112
nchettri@uidaho.edu

Monica Evans
Music events operations coordinator
CLASS Annex 11 A
208-885-7557
mrevans@uidaho.edu

Vanessa Sielert
Professor of music, education advisor, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 308
208-885-6231
vanessas@uidaho.edu

Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival administration

Navin Chettri
Manager, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and ACMS, lecturer of music, artistic director of World Music Celebration
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 204
208-885-0112
nchettri@uidaho.edu

Monica Evans
Music events operations coordinator
CLASS Annex 11 A
208-885-7557
mrevans@uidaho.edu

Vanessa Sielert
Professor of music, education advisor, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 308
208-885-6231
vanessas@uidaho.edu

Vern Sielert
Professor, trumpet and director of jazz studies, artistic director of Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 304
208-885-4955
verns@uidaho.edu

Preparatory Division administration

Sam Welsh, D.M.A.
Voice, piano, winds, brass and percussion coordinator
swelsh@uidaho.edu

Miranda Wilson
Professor of cello
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 211
208-885-6615
mirandaw@uidaho.edu

Vandal Marching Band administration

Spencer Martin
Clinical professor of music, director of athletic bands
Blake House G7
spmartin@uidaho.edu

Nikki Crathorne
Assistant director

Cherice Cameron
Administrative assistant

Brass

Sean Butterfield
Director, clinical associate professor of trumpet and music theory
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 205
208-885-6231
music@uidaho.edu

Jason M. Johnston
Associate Professor of Music
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 212
jjohnston@uidaho.edu 

Jenny Kellogg
Instructor faculty
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 305
jdkellogg@uidaho.edu

Torrey Lawrence
Professor of music, provost and executive vice president
tlawrence@uidaho.edu

Geoffrey McKay
Temp faculty-lecturer
geoffreymckay@uidaho.edu 

Vern Sielert
Professor, trumpet and director of jazz studies, artistic director of Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 304
208-885-4955
verns@uidaho.edu

Mark Thiele
Assistant professor of tuba/euphonium and director of bands
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 212N
208-885-0539
mthiele@uidaho.edu

Composition

Daniel Bukvich
Professor of percussion and theory, director of jazz choir, university distinguished professor
c/o Lionel Hampton School of Music
208-885-7055
dbukvich@uidaho.edu

Dylan Champagne
Lecturer of music composition and digital audio workstation
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 109
dchampagne@uidaho.edu

Max Wolpert
Clinical assistant professor of composition
Blake House 106
mwolpert@uidaho.edu

Music education

Lori Conlon Khan
Clinical associate professor of music education
Blake House 107
208-885-0157
lorick@uidaho.edu

Steve Fairbanks
Clinical faculty
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 210
sfairbanks@uidaho.edu

Spencer Martin
Clinical professor of music, director of athletic bands
Blake House G7
spmartin@uidaho.edu

Percussion

Daniel Bukvich
Professor of percussion and theory, director of jazz choir, university distinguished professor
c/o Lionel Hampton School of Music
208-885-7055
dbukvich@uidaho.edu

Navin Chettri
Manager, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and ACMS, lecturer of music, artistic director of World Music Celebration
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 204
208-885-0112
nchettri@uidaho.edu

Spencer Martin
Clinical professor of music, director of athletic bands
Blake House G7
spmartin@uidaho.edu

Piano

Eneida Larti
Assistant professor of piano
Lionel Hampton Music Building, Room 204
208-885-6425
larti@uidaho.edu

Roger McVey
Professor of piano
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 303
208-885-7440
rmcvey@uidaho.edu

Kate Skinner
Assistant professor of jazz piano
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 302
208-885-5737
kates@uidaho.edu

Strings

Steve Fairbanks
Clinical faculty
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 210
sfairbanks@uidaho.edu

Giselle Hillyer
Lecturer of violin and viola
Ridenbaugh 223
ghillyer@uidaho.edu 

Miranda Wilson
Professor of cello
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 211
208-885-6615
mirandaw@uidaho.edu 

William St. Peter
Lecturer of guitar
Ridenbaugh 204
wstpeter@uidaho.edu

Dave Bjur
Ridenbaugh 306
bjur@uidaho.edu

Voice

Stefan Gordon
Assistant professor of voice
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 307
sgordon@uidaho.edu

Michelle Lange
Instructor faculty
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 310
mlange@uidaho.edu

Christian Reed
Vocal instructor and vocal coach
Ridenbaugh 306
reedc@uidaho.edu

Woodwinds

Ayca Cetin
Assistant professor of flute
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 309
acetin@uidaho.edu

Javier Rodriguez
Director of graduate studies, associate professor of bassoon, associate director
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 313
jrodriguez@uidaho.edu

Vanessa Sielert
Professor of music, education advisor, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 308
208-885-6231
vanessas@uidaho.edu

Camilla Yoder
Temp faculty-lecturer
Ridenbaugh 223
cyoder@uidaho.edu

Katsuya Yuasa
Lecturer of clarinet
Lionel Hampton Music Building, 109
katsuya@uidaho.edu