<p>There are the usual band and orchestra, which are both very good but open to non-majors. There are also a number of smaller groups, and I’m sure I’m not listing them all. I can’t say I’m absolutely positive they are open to non-majors, just because the students I know in them are music majors–but then, I know a lot of music majors, and the general theme at Bucknell is that everything’s open to anyone (with the talent, of course). There’s the jazz band, and gamelan (I may be spelling that wrong), and random improv groups. There’s a huge variety, and everyone really enjoys the groups they participate in.</p>
<p>And as for vocal music, there is concert chorale, which I think travels ‘locally’ inside the original 48, I’m not sure how often, and the chapel choir, which is a bit harder to get into but does a ‘world tour’ every other year. (Last summer, they went to Argentina.) I’m not sure about their practice schedules, but Chapel Choir performs I think like 3 weeks out of 4 at Protestant services in Rooke Chapel sunday mornings, as well as giving concerts and performing at things like our Christmastime Candlelight Services. Concert Chrorale gives a few concerts a year, and they probably do a few other performing-type things I haven’t had a chance to see.</p>
<p>There are also 4 a capella groups on campus–two coed, one all-female, and one all-male. All four are quite talented, and they have auditions in the fall and usually at the beginning of the spring semester as well. These groups have large a capella concerts at which they all perform, individual concerts at the end of the academic year, and often sing at different campus events and fundraisers.</p>
<p>And this spring we are doing a musical! We didn’t have one in the past two years, so I can’t promise how soon another one will come along, but if the students want it enough, the faculty typically goes along eventually. There is also the Musical Theatre Club, which puts on what they term a ‘revue’ every fall. (I grew up in musical theatre so I can tell you it’s not a real revue, more like… cabaret. But I still participate each year and it’s always fun!) They also go to New York to see a Broadway show each spring.</p>
<p>And there’s definitely dozens of musical opportunities I’ve left out. Students sing or play instruments at Catholic Mass twice a weekend, at Protestant service once a month (when Chapel Choir has off), and maybe at Jewish services. People will start their own bands, or just get together with a group of friends to make music.</p>
<p>I would also defnitely recommend the arts residential college. It was absolutely fantastic for me to start college in a place where instead of telling me to stop singing all the time, my hallmates would join in, making up harmonies as they went. The arts res is (I’d say, though I’m very biased) the closest-knit res college, and it’s because even if you’re a singer and that other girl paints, everyone has that common bond. And we do the weirdest things, but it’s just part of the arts res charm.</p>