FURMAN
SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA

Learn More: Placement Auditions

The Furman Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Thomas Joiner, is a 75-member all-student ensemble comprised of majors and non-majors alike. In addition to presenting two full orchestral programs and a chamber ensemble performance each year, the orchestra joins the combined Furman choral groups for fall and spring oratorios. Every other year the orchestra provides an opportunity, through competitive auditions, for outstanding Furman students to perform concerto movements with orchestra. In alternate years the orchestra joins forces with the Furman Opera Theater for a fully staged opera or musical. For further details on this year's performances, please visit the Concerts listing. 

Membership in the Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra is decided by competitive audition at the start of each term. Auditions are open to majors and non-majors alike. Seating within the sections is rotated based upon these auditions and prior experience. Wind, Percussion and Harp instrumentation is based upon the needs of the individual pieces and seated by audition with private teacher recommendation.

Guest conductors who have worked with the orchestra or presented concerts include Keith Lockhart, Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra and Music Director of the Utah Symphony (and a Furman alum), Richard Kaufman, Principal Pops Conductor of the Dallas Symphony and Music Consultant at MGM/United Artists Television in Hollywood, Maxim Shostakovich, and Robert Moody, Associate Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony (and a Furman alum).

To hear the Orchestra perform, visit our MP3 page.

Faculty Contact:  Dr. Thomas Joiner

CONCERTO COMPETITION

RECENT REPERTOIRE 

Furman Symphony Orchestra

  • Beethoven- Symphony No. 5
  • Berlioz-Symphonie fantastique
  • Brahms-Symphony No. 1
  • Copland- Rodeo
  • Dvorak- Symphony No. 8
  • Gorecki-Symphony of Sorrowful Songs
  • Hanson-Symphony No. 2
  • Holst-The Planets
  • Jongen-Symphonie Concertant for Organ
  • Mahler-Songs of a Wayfarer
  • Saint-Saens-Symphony No. 3 “Organ”
  • Shostakovitch-Symphony No. 5
  • Tchaikovsky-Symphony No. 4
  • Torke-Javelin
  • Vaughan Williams- A Sea Symphony
  • Wagner-Prelude and Love-Death
  • Williams-Star Wars Suite

Furman Chamber Strings

  • Anger-Blues for Oaktown
  • Balakrishnan-Skylife
  • Biber-Battalia
  • Corelli-Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 4
  • Elgar-Serenade for Strings
  • Ellington- Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
  • Hindemith-Trauermusik
  • Holst-St. Paul’s Suite
  • Mozart-Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
  • O’Conner- Appalachia Waltz
  • Vivaldi-Four Seasons
Oratorios, Operas, & Musicals
  • Bach-Christmas Oratorio
  • Brahms-Requiem
  • Durufle-Requiem
  • Gilbert & Sullivan-Pirates of Penzance
  • Handel-Messiah
  • Honegger-King David
  • Mozart-Marriage of Figaro
  • Mozart-Magic Flute
  • Mozart-Requiem
  • Poulenc-Gloria
  • Rodgers & Hammerstein-Carousel
  • Stravinsky- Symphony of Psalms
  • Vaughan Williams-Hodie
  • Walton-Belshazzars Feast