Bard Conservatory offers unparalleled musical opportunities for its students. Each year, the Conservatory Orchestra performs four concerts; concerto competition winners perform with the Conservatory Orchestra; students frequently collaborate with faculty in chamber music concerts at Bard and in regional chamber music concert series; and students have the opportunity to perform in concerts produced by the Bard Music Festival every summer.
Ensemble Opportunities
In addition to the listed ensembles, Bard offers varying Jazz, Electronic Music, and World Music Ensembles through the Music Program, which are open to all students.
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Bard Conservatory OrchestraThe Bard Conservatory Orchestra performs several concerts each semester and at least four times each year in the Frank Gehry-designed Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.Bard Conservatory Orchestra
The Bard Conservatory Orchestra performs several concerts each semester and at least four times each year in the Frank Gehry-designed Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.
The orchestra also performs annual side-by-side concerts with members of the The Orchestra Now, conducted by Leon Botstein, and performs regularly at the Eastern New York Correctional Facility as part of the Bard Prison Initiative. With the exception of pianists, all Conservatory performance majors perform with the orchestra every semester. -
Chinese EnsembleFor the Conservatory’s Chinese instrument majors, Chinese Ensemble provides both large-ensemble and chamber music performance opportunities throughout the year, and all Conservatory students have the opportunity to participate.Chinese Ensemble
For the Conservatory’s Chinese instrument majors, Chinese Ensemble provides both large-ensemble and chamber music performance opportunities throughout the year, and all Conservatory students have the opportunity to participate.
At least one major Chinese Ensemble concert with the participation of all Chinese instrument majors will be performed each semester on campus. Other regular performance opportunities include the Chinese Music in the Chapel concert series at Bard and the Music at China Institute 华美音乐 program in Manhattan. Studio teachers assist the ensemble coach and perform in Chinese Ensemble concerts, contributing their depth of experience and knowledge of the repertoire. The Chinese Ensemble program also features master classes and concerts by leading performers and educators in Chinese music. All Conservatory students have the opportunity to participate in mixed ensembles of Chinese and Western instruments. -
Bard Chamber SingersLed by maestro James Bagwell, the Chamber Singers is a select choir made up of undergraduate singers in both the Conservatory and B.A. Music Program. The Chamber Singers perform throughout the year at Bard's Fisher Center.Bard Chamber Singers
Led by maestro James Bagwell, the Chamber Singers is a select choir made up of undergraduate singers in both the Conservatory and B.A. Music Program. The Chamber Singers perform throughout the year at Bard's Fisher Center.
The Chamber Singers perform throughout the year at Bard's Fisher Center with the Bard Conservatory Orchestra and The Orchestra Now. Recent performances have included Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Mahler's 2nd Symphony, and Mendelssohn's Magnificat. -
Bard Baroque EnsembleThe Bard Baroque Ensemble, including both College and Conservatory musicians, takes a leading role in an annual series of Bach cantata presentations and collaborates with other Bard ensembles in staging outstanding Baroque performances.Bard Baroque Ensemble
The Bard Baroque Ensemble, including both College and Conservatory musicians, takes a leading role in an annual series of Bach cantata presentations and collaborates with other Bard ensembles in staging outstanding Baroque performances.
Learn more about the Barqoue Ensemble here. -
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Photo by Maria BaranovaOpera WorkshopOpen to all undergraduate singers, the fully-staged Undergraduate Opera Workshop performs every spring semester in the Bard Fisher Center Luma Theater.Opera Workshop
Open to all undergraduate singers, the fully-staged Undergraduate Opera Workshop performs every spring semester in the Bard Fisher Center Luma Theater.
Throughout the fall semester, students prepare a themed program of operatic excerpts of choruses, ensembles, and solos. Repertoire is chosen for the current students, allowing each student to showcase their strengths while learning developing their stagecraft.
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Solo Opportunities
During their study at Bard, students present three recitals: one shared in their third year, one off-campus shared or full-length recital in their fourth year, and one full-length solo recital in their fifth year with their teacher's permission. Each year, as many as three winners of the concerto competition perform as soloists with either the Conservatory Orchestra or The Orchestra Now, conducted by Leon Botstein. Past concerto competition winners have performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and Bard's Fisher Center. Conservatory students have also been soloists with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, and other professional ensembles. Additionally, Bard Conservaotry hosts a series of Noon Concerts held throughout each semester, open to any Conservatory student to perform.
Chamber Music
Chamber music is a priority at the Bard College Conservatory of Music. Members of its faculty are current or former members of distinguished touring chamber music ensembles. Studio faculty members serve not only as coaches but often as players in ensembles, allowing students to learn firsthand from the playing of a more experienced musician. Chamber music ensembles perform in Noon Concerts, in the Chamber Music Marathon each semester, in self-produced concerts with the Conservatory’s Concert Office, and on various graduation recitals. Additionally, they perform off-campus in private homes, local chamber music series, and in Conservatory showcase concerts in NYC and elsewhere. The chamber music program is further enriched by master classes and concerts by conservatory faculty members and guest artists.
Performance Gallery
All major concerts and events at Bard Conservatory are live streamed from the Laszlo Z. Bito Conservatory Performance Space, Olin Hall, or the Bard Fisher Center. Visit Bard Conservatory’s YouTube channel to check out our performance archive.