Faculty Ensembles

TU Jazz Faculty Ensemble

The TU Jazz Faculty Ensemble features Dave Ballou (trumpet), Jim McFalls (trombone), Jason Rigby (saxophone), John Lee (guitar), Jeff Reed (bass), and Eric Kennedy & Mike Kuhl (drums). This ensemble is a cutting-edge group of like-minded musicians whose collective background represents a wide range of performance experience. Each member is an active professional performer in their own right who coalesce into this formidable and unique musical group. Several members are accomplished composers and arrangers, and all are exciting and modern improvisers. With the uncommon instrumentation of three horns, electric guitar, acoustic bass, and two drummers, the TU Jazz Faculty Ensemble regularly explores new sounds and focuses on compelling spontaneous creation, while demonstrating a deep-rooted excellence in the history of the jazz canon language and process. 

Towson Brass Quintet

TU’s Faculty Brass Quintet regularly performs on and off campus, including recitals, music for commencement ceremonies, clinics at area high schools, and events such as the Maryland Music Educators Convention. Members include Luis Engelke (trumpet), Jason Ayoub (horn), David Perkel (trombone), and James Hicks (tuba). Michelle Humphreys (percussion) regularly joins the ensemble in the performance of an eclectic mix of works from many genres. Individual faculty members hold positions in several of the top area ensembles, including the premiere DC military bands and the area's top regional symphony orchestras.

quinTUs

quinTUs Faculty Ensemble serves as an active recruitment ensemble for the voice division.  The ensemble consists of soprano, mezzo soprano, tenor, and bass faculty as well as a staff accompanist.  It is focused on recruitment of students to Towson University, and the promotion of operas, art song and choral songs for a small classical ensemble.  This ensemble performs recitals at the Center for the Arts, local venues such as Charlestown Retirement Community, and tours the regional area performing and recruiting at area high schools.  quinTUs is planning its first international tour to Korea in the Summer of 2018.

Trio ToUché

Founded in 2022, Trio ToUché features piano faculty members Eva Mengelkoch, Hsiu-Hui Wang, and Christopher Dillon performing repertory for six hands at one piano. The trio appears on-campus, at recruitment events, and on regional recital series such as Music in the Atrium in Bethesda