There are many ways to get involved in the performing arts at American University! Showcase your talents and exercise your creative energies with performance opportunities in dance, music, and theatre/musical theatre. There is something for everyone, and we hope you will be a part of our lively arts community this year.  

Prefer to watch from the audience? Sign up for our mailing list for our upcoming performance lineup. Tickets are free for American University students!

For information about degree programs in the Department of Performing Arts in arts management, audio technology, dance, music, and theatre/musical theatre, visit the Department of Performing Arts online.  

Department of Performing Arts (DPA) — Welcome Back Night 
Wednesday, August 28, 8 p.m. 
Katzen Arts Center, Abramson Family Recital Hall and Rotunda

Meet with students and faculty and learn more about opportunities in the Department of Performing Arts including majors, minors, productions, and ensembles. All interested are welcome to attend!

Share your interest for DPA programs and opportunities to learn more.

Music

AU Jazz Orchestra rehearsal. Photo: Elena Zimmerman.

Music Ensemble Open House
Thursday, August 22, 6 p.m.
Katzen Recital Hall

Join music faculty and other students for an overview of music ensemble activities and opportunities for the year. Learn more about private lessons, group classes, and all the outlets for your music interests. Attend this open house for a complete overview of music at AU. 

Music Ensemble Auditions  
August 24–29
Katzen Rotunda

Ensembles perform throughout the academic year in Katzen’s Abramson Family Recital Hall. Ensembles are open to current American University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. Sign up for Music Ensemble updates on auditions and opportunities. 

Vocal Ensembles

Chorus

The AU Chorus has a tradition of performing a wide range of choral repertoire ranging from masterworks of choral literature to small octavos, to newly composed choral works. 

• Casey Cook, Conductor of AU Chorus. Contact AU Chorus for more information.
• Rehearsals: Tuesday 7:30-10:15 p.m./occasional Mondays 8-10:15 p.m.
• PERF-042-001, PERF-142-001 
• Audition required. Register for Choral Ensemble Auditions.

Chamber Singers 

The AU Chamber Singers ensemble is highly selective and generally limited to between 26 and 32 members. Repertoire includes works drawn from all periods of music and varies greatly from early music masterworks with ensemble, to contemporary a cappella literature. 

• Daniel Abraham, Director of Choral Activities & Conductor of AU Chamber Singers. Contact AU Chorus for more information.
• Rehearsals: Mondays & Thursdays, 2:30-5 p.m.  
• PERF-043-001, PERF-143-001 
• Audition required. Register for Choral Ensemble Auditions.

Gospel Choir 

• Sylstea Sledge, Gospel Choir Director 
• Rehearsals: Wednesdays 8:10-10:40 p.m., Kay Spiritual Life Center. 
• PERF-161-001, PERF-561-001 
• No audition: attend first class meeting.

Instrumental Ensembles

AU Symphony Orchestra 

The AU Symphony Orchestra's repertoire consists of major masterworks from the Baroque through the twentieth century and beyond, featuring more than 60 accomplished members including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. 

• Matthew Brown, Director of Orchestral Activities. Contact the AU Symphony Orchestra for more information. 
• Rehearsals: Thursdays, 5:30-8 p.m.  
• PERF-044-001, PERF-144-001 
• Audition required. Contact Matthew Brown for sign up details. 

AU Symphonic Band 

The Symphonic Band is an ensemble for woodwind, brass, and percussion players that performs the highest quality wind repertoire. 

• Matthew Brown, Symphonic Band Director. Contact the AU Symphonic Band for more information. 
• Rehearsals: Monday evenings, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 
• PERF-047-001, PERF-147-001 
• Audition required. Contact Matthew Brown for sign up details.

AU Jazz Orchestra 

The AU Jazz Orchestra is a classic ensemble that prepares and performs selected jazz works including standards, traditional big band era arrangements, and charts of more progressive, international, and fusion styles.  

• Joshua Bayer, Director of Jazz Studies 
• Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 5:30-8 p.m. 
• PERF-046,001, PERF-146-001  
• Audition required: attend the first class meeting  

AU Jazz Combo 

Jazz Combo is a smaller ensemble for the study and performance of jazz music in a more intimate setting. The Combo performs jazz standards as well as original compositions. There is a focus on improvisation while also exploring swing, bebop, hard bop, jazz fusion, funk, blues, and R&B styles 

• Joshua Bayer, Director of Jazz Studies 
• Rehearsals: Wednesdays 10-11 a.m., Katzen Arts Center 144 
• Audition required: attend AU Jazz Orchestra first meeting to be considered for the AU Jazz Combo. 

Chamber Music 

Students are placed in small chamber groups (2-5 players) with weekly coaching sessions and rehearsals. For most instrumentalists, an audition and participation in orchestra or band is required.  

• Ann Kang, Music Program Director 
• Meets Tuesdays or Fridays, 2:30–3:45pm. 
• Audition for AU Symphony Orchestra or AU Symphonic Band to be considered for the Chamber Music Ensemble. 

Songwriters' Hub

Do you write and perform original music? Are you interested in helping others perform, record, produce or promote their music? This collective will enable and empowers students in their efforts in pop, rock, hip-hop, bluegrass, etc. Meet and work with like-minded musicians, gain access to instruments and equipment, rehearse in a classroom instead of the hallway, and record in a studio instead of your dorm! 
 
We are looking for songwriters, singers, instrumentalists, sound engineers, and even bands that have already been formed. Take your music to the next level! 

• Matthew Brown, Songwriters' Hub Director
• Meets Thursday, 8:20–10:20 p.m.  
• PERF-145-03, PERF-045-04  
• No audition required 

Contact Prof. Matthew Brown for more information.

Pep Band

The AU Pep Band creates innovative performances for various venues and occasions at AU including athletic events, university ceremonies, and student recruitment events. Instrumentation of the ensemble is like a general marching band with the addition of bass guitar, bass clarinet, and more. Anyone with a positive attitude is welcome to come find a home and artistic outlet in Pep Band.  

• Aidan Dixon, director  
• PERF-050/150/550.
• No audition required, email Pep Band if interested.
• Meets select Mondays, 8:20-10:00 p.m. 

Learn more about opportunities in the Music program on Facebook (@AUMusicProgram) and Instagram (@aumusicprogram).

Dance

The American University Dance Company in On the Crossing. Choreography by Rose Xinran Qi, 2024. Photo: Jeff Watts.

Dance opportunities are open to all American University students. Sign up for updates on auditions and opportunities or contact the dance program directly.  
 

Dance at AU! - Dance Program Info Session
Wednesday, August 21, 7-8 p.m.
Katzen Sculpture Garden (Rain location: Katzen 112)

Join AU Dance Program faculty to learn about dance classes, level placement, auditions, and performance opportunities in the dance program this fall. Thinking about taking a dance class? Not sure what level? Thinking about adding a dance major or minor? Wondering how to audition for fall performances? Come get all the info! 

Dance Level Placement  
Thursday, August 22, 4-5:30 p.m.
Katzen 152 (Katzen Dance Studio) 

To register for embodied knowledge (technique) courses at AU, join us for our level placements. We will be placing for African, ballet, contemporary dance, and jazz. It’s an opportunity to meet the dance faculty and to take four mini sample movement classes. Register for Level Placement no later than Thursday, August 22 at 10 a.m.

Fall Dance Concert Audition  
Friday, August 23, 3-5 p.m.
Katzen 152 (Katzen Dance Studio)

Audition to perform in the Fall Dance Concert, a mainstage event featuring new faculty work and selected student-choreographed, faculty-mentored projects, held at the Greenberg Theatre. If this is your first semester at AU, or if you haven’t yet performed in an AU dance production, this is the audition for you! New students, returning students, all students are welcome to audition! Dance experience recommended but not required. Register for Fall Dance Concert auditions no later than August 23 at 10 a.m.

Learn more about opportunities in the Dance program on Instagram (@au_dances).

Theatre/Musical Theatre

Urinetown, The Musical, spring 2024. Photo: Ethan Kauffman. 

Auditions

Auditions take place one semester in advance of all theatre and musical theatre program productions. For spring 2025 performances, auditions will take place in October, date and time to be announced. Our spring lineup will include Dance Nation, 9 to 5, The Musical, and A Game of Love and Chance! Theatre opportunities are open to all American University students. 

Overture

For those new to AU, the program offers a special new student production, Overture, each fall. Featuring student generated dialogue, music, and movement, Overture explores the passions, fears, triumphs, trials, and wonder of this stage of life. This year’s performance will take place in Katzen’s Studio Theatre on September 27 and 28 following rehearsals through September. No audition is required. Attend the DPA's Welcome Back Night on August 28 if you are interested in being part of this year's Overture production and to hear more about this season's productions, audition dates, student theatre organizations, and special classes being offered by the program. Participants in Overture are encouraged to register for PERF 165-001 and PERF 166-001 (1 credit each, or PERF 065-001/066-001 for 0 credit). 

Sign up for updates on auditions and Overture, or email Program Director Jason Arnold to be added to Callboard, the program's information listserv.  

Follow the Theatre/Musical Theatre program for more opportunities on Instagram (@americanutheatre).