51³Ô¹ÏÍø

51³Ô¹ÏÍø Bands

With nine diverse concert bands,athletics bands and jazz ensembles, we have a place for you! Each ensemble is open to all 51³Ô¹ÏÍø undergraduate and graduate students.

 

 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Youth Winds

The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Bands offer our students the chance to make music in nine performing ensembles to meet your skill and scheduling needs. Music majors and non-music majors have the opportunity to create and perform in athletic bands, jazz ensembles, and concert bands taught by outstanding and engaging faculty. Whether the goal is to become a performer, teacher, or to simply stay active and enjoy music, we have a place for you!

Athletic Bands

51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Athletic Bands Offer the Unique Opportunity to Be Part of the Game Day Excitement and Pageantry

Marching Golden Flashes

The Marching Golden Flashes serves as the most visible musical ambassador of the Athletic Department, the Glauser School of Music, and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Membership is open to all Kent students regardless of major. As the largest student organization on campus, the Marching Golden Flashes represents virtually every school on campus. The recently announced "Marching Golden Flash Award" is a $1,000 scholarship for all new and returning members of the group. 

Auditions begin in the spring semester for twirlers and continue through the summer for the color guard, wind and percussion sections. Details are typically announced in March. 

Take Me To Learn More About the MGF

Directed by Dr. Darin Olson

Flasher Brass Pep Band

Flasher Brass Pep Band is 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s pep band which performs at all men’s and women’s home basketball games, post-season MAC and NCAA tournament games, and a variety of other 51³Ô¹ÏÍø athletic and community events. 

Auditions typically are held in the fall semester with rehearsals beginning shortly thereafter. Keep checking here for additional details!

Directed by Dr. Darin Olson

Learn More About Flasher Brass Pep Band

Questions?

Email: bands@kent.edu
Call: 330-672-0080

Concert Bands

We offer a variety of Concert Bands to fit your schedule and skill level!

Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble is an auditioned ensemble of the university's finest wind and percussion musicians. Consisting primarily of undergraduate and graduate music majors and talented non-majors, the group performs traditional and contemporary wind repertoire of the highest quality.

Rehearsals 

  • Tuesday and Thursday from 1:10 - 3:05 p.m.

Joining the Wind Ensemble

  • Auditions are typically held at the beginning of each fall and spring semester
  • Visit this page for more information.
  • Registration: MUS 45223 (Slashed with MUS 55223 and MUS 75223)

Director
Dr. Benjamin Lorenzo

Symphony Band

The Symphony Band is an auditioned ensemble of student musicians from across campus regardless of major who have demonstrated an outstanding level of musicianship and commitment to musical excellence. Consisting primarily of undergraduate and graduate music majors the group performs a broad range of works, representative of all historical periods and styles. 

Rehearsals

  • Tuesday and Thursday from 3:20 - 5:15 p.m.

Joining the Symphony Band

Director
Dr. Darin Olson

University Band

The University Band, also known as the "Communiversity Band," is open to all university students and community members who wish to continue performing traditional band literature.

Rehearsal

  • Tuesday from 7:15 - 9:45 p.m.

Joining University Band

  • No audition required! Show up to the first rehearsal of the semester, instrument in hand.
  • Can be taken for credit or for no credit. Visit the Community Ensembles page for more information regarding the non-credit option.   
  • Registration: MUS 45225 (Undergraduates) or MUS 55225 (Graduate Students)

Director
Dr. Benjamin Lorenzo

Questions?

Jazz Ensembles

The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Jazz Studies Program fosters a "real world" atmosphere, promoting the development of fundamental skills in instrumental and vocal Jazz.

Through our Jazz Minor and B.A. in Jazz Studies curriculum and ensemble performance, students are provided the opportunity to improve individual musicianship, create a personal voice, learn from and be inspired by the rich history, understand the evolutionary process and modern trends of Jazz, while becoming musical leaders and positive contributors to the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø experience.

Bands Faculty & Staff

Learn more about the directors and leaders of the Kent State bands and jazz ensembles

Dr. Benjamin Lorenzo

Director of Bands
Music Education, Wind Ensemble
Learn more about Benjamin

Dr. Darin Olson

Director of Athletic Bands & Associate Director of Bands
Marching Golden Flashes, Flasher Brass, Symphony Band, University Band

Learn more about Darin

Bobby Selvaggio

Director of Jazz Studies
Jazz Orchestra, Saxophone
Learn more about Bobby

Dr. Wendy K. Matthews

Director of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Youth Winds
Music Education, Wind Ensemble
Learn more about Wendy

  • Instrumental Ensemble Auditions

    Instrumental Ensemble Auditions

    Welcome to the Audition Center for all our instrumental ensembles from bands to orchestra to jazz.

    Learn More

  • 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Youth Winds

    51³Ô¹ÏÍø Youth Winds

    An ensemble for high school woodwind, brass and percussion players held at the Glauser School of Music

    Learn More
© 2025 51³Ô¹ÏÍø All rights reserved.