The University of Connecticut Percussion Ensemble is an integral part of the percussion program. The ensemble strives to bring relevant and exciting compositions for percussion to the UConn stage. Both undergraduate and graduate percussion majors perform in the ensemble as it serves to strengthen students' musical and technical abilities on all percussion instruments. The members develop skills in the chamber ensemble that will serve them in many aspects of performing, creating and teaching music. The ensemble plays a wide variety of repertoire from various periods and countries. Students play a myriad of instruments that range from triangle to timpani to table-tops. Audiences find that percussion literature, although sometimes unfamiliar, has widespread appeal. The UConn percussion ensemble performs throughout the academic year and has been featured in various off-campus events.

The 17-piece Jazz Lab Band is designed to function as a feeder system, training and developing students to climb the ranks from the Lab Band to the Jazz Ensemble. In rehearsals, the Lab Band focuses on sight-reading and repertoire chosen to teach and reinforce the stylistic nuances of big band jazz. A wide range of music is performed, including pieces by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Bill Holman, Bob Mintzer, and new works by the ensemble's director.

Opera Outreach & Scenes provides many performing opportunities for students involved. Those enrolled stage several junior operas and visit various local schools to perform for children and teach them about opera. This course is also comprised of a robust scenes program. A scenes recital occurs each semester in which students perform scenes and excerpts from various operas, operettas, and musicals.

Prospective Holster Scholars Program applicants are invited to an application workshop/writing retreat in advance of the fall application deadline. The Holster Scholars Program will provide light refreshments. Program coordinator Dr. Vin Moscardelli and past Holster Scholars will be on hand to answer questions and provide feedback. This is a "drop in" writing retreat designed to provide a quiet, dedicated space for prospective applicants to make progress on their applications ahead of the deadline. There will not be a formal program or presentation, nor do you have to stay the entire time.   Preregistration not required.

The Connecticut Writing Project (CWP) sponsors Connecticut Student Writers (CSW), a magazine established in 1987 by the CWP to honor excellence in writing by students from kindergarten through high school. The highlight of the publication process is the Student Recognition Night, a celebration hosted by the CWP on the UConn campus. For more details on how to submit, visit the CWP website linked below.

Enjoy this unique exhibition of rock music memorabilia from the archive of editor, journalist, and radio disc jockey Ken Best. This personal collection features decades worth of iconic photos, album covers, posters and promotional materials that Best has amassed while writing about music for newspapers in New Jersey and Connecticut and interviewing musicians and authors on the radio at WPKN in Bridgeport and WHUS in Storrs. Highlighted will be 50 photos of major rock 'n' roll figures by Connecticut photographer Joseph Sia, including his famous image of Jimi Hendrix at Woolsey Hall in New Haven in 1968, known as "The Shadow," from Best and Sia's 1992 book,Eight Days a Week: An Illustrated Record of Rock 'n' Roll (Pomegranate Books).