Previous singing experience may be helpful. The Occidental-CalTech Symphony consists of instrumentalists from Occidental, the California Institute of Technology, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and members of the community. The orchestra presents concerts on both the Occidental and CalTech campuses. The Symphony performs a varied repertoire of classic, romantic, and contemporary music. An annual Student Concerto Competition, held the first week in December, allows its winner the opportunity to perform as soloists with the Symphony.
Membership is by audition at the beginning of the academic year.
Rehearsals are held at Occidental, and extra rehearsals are scheduled before each concert. The Occidental Chamber Music Ensembles are made up of instrumentalists who are interested in performing chamber music for various media and drawn from various historical periods and styles. Among the usual ensembles are an early music recorder group, a brass ensemble, and various combinations of strings, woodwinds, and piano. Students will perform at least twice during the year on regularly scheduled chamber music recitals. The ensembles receive coaching from Prof. Grayson at times mutually arranged by him and the ensemble members.