Previous tours have included performances in Florida, New York, Washington D.C., New Orleans, and Europe. In addition to its active performance schedule, the Furman Symphonic Band has recorded new music for Carl Fischer Music Publishers. The Wind Ensemble comprises by audition the top fifty wind, brass, and percussion students on campus and performs the most difficult repertoire for this medium. Past seasons have featured compositions by Leslie Bassett, Marilyn Shrude, William Schumann, Vincent Persichetti, and Philip Sparke. The highlights of previous seasons included guest conducting appearances by Prof. Ray Cramer, Director of Bands at Indiana University, Maestro Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra, and nationally acclaimed composer, W. Francis McBeth The Jazz Band performs the best big band literature in jazz, Latin and fusion, entertaining groups with concerts on campus and throughout the state.
Membership is by audition and open to all interested students, music major and non-major alike.
Guitar, drum set and jazz keyboardists team up with the top Furman performers on saxophone, trombone and trumpet to prepare several performances throughout the year. As part of the jazz program, quartets and small ensembles branch out to explore literature for smaller ensembles. The Paladin Basketball Band furnishes entertainment for all home basketball games during the winter semester in the recently opened Timmons Arena. The Chamber Winds are composed of several smaller ensembles which rehearse during the early portions of Winter Term, and give a concert late in January.