All students who play bowed string instruments and are registered for lessons perform in the symphony orchestra, with violin, viola and cello performance majors also placed with a chamber music ensemble each semester. Chamber ensembles have one coaching per week and perform near the end of each semester. Double bass students have the opportunity to work in bass class each semester (which rotates between bass ensemble music and orchestral repertoire), while harp and guitar students have seminar classes on their instruments and participate in mixed chamber music at least twice during their degree program. Harpists also perform in Boyer’s large ensembles as repertoire dictates.

Through the university orchestras, bands, and chamber music ensembles, woodwind and brass players have extensive performance opportunities at Boyer. In large ensembles, students regularly study and perform standard concert literature as well as contemporary repertoire. With a large number of the studio faculty drawn from The Philadelphia Orchestra and other major metropolitan performing organizations, students have the opportunity to study with world class teachers who perform at the highest levels of artistry.

Instrumental Conducting provides students with the skills to provide compelling musical leadership, including: effective score study and preparation; advanced development of physical conducting technique and experience in leading efficient rehearsals and sectionals. Graduate students have opportunities to serve as teaching assistants in undergraduate conducting courses and assist conductors in wind, symphonic and concert band ensembles. Special annual events include a high school band day, Festival of Winds, and Wind Conducting and Teaching Workshop.

Students in the percussion program perform in symphony orchestra, percussion ensemble, wind symphony, concert bands, mixed contemporary and new music chamber ensembles, marching band, big bands, jazz combos and Latin and Brazilian ensembles. A diverse musical curriculum compliments private instruction with multiple teachers and ensemble coaching by faculty who are musicians of the highest artistic caliber.

Adjunct percussion faculty include some of the most notable performers and pedagogues in the country. Alumni hold professional playing engagements and teaching positions at secondary schools, universities and conservatories or teach, hold clinical positions and tour with noted jazz groups. 

Recent guest artists include Russell Hartenberger, Gordon Stout, Michael Burritt, Colin Currie, NEXUS, Douglas Howard, Don Liuzzi, Bob Becker, She-e Wu, Shannon Wood, Ryan Dilisi, David Herbert, Ivan Trevino, Frank Epstein, Leigh Howard Stevens, Brian DelSignore, MOBIUS Percussion, Warren Wolf, John Piper, Ignacio Berroa and Jeff Hamilton.   

Percussion alumni perform with some of the top orchestras in the world and teach at universities around the country:
Chris Allen, Pittsburgh Symphony
Ted Atkatz, faculty, Colburn School; Lynn University
Jeremy Branson, Pittsburgh Symphony
Elliot Beck, principal timpanist, Israel Philharmonic
Tom Blanchard, Chautauqua Symphony
Michael Culligan, percussionist, Cincinnati Symphony
Brian DelSignore, principal percussionist, Houston Symphony
David DePeters, Executive Director, National Repertory Orchestra; IRIS orchestra
Christopher Deviney, principal percussionist, The Philadelphia Orchestra
Ryan DiLisi, principal timpanist, San Diego Symphony
Erin Dowrey, percussionist, San Diego Symphony
Tony Edwards; Austin Symphony; faculty, Round Top Music Festival
John Evans, Naples Philharmonic
Paul Evans, faculty, Carnegie Mellon University
Victor Garcia-Gaetan, percussionist, Radio City Music Hall; Mobius percussion quartet
Will Hudgins, percussionist, Boston Symphony; faculty, New England Conservatory of Music
Brian Jones, principal timpanist, Dallas Symphony
Brian Jordan, principal percussionist, Naples Philharmonic
William Kerrigan, principal percussionist, Delaware Symphony; faculty, Eastern University
John Kilkenny, faculty, George Mason University
Brian Kushmaul, Chautauqua Symphony
Brent Kuszyk, conductor, Biola University
Brad Loudis, percussion, Opera Philadelphia
Don Liuzzi, principal timpanist, The Philadelphia Orchestra; Curtis Institute of Music
Eric Millstein, percussionist, Lyric Opera of Chicago; faculty, Curtis Institute
Angela Nelson, associate principal timpanist & percussionist, The Philadelphia Orchestra
David Nelson, faculty, West Chester University; timpanist, Lancaster Symphony
Gerald Novak, percussionist, President’s Own Marine Band
Jiye Oh, Seoul Radio Orchestra
Joe Petrasek, principal percussionist, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Brian Prechtl, Baltimore Symphony
Harvey Price, professor, University of Delaware
Andrew Reamer, principal percussion, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Kenneth Riehman, percussionist; US Air Force Band
Michael Rosen, professor, Oberlin Conservatory
Tom Sherwood, Associate Principal, Cleveland Orchestra
John Shaw, Principal Percussion, The Florida Orchestra
Ralph Sorrentino, faculty, West Chester University; Opera Philadelphia & PA Ballet
Matthew Strauss, percussionist, Houston Symphony; faculty, Rice University
James Swarts, percussionist, US Navy Band
Scott Verduin, Seoul Radio Orchestra
Dr. Douglas Walter, professor, University of Colorado
Richard Weiner, principal percussion (retired), Cleveland Orchestra
Steve Weiser, Executive Director, Erie Philharmonic
George Willis, professor, West Virginia University
Peter Wilson, timpanist, Harrisburg Symphony
Shannon Wood, principal timpanist, St. Louis Symphony
William Wozniak, principal timpanist, Delaware Symphony
Trey Wyatt, percussionist, San Francisco Symphony
Cynthia Yeh, principal percussionist, Chicago Symphony
Gregory Zuber, principal percussionist, Metropolitan Opera