 The NSU Pep Band, also known as the Sharkestra, brings live entertainment, energy, and spirit to NSU home basketball games, gatherings such as “Quad Thursdays”, campus activities, rallies, and other athletic events. Its mission is to ignite school spirit, support our teams, and liven things up by doing what its members do best—play music. The band plays jazz, rock, pop, and traditional college ‘pep’ material, in addition to NSU school songs (such as Fight On, NSU! and the NSU University Anthem). The Sharkestra is supported by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences at NSU. Its members also work in close conjunction with the Athletic Department and its office of Sports information to ensure a thoroughly professional performance. These musicians contribute significant excitement whenever they play, such as men’s and women’s home basketball games in the University Center. Students who participate in the pep band are encouraged to enroll in MUSC 2000: Music Performance Ensemble to receive academic credit. The Sharkestra's inaugural season was the 2006-2007 academic year (although we played at a few games in 2005-2006). Instrumentation: Piccolo • Flutes • Clarinets • Saxophones (Alto/Tenor/Baritone) • Trumpets • Flugelhorns • F horns (including Mellophones and Altos) • Baritone Horns • Tenor/Bass Trombones • Tubas – Keyboards • Guitars (inc. Bass Guitar) • Drums/Percussion. Participation in the Sharkestra involves weekly rehearsals in the fall and a commitment throughout the basketball season. |
NSU Seeks Campus Talent: Join the NSU Sharkestra
The NSU Pep Band, also known as the Sharkestra, operates under the auspices of the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences' Division of Humanities. Auditions, open to all NSU students, are held regularly throughout the season. Prospective students, transfer students, and new students applying to NSU through the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences may be eligible, as members of the Sharkestra, for a Performing and Visual Arts Grant. All current NSU students may arrange an audition by contacting Mark Cavanaugh, Ph.D., at (954) 262-8206 or mark@nsu.nova.edu or by filling out the audition form. |
Membership
The Sharkestra at one of its first performances, for a basketball game at BCC's George Mayer Gymnasium during the 2005-2006 academic year: l. to r., Mark Cavanaugh, Ph.D. (Director), Ryan Fabrizio (trumpet), Michael Angerstein (clarinet), Carlos Arias, Jr. (alto sax), Roberto Meneses (Soprano sax), Michael Raymond (Asst. Director-baritone sax).
Membership is open to all NSU students who exhibit proficiency on an instrument. An audition is required, but the goal is involvement, fun, and support of NSU athletics without ever sacrificing musical integrity.
Members of the band are strongly encouraged to enroll in a 3 credit course, MUSC 2000: Music Performance Ensemble, during which students can learn more about the history of jazz and pop music, music theory, vernacular harmony, jazz voicings, methods and history of improvisation, ear training, etc. The course is designed to broaden and deepen musical appreciation and to increase the skill level of participants. This course meets in addition to rehearsal time.
Practice rooms in the Performing and Visual Arts Wing of the University Center, when completed, will be available to pep band members.
Student Obligation
Participation in the Sharkestra requires a commitment for rehearsals throughout the fall and attendance at all home basketball games. Rehearsals will be held once a week until the start of basketball season and may vary thereafter; the times of basketball games may also vary. A schedule will be available early in the academic year for the entire rehearsal and basketball season. Additional performance times may include “spirit” or “pep” rallies, “Quad Thursdays,” or other campus functions.
Students in any NSU college or school are encouraged to participate. Interested students admitted to the university through the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences are eligible to receive Performing and Visual Arts Grants for their participation in the Pep Band, in addition to any other financial aid they receive. An application and audition is necessary to be considered for these funds, which are awarded according to ability and level of artistry as judged by the director.
Prospective students wishing to arrange for an audition should click here.
For more information, contact Mark Cavanaugh, Ph.D., at (954) 262-8206 or mark@nsu.nova.edu or Christine Jackson, Ph.D., at (954) 262-8209 or jackson@nsu.nova.edu.
