Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- An Undergraduate
Mathematics
2027
- Music Department Website
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my identity
I learn about my own feelings and interests and get an escape from the academic pressure of princeton.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- An Undergraduate
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
2026
- Friend
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Is a part of my identity
- Is a part of my social life on campus
I met many new people who I don't think I would've met otherwise. Also, I really valued being in an orchestra throughout middle school and high school, and having the opportunity to be in an ensemble in college is amazing and I'm so lucky to have a space to continue making music.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- An Undergraduate
Astrophysical Sciences
2024
- Friend
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my identity
I have been able to reconnect with people who are very musically talented and are all focused on making the best music they can. In today's society, we are increasingly isolated and independent, and having a music group where a large amount of people get together will a singular goal, each using their own skill and expertise on their specific instrument, is truly special and unique.
I've never seen such an open and "casual" ensemble reach such high levels of musical excellence. This ensemble is truly unique. My only regret is that I didn't join earlier.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2024
- An Undergraduate
Mathematics
2027
- University Website
I Don't Know
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my identity
- Is a part of my social life on campus
Fun, friends, and musical improvement.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- Spring 2022
- Fall 2021
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- A Graduate Student
Physics
N/A
- Music Department Website
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my identity
- Is a part of my social life on campus
- Is part of why I chose to come to Princeton University
I have learned about leadership and mentorship in soft ways. As a graduate student, I'm a bit older than the undergraduates and it puts me in more of a senior position. Participating in sinfonia gives me a sense of responsibility to be a community member that the undergraduates look up to and motivates me to do better.
Also, I gain a good social life. It helps me connect with other students who love music. I've made some really good friends through sinfonia. I need sinfonia in my life to socialize myself outside research because my research can be very lonly
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
African Music Ensembles (AME)
- Spring 2024
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- Spring 2022
- Fall 2021
- Spring 2021
- Fall 2020
- An Undergraduate
Art and Archaeology
2024
- Teacher
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is helping me prepare for my career
I have learned a new genre of music that I hadn’t played before, joy in playing with new musicians and beautiful music, and gained a warm and welcoming group that I looked/look forward to seeing every week.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- An Undergraduate
Electrical and Computer Engineering
2027
- University Website
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my identity
I really enjoy the repertoire that we play and I like that it exposes me to new music.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- Spring 2022
- Fall 2021
- Spring 2020
- Fall 2019
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- A Graduate Student
Computer Science – A.B.
N/A
- Music Department Website
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my social life on campus
Being a part of Sinfonia is a great way for me to keep playing music regularly. Through Sinfonia, I've been able to play and learn about a diverse selection of orchestral pieces.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- An Undergraduate
Economics
2026
- Friend
I Don't Know
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
Meeting other talented musicians.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Jazz Small Group X
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- An Undergraduate
Mathematics
2027
- University Website
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my identity
- Is a part of my social life on campus
- Is part of why I chose to come to Princeton University
I think this ensemble has really contributed to my enjoyment of music and my overall musicianship. I have learned a tremendous amount about playing arranged and nonarranged music, as well as playing in a group and improving my fundamentals.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
African Music Ensembles (AME)
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- An Undergraduate
Economics
2025
- Friend
- Teacher
I Don't Know
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my identity
- Is a part of my social life on campus
Social interaction and community, in addition to learning moe about my musical interests.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- An Undergraduate
Electrical and Computer Engineering
2026
- University Website
No
No
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my social life on campus
I gain musical experience.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- An Undergraduate
Computer Science – A.B.
2027
- Music Department Website
I Don't Know
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
Collaboration in music
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2021
- Fall 2020
- Spring 2020
- Fall 2019
- Spring 2019
- Fall 2018
- Spring 2018
- Fall 2017
- Spring 2021
- Fall 2020
- Spring 2020
- Fall 2019
- Spring 2019
- Fall 2018
- A Graduate Student
Politics
G1
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my social life on campus
Dr. Ochs (Ruth) is an absolute gem and fearless Sinfonia leader. She encourages us, cares for us, and cheers us on. She lets us know that she is always supporting us in every way possible, in a way that few other adults on campus do for students (and it is so necessary). I have seen how much this supports and means to all of the students in our ensemble, including myself. As someone who has been in this ensemble for many years--first as an undergraduate and now as a graduate student--I can confidently say that without Sinfonia, I would never have had the opportunity to continuing playing music of all genres, with a community of fellow musicians, and performing with a group. It is so special, and Ruth works so hard to keep the whole ensemble rolling. The Department would do well to increase funding for Sinfonia, which has many, many Princeton students and is a pivotal source of music and community for all of us, and to recognize and support Ruth in all of the ways she richly deserves.
Sinfonia is the best! And we should have equivalent support from the Music Department.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Creative Large Ensemble (CLE)
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- Spring 2022
- Fall 2021
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- Spring 2022
- Fall 2021
- An Undergraduate
Electrical and Computer Engineering
2025
- Music Department Website
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Is a part of my identity
I learn valuable skills in regard to sightreading, learning, and performing music for jazz large ensemble at a high level.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Jazz Small Group A
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- Spring 2022
- Fall 2021
- An Undergraduate
Electrical and Computer Engineering
2025
- Teacher
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Creates meaning in my life
- Is a part of my identity
I learn new improvisational skills and grow in my confidence as a performer.
Prof. Mahanthappa is a fantastic teacher and group leader.
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Sinfonia
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2023
- Fall 2022
- Spring 2022
- Fall 2021
- I’ve never taken studio lessons
- Other:
Not Decided/Undeclared
N/A
- Music Department Website
- University Website
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Creates meaning in my life
It has motivated to play my instrument on a weekly basis, and has improved the general ensemble playing skills. Also, I've learned a lot of the history of the pieces and the composers. The ambitious repertoire has helped me to become a better musician.
Ruth is an amazing conductor and is doing an awesome work with this Sinfonia!
Date CreatedMay 15, 2024
Jazz Small Group Z
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- Spring 2024
- Fall 2023
- An Undergraduate
Music
2027
- Music Department Website
- University Social Media
- Family Member
No
No
- Gives me a sense of belonging
- Improves my mental health
- Is a part of my identity
- Is a part of my social life on campus
- Is helping me prepare for my career
Performing jazz with others is extremely important to me and this was my method of doing so. I learned a lot of new material from artists that I had never played before. It also kept me active, maintaining my sharpness in playing.