Arts and Media Student Resources

The College of Arts and Media provides you with a number of student resources to stay engaged with peers and potentially improve your talents outside of class. From performance choirs to bands (percussion ensemble, jazz band, pep band, symphonic band, wind ensemble and more) to social clubs, we host several ways to keep you connected. Our collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach, small class sizes and knowledgeable faculty make Grand Canyon University a place for you to learn, rehearse and perform. Explore the many fine arts resources available to you.

Performing helps you develop and master your talent. At GCU, we aim to promote the artistry and creative integrity of music, dance and more. The College of Arts and Media offers a diverse selection of performance groups to the university community and the Phoenix community at large. Get involved, join our large network of creative minds and perform!

If you are interested in performing in one of our performance ensembles, an audition may be required. You must be accepted as a GCU student in order to audition for any of our ensembles. For more information regarding auditions, call 855-GCU-LOPE or visit our auditions page.

For the music-minded, GCU encourages you to participate in one of its boisterous bands. Genres range from chamber music to ragtime classics to today's pop tunes; whatever your style, there is a band for you!

• GCU Thundering Heard Pep Band - Thundering Heard is an integral part of Lopes basketball. The Thundering Heard Pep Band is open to all majors, by audition.
• GCU Symphonic Band - During the basketball off-season, the Thundering Heard Pep Band becomes the GCU Symphonic Band and performs once a year.
• GCU Thunder Big Band - A high-caliber performing ensemble open to the most advanced jazz musicians by audition. This band studies and performs music from multiple music eras.
• GCU Percussion Ensemble - A chamber music group open to percussionists of all majors by audition. This ensemble studies and performs contemporary music.
• GCU Wind Ensemble - The premiere wind group at GCU is open to the most advanced musicians by audition. Musical excellence is upheld as both new and traditional masterpieces are performed.

Ethington Dance Ensemble

Grand Canyon University’s Ethington Dance Ensemble (EDE) promotes tradition, innovation and imagination in the art of dance. Members of EDE include GCU Dance and Dance Education majors and minors who perform in our annual dance concert series at the Ethington Theatre, and dance performances throughout the region. The Elementary Dance Tour visits local K-8 schools with the goal of inspiring new generations of dance artists. EDE offers our students a pre-professional experience as they engage in a wide range of styles and choreographic approaches with faculty and international guest artists.

Elementary Dance Tour

The Grand Canyon University Elementary Dance Tour is a multi-media production that visits local elementary and middle schools each spring semester. This student touring company endeavors to bring a quality arts experience to K-8 students in the Valley metropolitan area at no cost. Through the Elementary Dance Tour, we strive to spark young audience members’ impulse for self-expression by offering creative tools that will help them explore dance and the performing arts.

Parables is a traveling theatre group that brings high-energy, engaging and faith-based content into schools, churches and special events. The Parables team is prayerfully chosen each year from those students who express an interest in sharing the gospel through theatre.