All instrumental ensembles except Pep Band require an audition.
Before Your Audition
- Strings: Prepare a piece of your choice (a solo excerpt, etude, or even a hymn is acceptable).
- Wind and Percussion: Prepare the required audition excerpts.
Your audition may also include:
- Major scales
- Sight-reading
- Brief interview
Length: Approximately 10 minutes
If you play oboe, bassoon, French horn, or another color instrument, we especially encourage you to audition. A limited number of University-owned instruments are available for student use.
Resources
FAQs
Wind Symphony, the University Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Pep Band (no audition required for this group) are all active groups.
Our instrumental ensembles meet two to three times a week — except Pep Band, which rehearses several times before the varsity basketball season.
The Department of Music and Worship has an inventory of instruments that it rents to students who are members of an ensemble.
Auditions take place on Sunday of Getting Started Weekend starting at 1 p.m. Refer to your Getting Started Arrival Guide for more information.
Auditions are intentionally casual and relaxed. For string instruments, have a prepared piece of your choice ready (you may use a hymn or chorus). For all wind or percussion instruments, please prepare these selected audition excerpts. You may also be asked to play several major scales and to do some sight-reading to demonstrate how well you read music. There will also be a short interview to get to know you. An audition is approximately 10 minutes.
Selected music is challenging and reflects variety. Due to the maturity of the players, music is learned faster in University ensembles than you're probably accustomed to in high school. Each group plays an exciting schedule of on- and off- campus concerts.
Most people are rusty in their playing, so don't let that stop you! Our faculty and conductors have the ability to hear through that to a student's true talent.
No, these ensembles are open to any student, regardless of major. In fact, the majority of the members are non-music majors!
