Consider joining one of the many student ensembles offered through the Department of Music. We have all sorts of groups: small and large, Western and world music traditions, voice and instrumental. Take a look at the audition information below and come try out! Information for other ensembles will be added on a rolling basis. See the full list of ensembles here. For questions about ensembles not listed on this page, contact the Department office at (919) 962-1039 or music.dept@unc.edu.
Carolina Bluegrass Band
All traditional bluegrass instruments and vocals welcome; no prior bluegrass experience necessary. Auditions will be held Monday and Tuesday, August 21-22, 2017, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. in Hill Hall 107. Come prepared to demonstrate proficiency on your instrument with a short piece or excerpt in any style. You may also be asked to participate in musicianship exercises. To sign up for an audition, email Director Russell Johnson, rdjohn@email.unc.edu.
For more information, go to the Carolina Bluegrass Band page.
Questions? Contact:
Professor Russell Johnson, Director, rdjohn@email.unc.edu
Choral Ensembles
Auditions for all of the choral ensembles (Carolina Choir, Chamber Singers, Men’s Glee Club, and Women’s Glee Club) will be held on the first two days of each semester. Audition times are available by sign-up in Person Hall Room 106. Auditions consist of singing America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) or a song of your choice, and a check for voice range and sight-reading ability.
For more information, go to the Choral Ensembles page.
Questions? Contact:
Professor Susan Klebanow, Choral, skleb@email.unc.edu
Classical Percussion Ensemble
Auditions for the Classical Percussion Ensemble will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2017 in Kenan Music Building, Room 1111. To sign up for an audition, email Director Juan Álamo at jalamo@email.unc.edu. Interested students will be asked to play any already prepared solo literature, excerpts, scales, rudiments, drum set grooves, etc. to adequately display their performance ability.
For more information, go to the Percussion Ensemble page.
Questions? Contact:
Professor Juan Álamo, Director, jalamo@email.unc.edu
Jazz Band and Jazz Combos
Auditions for the Jazz Band and Jazz Combos will be held on the first few days of each semester. For Fall 2017, auditions will be held on August 22-24. Interested students should fill out the application form for the jazz band here and a separate form for jazz combos here (Note: these are two different forms that go to separate databases). Students should then sign up for an audition time – only one audition is required if trying out for both ensembles. For brass, saxes, woodwinds, and strings, select an audition time here with Professor Jim Ketch in Kenan Music Building Room 2125. For rhythm section players and vocalists, select an audition time here with Professor Stephen Anderson in Kenan Music Building Room 2119. Results will be sent via email. Information on what to prepare for auditions can be found on the jazz ensembles auditions page.
For more information, go to the jazz ensembles auditions page.
Questions? Contact:
Professor Jim Ketch, Director of Jazz Studies, jketch@email.unc.edu
Guitar Ensemble
The Guitar Ensemble studies music that is either composed or arranged for multiple guitars to be exhibited in performance at least once each semester. All UNC students that are currently taking or planning to take either MUSC 103.008, MUSC 203.008, or MUSC 303.008 are eligible to audition. Students must own or have access to a Spanish guitar (classical guitar) for rehearsal and practice. To sign up for an audition, email Director Billy Stewart at wstewart@email.unc.edu. Students will be asked to perform a solo piece to demonstrate technical proficiency and pass a sight reading test. Auditions may occur at any time during the first week of class in Kenan Music Building Room 3129.
For more information, go to the UNC Guitar Ensemble page.
Questions? Contact:
Professor Billy Stewart, Director, wstewart@email.unc.edu.
Wind & Percussion for Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, and Symphony Orchestra
If you play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument and are planning to audition for the Wind Ensemble or Symphony Orchestra, you must complete and submit this form. To sign up for an audition time, please check the uncbands.org website after July 1. The audition will consist of 4-5 minutes of material of your choice that demonstrate lyrical and technical abilities. Percussionists should prepare short excerpts for timpani and snare drum; a mallet excerpt is preferred but not required. For those students who do not have access to appropriate audition music, we will have sample etudes and solos for each instrument posted on the audition website, including music for woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
There are no auditions required for enrollment in Symphony Band.
For more information on Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band, click here. For more information on the Symphony Orchestra, click here.
Questions? Contact:
Professor Tonu Kalam, Symphony Orchestra Director, kalam@email.unc.edu
Professor Evan Feldman, Wind Ensemble Director, evanfeldman@unc.edu
Professor Arris Golden, Symphony Band Director, agolden@email.unc.edu
Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra auditions will be held during the first week of classes in August. Anyone interested in auditioning must first fill out the Player Information Form here. String players can find complete audition information at this link. Wind/brass/percussion players should refer to the previous section on this page for detailed instructions. A general orchestra informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in Kenan Music Building Room 1201.
For more information on the Symphony Orchestra, click here.
Questions? Contact:
Professor Tonu Kalam, Symphony Orchestra Director, kalam@email.unc.edu