How to join an ensemble or take lessons
Ensemble auditions dates
- Jump Start Days – July 18 and 25, 2011.
- Weekend of Welcome – Aug. 20, 2011
You will be able to sign up for an audition time when you arrive on campus at Jump Start Days or Weekend of Welcome. Look for the sign up table in Janzow Campus Center during registration.
Expectations
Choral auditions – no prepared solo necessary. You will be asked to sing scale patterns, perform short rhythm reading and sight-reading examples and sing one verse of a familiar hymn or patriotic tune (Amazing Grace, My Country Tis of Thee or Beautiful Savior).
Band auditions – scales to demonstrate tone /range and a short sight-reading excerpts. Be sure to bring your instrument with you.
Handbell auditions – ability to read music necessary. Prior ringing experienced not required for beginning ensemble. Handbell auditions will be during the Weekend of Welcome.
Private lessons
The Department of Music offers instruction to all students, regardless of major, in voice, organ, piano, guitar, percussion, and all major woodwind, brass, and string instruments. Lessons are offered for one or two credits to music majors and for one credit to non-music majors. Private lessons must be taken for credit (they cannot be audited) and have a course fee of $150 per credit hour. Contact your freshman advisor to register for lessons or further information.
Information for music majors
Music majors (see list of majors in music) should register for lessons on their principal instrument, one or more ensembles applicable to their program, Mu 102 (Aural Skills I) and Mu 103 (Music Theory I). There is no prerequisite for Music Theory, but it will be helpful if you know the names of the notes in treble and bass clef, note values (whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, dotted and tied notes), and terms such as measure, time signature, and key signature. If these are unfamiliar, you might wish to ask someone to help you learn them, or teach yourself at a website such as www.teoria.com, www.musictheory.net, or www.emusictheory.com. The material on these websites will occupy the first five weeks of the course, but the more you can learn before you arrive, then the further ahead you will be. Especially important is the ability to identify notes on the treble and bass clef staves without hesitation. The Note Name drill at www.emusictheory.com (under “free resources”) is particularly good at helping you learn this.
Choirs at Concordia and audition information
Concordia University offers students the opportunity to participate in one or more of the following choral ensembles. Each has a distinctive purpose and level of commitment.
Auditions for the choirs occur on the Jump Start Visit Days of July 18th and 25th and on the Saturday of new student orientation weekend. Music Majors and non-music majors are encouraged to audition for the choirs.
University A Cappella Choir (Mu 236-01)
Membership is determined by audition
Founded in 1939, the University A Cappella Choir is one of the most well known choral ensembles in the Lutheran Church. It is Concordia’s premier choir and one of the most active performance ensembles in the music program. The choir is well traveled having toured to nearly every state in the union and many foreign countries. In addition, the choir has sung for regional, national and international conventions and competitions.
Membership is determined by audition which takes place in the spring for returning students and in the fall for new students. New students are not required to prepare solo music for the audition.
Repertoire performed by the A Cappella Choir is of the highest level and includes both accompanied and unaccompanied contemporary sacred and secular works for the collegiate chorus as well as the standards of the repertoire from all historical periods.
A Cappella rehearses Monday through Friday from 3:10 to 4:00 PM and members are encouraged to take applied vocal lessons.
If you do not pass the audition into the A Cappella Choir, you will be placed in the Male Chorus (Mu 232-01) or Women’s Chorale (Mu 233-01). You will need to register for these ensembles as soon as possible following auditions.
University Chamber Choir (Mu 237-01)
Members selected from current A Cappella choir
16-voice select choir that sings both a diverse repertoire of classical chamber vocal music and vocal jazz. The group is chosen from the membership of the University A Cappella Choir and rehearses twice weekly.
Each February, the Chamber Choir takes an extended weekend tour. Past tours have taken the choir to Phoenix, Orlando, San Francisco and Denver. The Vocal Jazz Choir performs at the annual winter and spring JazzFest.
Male Chorus (Mu 232-01)
No audition required.
Male Chorus is a TTBB chorus that performs easy to medium difficulty choral literature for male voices. Repertoire of the ensemble is chosen from the full spectrum of sacred and secular choral music from early historical periods to the present. Male Chorus sings for regular campus chapel services, Christmas at Concordia, and the spring Festival of Anthems and Lessons concert. Male Chorus combines occasionally with the Women’s Chorale to sing mixed choir (SATB) music.
Membership of the choir consists of students representing the diversity of academic programs at Concordia. Members are chosen by audition each fall and many choose to study voice privately with Concordia’s voice faculty.
The Male Chorus rehearses Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:10 PM to 1:00 PM.
Women’s Chorale (Mu 233-01)
No audition required.
Women’s Chorale is a SSAA chorus that performs easy to medium difficult choral literature for women’s voices. Repertoire of the ensemble is chosen from the full spectrum of sacred and secular choral music from early historical periods to the present. Women’s Chorale sings for regular campus chapel services, Christmas at Concordia, and the spring Festival of Anthems and Lessons concert. Women’s Chorale combines occasionally with the Male Chorus to sing mixed choir (SATB) music.
Membership of the choir consists of students representing the diversity of academic programs at Concordia. Members are chosen by audition each fall and many choose to study voice privately with Concordia’s voice faculty.
Women’s Chorale rehearses Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:10 PM to 1:00 PM.
Instrumental ensembles at Concordia and audition information
Concordia has several instrumental ensembles open to all students. Auditions for all instrumental ensembles will occur on the Jump Start Visit Days of July 18th and 25th and on the Saturday of new student orientation weekend. Music majors and non-music majors are encouraged to audition.
The University Symphonic Band (Mu 241-01)
Membership is determined by audition
The University Symphonic Band consists of outstanding wind/percussion students, selected by audition, performing the finest sacred and traditional concert band literature from the Renaissance to the present day. The ensemble maintains an active performance schedule in schools, churches, and performance halls and has performed throughout the United States and China. The Symphonic Band rehearses Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, from 4:10 – 5:30 p.m. Audition required. For more information contact Professor Andrew Schultz at 800-535-5492, ext.7395, or at Andrew.Schultz@cune.edu.
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Audition information:
All woodwind and brass players:
For your audition, be prepared to demonstrate your abilities through playing selected major scales, a chromatic scale, and sight-reading of rhythmic and melodic excerpts.Percussion players:
You will be asked to perform sight-reading excerpts on snare drum and either timpani or a keyboard instrument based on your performance skills.
The University / Community Concert Band (Mu 242-01)
Membership is determined by Audition (for part assignment placement)
The University / Community Concert Band's membership includes Concordia students and faculty, as well as residents from the Seward community performing concert band literature drawn from the finest sacred and traditional band repertoire. The band performs 1- 2 concerts per semester. The band rehearses Monday evenings from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. An audition is required for this ensemble. For more information contact Professor Andrew Schultz at 800-535-5492, ext.7395, or at Andrew.Schultz@cune.edu.
Audition Information:
All woodwind and brass players:
You will be asked to play one major scale and sight-read rhythmic and melodic excerpts.Percussion players;
You will be asked to sight-read excerpts on snare drum, keyboard instrument or timpani based on your performance skills.
The Concordia Brass Ensemble (Mu 244-01)
Membership is determined by audition
The Brass Ensemble performs at chapel, festival services of the university and local churches, and other on and off campus events. A broad range of literature is performed from Renaissance to the 20th century with special emphasis on music suitable for worship services. Membership is by audition. The Brass Ensemble rehearses 2 hours per week and the rehearsal time is arranged.
Audition information: For your audition, you will be asked to play selected major scales, a chromatic scale, and sight-read rhythmic and melodic excerpts.
The University Jazz Ensemble (Mu 246-01)
Membership is determined by audition
The University Jazz Ensemble is dedicated to the study and performance of the uniquely American art form of jazz. The ensemble's repertoire includes early jazz, swing, blues, fusion, funk, and Latin styles. The study of jazz provides the ensemble members with a unique window into a rich and diverse segment of the musical and cultural heritage of American life. For more information please contact the conductor, Professor Andrew Schultz, at (800) 535-5494 ext. 7395 or email: Andrew.Schultz@cune.edu. Rehearsal times: Monday and Wednesday from 7:00 - 8:00pm.
Audition information:
Trumpet, Trombone, and Saxophones:
For your audition, you will be asked to play selected major scales, a chromatic scale, a blues scale, and sight-read rhythmic and melodic excerpts.Piano:
For your audition, you will be asked sight-read a piano part from a jazz standard and play selected major scales, a chromatic scale, and a blues scale.Drum set:
For your audition, you will be asked to perform drum grooves in the following styles: swing, funk, and either a Bossa Nova or Samba Latin groove. Additionally, you will be asked to sight-read a drum set part from a big band chart.
Bulldog Band (Mu 243-01)
Membership is determined by audition (for part assignment placement)
The Concordia “Bulldog” Band is open to all Concordia students. The “Bulldog” Band performs regularly for home football and basketball games to provide spirit and entertainment for the athletic games. For more information, please contact Professor Andrew Schultz, at (800) 535-5494 ext. 7395 or email: Andrew.Schultz@cune.edu. Rehearsals are Thursday from 9:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Audition information:
All woodwind and brass players:
You will be asked to perform one major scale and sight-read a rhythmic and melodic excerpt.Percussion players:
You will be asked to perform a short sight-reading excerpt on either snare drum or perform rock and funk grooves on drum set
Handbell Choir (Mu 247)
Membership is determined by audition.
Concordia is fortunate to have more than five octaves of handbells and three octaves of handchimes. The handbell choir participates in chapel and worship services. There are two sections of handbell choir, an advanced and a beginning group. Rehearsals for the advanced group are Mondays from 5:40 - 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 5:10 - 6:10 p.m. The beginning group meets Wednesdays from 6:10 - 7 p.m. Each handbell choir is composed of 14 members, chosen by audition. Jessica Kite, Conductor
Chamber Orchestra (Mu 248-01)
Membership is determined by audition.
The chamber orchestra is a small orchestra that is open to all students who play a wind, brass, string, or percussion instrument and desire to play music from the classical repertoire. This group is by audition or instructor permission only. Auditions for incoming students will be held during the Weekend of Welcome.
University Praise Band (Mu 252-01)
Membership is determined by audition.
The university Praise Bands our open to all students who sing and or play an instrument and desire to play at chapel and other various special events, student led events, and road trips. These groups is by audition or instructor permission only. Auditions for incoming students will be held during the Weekend of Welcome.
