Large Instrumental Ensemble Auditions

• It’s important to choose a solo that best represents your playing ability.
• Contact your studio teacher for help with excerpts and audition support.
• It’s strongly encouraged that you find recordings of the excerpts, and double check tempos, meter, interpretation, etc.

• String music majors and minors are required to perform a 3-minute solo of their choice and ALL the provided excerpts for your instruments. There will also be a sight-reading session.
• Woodwind and brass music majors and minors are required to perform a 3- minute solo of their choice and at least two of the provided excerpts for your instruments. Those interested in assignments with Symphony Orchestra and/or Wind Ensemble must prepare and perform ALL the provided excerpts for your instruments.
• Percussionists only need to prepare the listed orchestral excerpts and do not need to prepare a solo. All six excerpts should be prepared for full consideration for Wind Ensemble & Symphony Orchestra. A minimum of three excerpts need to be prepared with at least one being a snare and one a keyboard.

• Undergraduate and graduate music majors and minors must complete an audition.
• Woodwind, brass and percussion Graduate Teaching Assistants or Project/Program Assistants may be asked, with consultation between ensemble directors and studio teachers, to participate in more than one ensemble.
• Performance majors are encouraged to participate in more than one ensemble to gain more playing opportunities and experiences.
• Students enrolled in studio lessons with performance faculty must complete an audition and register for an ensemble each semester during which they take lessons.
• Flute students who wish to be considered for piccolo assignments may bring an additional excerpt/etude of their choice to the audition.
• Non-major Woodwind, Brass and Percussion students who wish to audition to be a Music Minor or be considered for Symphony Band should contact Dr. Scott Corley (scorley@uwm.edu) for audition information. Non-majors should NOT use the Audition Sign-Up Form.

Ensemble assignments will be posted throughout the Zelazo Center sometime after the first week of September.

No. The fall auditions determine your ensemble assignment(s) for the entire academic year. Ensemble and course meeting times will be the same during the spring semester.

Please check the UWM Course Catalog for up-to-date course information. The following course numbers are available for ensembles:

• Symphony Orchestra (MUS 182/382/782): Tue/Thur 1:30–3:45 p.m.
  • Friday Final Dress rehearsals, 1:30–3:45 p.m. are held on concert days for all.
  • String Sectionals on Fridays from 1:30–2:30 p.m. (First rehearsal on Tuesday, September 12, 1:30 p.m. Folders will be available on Monday, September 11.
• Symphony Band (MUS 40/340/740): Mon/Wed/Fri, 4–5:15 p.m.
  • First rehearsal Monday, September 11 at 4 p.m. Folders will be available on Monday, September 11 by 9 a.m.
• Wind Ensemble (MUS 42/342/789): Mon/Wed/Fri, 1:30–3:45 p.m.
  • First meeting/reading session on Monday, September 11 at 1:30 p.m. Folders will be available at the first class meeting.

Rehearsal for all large ensembles are held in the Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Room 280.