Ensembles

Ensemble Audition Sign Up Form 2024

Fall 2024 UNC Asheville Music Ensemble Audition Information

Ensembles are, in many ways, the heart and soul of the UNC-Asheville Music Department. Most are open to the entire campus, not just Music majors/minors. You can plan on auditioning and/or joining during the first week of classes. Don’t be intimidated by our audition process. It allows us to make sure you are in the best ensemble that suits you. Join us! Please fill the form linked below to sign up for an audition.

Potential ensemble auditioners, please NOTE!:

1. Many ensembles do not require an audition.
2. Some ensembles require an audition during “Combined Auditions” on Thursday, August 22, 2024 in Lipinsky Hall, ground floor, starting around 4:30 PM.
3. Some ensembles require communicating with the ensemble director.

Combined Audition locations, Thursday, Aug 22, 2024, Lipinsky Hall:

Jazz Auditions – Lipinsky Auditorium Stage
Rock/Pop Auditions – Lipinsky Room 018, ground floor.
Contemporary Guitar Ensemble Auditions – Lipinsky Hall, Room 033
Songwriters Ensemble Auditions - Lipinsky Hall, Room TBA

Students registering for classes please NOTE!

Should you need the ensemble credit for your schedule needs, please register for “Ensemble TBD”, MUSC-129.000, which has no registration restrictions. We will adjust the actual course number after audition week, when you are placed in an appropriate class.

General Audition Guidelines

Jazz Ensemble Audition Requirements:

1. Any standard of your choosing including the head and at least 1 chorus of improvisation. (Note: If you are interested in a particular combo, please choose a piece that demonstrates your playing in that style. See individual ensemble requirements below.)
2. Scales - D major scale, C harmonic minor scale, chromatic scale
   ● Drummers: Display competency in a variety of styles (jazz swing, jazz ballad, funk, bossa, rock)
   ● Note: If you are interested in a particular combo, demonstrate your playing in that style.

Ensemble Descriptions and Specific Requirements 

Asheville Choral Society
Meeting time: Mondays, 7:00 PM Off campus The Asheville Choral Society welcomes students from all disciplines who have a love of singing. This 120-voice chorus performs three concerts per year and meets one night each week for rehearsals. Repertoire includes large classical works, often with chamber or full orchestra, modern choral styles, solo opportunities, and community outreach experiences. Along with community members, multiple UNCA faculty, staff, and students regularly participate. Singing in the chorus requires a placement and regular attendance. Students may register and sign up for an audition (through the ACS website) to sing in this ensemble for one or more semesters for ARTS and one ensemble credit. For questions and more information, contact Dr. Melodie Galloway, mgallowa@unca.edu. There are no prerequisites. Fall and Spring.

University Chorale
Meeting Time: M,W 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM. University Chorale is an ensemble that prepares singers for a lifetime of choral participation as experienced singers, music educators and enthusiastic amateurs. The choir performs a full range of literature including major works with orchestra, standard repertoire for choral ensembles, and other works representing a global diversity of musical styles. No audition required. Fall and Spring.
Contact Chuck Taft ctaft1@unca.edu

Asheville Singers:
Meeting Time: M,W 12:30 – 1:45
The Asheville Singers is an ensemble of gifted and talented pre-professional singers. The ensemble performs a wide variety of music in 2 main concerts throughout the semester. It also serves as an ambassador ensemble for UNC Asheville, representing the university at local, state, and regional events. To audition for this group, please prepare 2 contrasting songs that you are confident singing. Styles may include: classical, folk, musical theater, or gospel. Indicate which voice part you usually sing (if you know it) and a brief summary of your choral singing experience. Auditions are held by appointment during the first week of classes. Contact Dr. Melodie Galloway mgallowa@unca.edu
Contact Dr. Melodie Galloway mgallowa@unca.edu

Wind Ensemble:
Meeting time: Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30 – 5:10 PM
The UNC Asheville Wind Ensemble performs repertoire ranging from classic band works to contemporary compositions for wind ensemble. Membership is open to all UNCA community members with experience on a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument. Contact Dr. Emily Eng eeng@unca.edu.

Blue Ridge Orchestra:
Meeting time: W 7:00-9:30p
The Blue Ridge Orchestra performs orchestral repertoire from all eras. Composed of musicians from the Asheville and UNC Asheville communities, the BRO performs four full-scale concert programs per year, as well as other outreach events. This season marks the orchestra’s 25th Anniversary and Dr. Emily Eng’s inaugural season as Music Director. More information about the season can be found here.
Auditions for the Fall Semester should be submitted via the Google Form found here, by Wednesday,
August 21 if possible: https://blueridgeorchestra.org/audition
Students who are auditioning should attend the introductory meeting on Wednesday, August 21 at 7p in
Lipinsky Auditorium. For questions, please contact Dr. Emily Eng eeng@unca.edu

Bluegrass Ensemble:
Meeting time: M 5:00 - 7:00
Bluegrass music is a 20th century amalgam of popular and traditional music styles that coalesced in the 1940s in the American southeast, emphasizing vocal performance and instrumental improvisation. This ensemble will highlight through performance many of the influences and traditions that bluegrass comprises, including ballads, breakdowns, “brother duets,” gospel quartets, Irish style medleys, “modal” instrumentals, “old time” country, popular song, and rhythm and blues, among many possible others. Though experienced players will have plenty of opportunities to improvise, participants need not have played bluegrass before. The ensemble should include fiddle, 5-string banjo, steel string acoustic guitar, mandolin, resophonic guitar (Dobro®), upright (double) bass. Audition requirements: please perform two contrasting songs from a ‘roots” genre (folk, blues, country, roots-rock, Celtic, Tejano…), on an appropriate instrument (see above). At least one of the two should feature your voice. Contact Wayne Erbsen banjo@nativeground.com

Contemporary Guitar Ensemble:
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
The CGE focuses on music that features the guitar or compositions arranged for guitar ensemble, including original compositions and arrangements by CGE members. This group also uses improvisation and similar approaches that facilitate spontaneous composition and soundscapes. Spring 2024 we will continue working with our arrangements of the music of James Brown. We will also begin our first collaboration with the AfroMusics Ensemble with director Adama Dembele. Contact Tim Doyle at tdoyle@unca.edu. Auditions for CGE will be held on Jan 18th in Lipinski 033 beginning at 6p. You may also audition early by video submission before the Jan 18th deadline. Audition requirements:

1. Play 1 piece of music, or a few short segments from multiple pieces (4 min max.)
2. The audition song choices should showcase your familiarity with the guitar.
3. Pick pieces that demonstrate your ability to play both chords and melodic lines.

Afro Musics Ensemble:
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
This ensemble explores the melodies, rhythms, and textures of African and African derived musical practices. Ensembles will include traditional and contemporary instrumentation. Experience in African-related performance traditions is desirable, but not required. For auditions, please prepare a piece on your primary instrument that demonstrates notable polyrhythm, cross-rhythms, compound meter, and/or syncopation. Contact Adama Dembele adembele@unca.edu.

Studio 18:
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
Studio 18 is a competitive vocal jazz ensemble whose members are advanced, skilled singers. The group performs in a variety of jazz styles at performances held on campus and in the Asheville community as part of the professional music environment. Contact Melodie Galloway mgallowa@unca.edu

Percussion Ensemble:
This group plays music of all styles, either written for or adapted for percussion. We focus mostly on student compositions and arrangements; new ideas are always welcome! Percussion experience isn’t required but you must be able to read music at least moderately well. Contact Matthew Richmond mrichmon@unca.edu

X-Tet:
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
This flagship ensemble will perform several concerts and functions at UNCA and in the greater WNC area. Members of this group receive a scholarship for their participation in the group. See general audition requirements for instrumentalists, listed above. Contact Contact Brian Felix bfelix@unca.edu

Songwriters Ensemble:
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
The students in this ensemble will perform each other’s original songs. The songs can be written in, or influenced by, any music genre. Songwriters will explore notation styles and rehearsal practices that best suit the music, the instrumentation and the players. Singers, spoken word artists and rappers are welcome. Instrumentation will be based on what the students in the course can play. Acoustic, electric and electronic instruments, as well as MIDI controllers, are welcome. The course will culminate with a public concert featuring songs by each of the ensemble members. Songwriters Ensemble Audition Requirements: For in-person auditions, please prepare any piece of your choosing that demonstrates your skills on your primary instrument. In addition, please fill out the Google form Contact Emily Eng eeng@unca.edu

Chamber Music Ensemble:
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
The Chamber Music Ensemble presents a unique training experience in the art of chamber ensemble playing in an intimate group performance setting. This class is designed to provide students with a wonderful opportunity to delve into the world of traditional chamber music repertoire and explore arrangements encompassing both Classical and popular styles. The course's highlight is the final recital at the end of the semester, open to the public. Students showcase their growth and present chamber music pieces prepared throughout the semester. For more information, contact Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim hkim@unca.edu

Breakfast Club Ensemble:
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
The Breakfast Club will explore the songs and sounds of the 80s.  MTV and VH1 videos along with the soundtracks from classic 80s movies and will provide us with plenty of material to choose from. This group is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists.  Applicants should prepare a song from the 80s for the auditions (a vocal melody or key instrumental melody/part and drum part would be appropriate). Please submit any questions to zack.page@gmail.com For more information contact Zack Page zack.page@gmail.com.

Conjunto Jazz Latino:
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
Hola everyone, and welcome to the Latin Jazz Ensemble. In this high-energy course, we will learn and perform jazz standards arranged with Latin rhythms as well as music from major artists of the genre including Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana, and Gato Barbieri. We may also delve into various subgenres within popular Latin styles such as Merengue, Salsa, Bachata or even Cumbia. This ensemble is open to all who wish to audition. No prior experience with playing this music is needed. Would like for those who try out to be fluent with their major scales. For more information contact Will Boyd wdboyd1@gmail.com.

Mingus-ology Ensemble - Jacob Rodriguez
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
This diverse ensemble will dive into the extraordinary compositions of bassist Charles Mingus, from his many interpretations of the blues to his extended larger ensemble pieces. For auditions, please play one chorus of th melody linked here [link to come] and improvise 2 choruses over the solo form. Note: the commonly available Real Book version is in the wrong key, so please consult this lead sheet specifically. Sheet Music Here. For more information contact Jacob Rodriguez jrodnyc@gmail.com

NOIRE (New Orleans Integrated Repertoire Ensemble) - Nick Garrison
Meeting time: Decided after auditions
NOIRE is music for all, dedicated to the traditions of the Crescent City. Congo Square in the heart of New Orleans is the birthplace of what we call Jazz, or Black American Music. It is music with rich traditions that will groove you and move you. Born out of community, struggle, celebration, and free expression of the spirit, this music includes styles of Traditional Jazz, Brass Band, Parade and Second Line tunes, and Modern Jazz Compositions. This ensemble will focus on adopting an appropriate style of the music and learning the roles of each instrument. Students will learn melodies and arrangements entirely by ear and develop group improvisational approaches. All instruments are welcome and encouraged to join. For more information contact Nick Garrison ngarriso@unca.edu.

Questions? Contact Pam Miller pmiller4@unca.edu