Student Guide

Music Ensembles

Ensemble participation is open to all students within the University of Florida community. Participants do not have to be a music major or minor to participate. While many ensembles require an entrance audition, there are several ensembles that are open without an audition. Using ISIS, students may register themselves for ensembles that are not audition based. Students placing into auditioned ensemble will be registered automatically by the music advisor for a one credit hour course with the exceptions of Marching Band and Jazz Band. Audition information and dates are available online at www.arts.ufl.edu/music.

At 300 members, The Marching Band is the largest performing ensemble within the School of Music. Ninety percent of the members major in fields outside of music. The band appears at all home games, travels to many away games, always appears at bowl games, and performs at Gator Growl. Pre-season week starts the same day the residence halls open for the fall semester. Auditions for brass and woodwinds can be scheduled during any Preview session or at any other time during the summer. Recorded auditions are also acceptable. To schedule an audition, email Matt Sexton at sexton@ufl.edu or see our booth at the Organization Fair on Day One of Preview. Marching Band rehearses Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during 9th and 10th periods and Wednesdays during 10th period. Students may use ISIS to register for MUN1110.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Bands feature the finest wind and percussion performers at the University of Florida. Composed primarily of Graduate and Undergraduate music majors, the groups perform for the Conductor’s Symposium and the Invitational Band Festival in addition to their standard concert schedule. In addition, the ensembles tour frequently and have released several CDs. Membership is by audition. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays, 7th and 8th periods. The Symphonic Band rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays, 9th and 10th periods.

The University Orchestra offers music majors, non-majors, and members of the community the opportunity to study and perform a wide range of orchestral repertoire regularly throughout the year. The orchestra is involved in a variety of performances including opera and ballet productions at the Center for the Performing Arts. Membership is by audition and/or studio teacher’s assignment. The Orchestra rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays, periods 7-8.

The University Chamber Singers and University Choir are select mixed choruses that perform works from all style periods with several performances each semester. The choirs regularly tour in Florida and around the U.S. They also perform in conjunction with orchestras and are one of the main performing groups in the annual Sounds of the Season concerts. Membership is by audition. Chamber Singers rehearse Mondays and Wednesdays, periods 7-8. University Choir rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays, periods 7-8.

The University of Florida’s two Concert Bands are primarily ensembles for non-music majors and are offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings in the spring semester. The ensembles perform a variety of music, from popular selections through the standard band literature. Many marching band members choose to continue their musical involvement by performing in the Concert Band every spring. No audition is required. One band rehearses Mondays, periods E1-3, while the other band rehearses Wednesdays, E1-3. Students should register for MUN1120 using ISIS.

Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Chorale offer singing opportunities in the specialized areas of male and female voices. Performing regularly each semester, the groups sing a wide range of repertoire, enjoy social occasions together and savor the “joy of singing.” No audition is required. Men’s Glee Club rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays, periods 10-11, while Women’s Chorale rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays, periods 8-9. Students should register for MUN1320 (Women’s Chorale)/MUN1330 (Men’s Glee) using ISIS.

There are three Jazz Bands that meet and perform regularly on the University campus. The ensembles are available to all University students and perform jazz standards through contemporary jazz compositions. The U.F. Jazz Band has recently performed at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. In addition, this group has released its third compact disc. Membership is by audition. The three Jazz Bands rehearse Tuesdays and Thursdays, between periods 11-E3. Students should register for MUN1710 using ISIS.

The Percussion Ensemble and Steel Drum Bands are open to all university students through audition. These ensembles perform on campus and tour throughout the region. The Percussion Ensemble performed at the 1998 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Orlando, FL. The Steel Drum Bands perform on instruments crafted by Ellie Mannette and Lloyd Gay. Membership is by audition. The Steel Drum Bands rehearse Tuesday mornings for one hour each during periods 2, 3, or 4. Percussion Ensemble rehearses Thursdays, periods 2-4.

In the World Music Ensembles, Jacaré Brazil (Brazilian Music) and Agbedidi (African Drum and Dance), students perform on the School of Music’s large collection of authentic Brazilian and African instruments. The School of Music and Center for World Arts host visiting artists from both Brazil and Africa to work and perform directly with students. Auditions for percussion, cavaquinho, guitar, bass, winds, and voice are held each semester. Recent performances of the World Music Ensembles have taken place at the Center for the Performing Arts and Constans Theatre (Gainesville), at the New World School for the Arts (Miami), and at the African Studies Association Meetings (Orlando). The World Music Ensembles rehearse Monday evenings during periods E1-3.

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