Ensemble Audition Information

Ensemble auditions are held the first week of classes. To register for an Ensemble, students must retrieve the appropriate call number from their ensemble director.
All Ensembles are listed at the 2000 and 4000 level. All students should register for PMUS 2000 – unless they have passed their sophomore proficiency. Students who have passed their sophomore proficiency should register for PMUS 4000.
Students registered for an Ensemble through the Metro Pool, should consult with Metro Music (AR 287) for additional information.

The Spring 2010 Ensemble Audition Schedule is now available for download.

Music Ensembles

Claim Jumpers
Pop/Rock
Electric/Acoustic
Jazz Combo
Percussion I
Percussion II
Percussion III
Singer/Songwriter
Latin Ensemble
Guitar Ensemble
Ninth Street Singers
UCD A Cappella Voices
UCD 7
Solo Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Ensemble Title	Difficulty	Instructor	Description	Instrumentation/Requirements
Percussion I	Beginning (Novice)	Thomas VanSchoick Thomas.VanSchoick@ucdenver.edu (970) 381-8580 AR 274 K	Focus on basic percussion techniques and introductory ensemble playing utilizing Afro-Cuban literature. Open to any student. Develops collaborative learning, aural skills and interactive multi-cultural awareness. No previous experience required. Ideal for beginners.	Percussion instruments including (but not limited to): Drum set, Mallet Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone, etc.), Hand / Frame drums, etc. Note: instrumentation is determined by literature. No previous experience or study in Music Theory required. Opportunity for Music Business student to earn ensemble credit by doing Publicity – contact ensemble director.
Solo Vocal Jazz Ensemble	Beginning (Novice)	Nayantara Desai (303) 494-5728 nayadesai@yahoo.com AR 177 B	Focus on basic performance and stylistic skills in the jazz language. Students will learn basic and jazz vocal techniques and skills and their application in study and performance. Students will perform in solo and duo settings. Open to any student. No previous experience required. Ideal for beginners.	Voice only.
UCD A Cappella Voices	Beginning	Karin Hauger Karin.Hauger@ucdenver.edu (702) 510-4221 AR 274 A	A cappella choir. This ensemble will focus on choral singing to further the adult student’s musical and vocal skills. Emphasis will be on successful preparation for the advanced a cappella groups.	Beginners with good vocal and musical potential are welcome, subject to an audition. Minimal choral experience, e.g., church, high school, etc.
Percussion II	Intermediate	Thomas VanSchoick Thomas.VanSchoick@ucdenver.edu (970) 381-8580 AR 274 K	Focus on percussion techniques and ensemble playing utilizing Afro-Cuban literature. Comprised of percussion instruments of both definite and indefinite pitch. Introduces theoretical concepts. Develops collaborative learning, aural skills and interactive multi-cultural awareness. Assumes basic rhythmic sight-reading ability. Open to students with experience reading and playing in a percussion ensemble.	Percussion instruments including (but not limited to): Drum set, Mallet Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone, etc.), Hand / Frame drums, etc. Note: instrumentation is determined by literature. Music Theory helpful, but not required. Opportunity for Music Business student to earn ensemble credit by doing Publicity – contact ensemble director.
Pop/Rock	Intermediate	Jon Cullison Jon.Cullison@ucdenver.edu AR 177 B Dave Devine David.Devine@ucdenver.edu	Ensemble will focus on group rehearsals of contemporary music with challenging technical and vocal requirements. Students will gain experience in transcribing and creating simple arrangements, learning adequate musicality, performing presentation and group cooperation.	General instrumentation of pop / rock styles. Also can take any acoustic instrumentation of strings, brass, and winds. Opportunity for student to earn ensemble credit by running live sound reinforcement.
Electric/Acoustic	Intermediate	Jon Cullison Jon.Cullison@ucdenver.edu AR 177 B	Ensemble will study established methods used as agents of musical creativity in the practice of improvised music. Focus on real-time musical collaboration utilizing musical vocabularies from wide range of sources. Instrumentation of many kinds may be utilized.	Any mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentation including computer, turntable, guitars, keyboard, voice, as well as strings, brass, woodwind, drums / percussion. Opportunity for advanced sound reinforcement / sound sculptor with processing of instruments through PA.
Chamber Ensemble	Intermediate	Gregory Walker Gregory.Walker@ucdenver.edu (303) 556-4009 AR 288 D	Students will develop sight-reading and improvisation skills and perform student originals and arrangements including repertoire from the Baroque period through the Avant-Garde with no stylistic limitations.	Mixed instrumental group for string, wind, brass, piano, and percussion players.
Percussion III	Advanced	Thomas VanSchoick Thomas.VanSchoick@ucdenver.edu (970) 381-8580 AR 274 K	Focus on percussion techniques and ensemble playing utilizing Afro-Cuban literature. Comprised of percussion instruments of both definite and indefinite pitch. Develops collaborative learning and awareness of drumming as universal language. Assumes intermediate rhythmic sight-reading ability. Open to students with experience reading and playing in a percussion ensemble.	Percussion instruments including (but not limited to): Drum set, Mallet Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone, etc.), Hand / Frame drums, etc. Note: instrumentation is determined by literature. Music Theory helpful, but not required. Opportunity for Music Business student to earn ensemble credit by doing Publicity – contact ensemble director.
UCD 7	Advanced	Erin Hackel Erin.Hackel@ucdenver.edu (303) 556-2723 AR 288 B	Small group a cappella choir focusing on competitive performances and lead singing through vocal group rehearsals of pop, rock, world music, and jazz genres. Students will learn to apply sound and microphone techniques for live performances. Successful audition necessary.	Voice only. Previous choral experience, basic music theory knowledge and sight reading ability highly desirable. This group performs difficult music in 8 part harmony.
Singer/Songwriter	Advanced	Owen Kortz owenkortz@gmail.com AR 177 B	Focus on student compositions of original songs with lyrics and instrumental accompaniment including creation of lead sheets for band performances. Individual and group songwriting is explored. Students participate in community-building activities including community service and a songwriting retreat. Auditions are first day of class – be prepared to perform, play & sing 2 original tunes w/ printed lyric sheets.	Auditions are first day of class – be prepared to perform, play & sing 2 original tunes w/ printed lyric sheets Vocalists. Self-accompanying skills highly encouraged. Crew also encouraged. Waiver allowed for former members.
Jazz Combo	Advanced	Drew Morell Drew.Morell@ucdenver.edu (303) 788-1824 AR 274 E	Instrumental jazz group. This ensemble will focus on group rehearsals of bebop, swing, funk, & fusion. Students should plan to commit for 1 year, unless scheduled to graduate in December. Auditions are in the Fall. Audition material available by contacting Ensemble Director 1 month prior to first day of classes.	Open to advanced level horns, guitar, piano, bass, drums & percussion. No vocalists. As an advanced ensemble, completion of PMUS 3300 Advanced Sight Reading & Improv highly recommended.
Latin Ensemble	Advanced	Pete Ellingson Peter.Ellingson@ucdenver.edu (303) 882-1770 AR 284 B	Ensemble performs Salsa and Afro-Caribbean music. Ensemble time is spent rehearsing repertoire and learning about Latin music concepts. Students should plan to commit for 1 year unless scheduled to graduate in December. Audition material available by contacting the ensemble director 1 month prior to the first day of classes. Auditions are held the week before classes begin.	Piano, bass, guitar, 3 percussion (congas, bongo, timbales), 4 horns, 2 lead vocalists. Vocalists must be able to pronounce the Spanish language, but do not need to be fluent in the language.
Guitar Ensemble	Signature	Drew Morell Drew.Morell@ucdenver.edu (303) 788-1824 AR 274 E	Advanced jazz guitar group. This course will focus on group rehearsals of bebop and fusion. Students should plan to commit for 1 year/2 semesters, unless scheduled to graduate in December. Auditions occur Fall semester. Audition material available by contacting Ensemble Director 1 month prior to first day of classes.	4 guitars; 1 bass (upright or guitar); 1 drums/percussion. No vocalists, or horns. Possibility of piano. As an advanced ensemble, completion of PMUS 3300 Advanced Sight Reading & Improv highly recommended. Students should have passed their Sophomore Proficiency.
Ninth Street Singers	Signature	Erin Hackel Erin.Hackel@ucdenver.edu (303) 556-2723 AR 288 B	Elite a cappella mixed choir. This course will focus on group rehearsals of various genres of vocal ensemble music, including pop, rock, jazz, musical theater, and gospel. Successful audition necessary.	Voice only. Previous choral experience, basic music theory knowledge and sight reading ability highly desirable. This group performs difficult music in 8 part harmony.
Claim Jumpers	Signature	Bill Clark William.Clark@ucdenver.edu (303) 556-8123 AR 288 J	Ensemble will focus on group rehearsals of significant traditional jazz literature, masterworks of classic jazz of the 1920s, and creativity within the traditional jazz genre at the highest level. Standards are high with regard to both aesthetics and professionalism. The Claim Jumpers strive to play significant traditional jazz literature at the highest level.	Trumpet, clarinet/soprano sax, trombone, piano, bass/tuba, guitar/banjo, drums/percussion, jazz fiddle, vocal. Opportunity for advanced sound reinforcement / sound sculptor with processing of instruments through PA.