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Ensembles

Student Info

Join a UNCW music ensemble and make music for today and a lifetime! Membership in our award-winning ensembles is open to all UNCW students with instrumental or vocal experience.

Overview

Our wide variety of ensembles provides you with an opportunity to participate in campus life outside your academic curriculum, connect with a large community of students who share your love of music and enjoy numerous performance opportunities with internationally recognized faculty artists.

Get to know our ensemble directors and students and learn how to use your musical talents in college to earn University Studies credit.

Different Types of Ensembles Available

Symphonic Band

MUS 185-001 MW 3:30-4:45 p.m.

Symphonic Band performs the finest literature available for winds, including traditional wind band repertoire, marches, transcriptions and the newest 21st-century works; two concerts each semester, featuring guest soloists and guest conductors. Membership is open to all UNCW students with previous band experience. Placement auditions are held during the first week of classes.

Instructor: Dominic Talanca

Pep Band

MUS 188-001 M 5-5:50 p.m.

UNCW’s primary athletic band provides music and school spirit at men’s and women’s basketball home games and travels to post-season tournaments with the teams. Membership is open to all UNCW students with previous band experience, and financial compensation ($) is awarded for attendance at games.

Instructor: Dominic Talanca

Chamber Singers

MUS 183-001 TR 3:30-5:20 p.m.

The UNCW Chamber Singers are UNCW's premier choral ensemble. This advanced group performs repertoire ranging from Renaissance and Baroque music to contemporary compositions, and major works of the choral repertoire. Recent performances have included Handel's Messiah, cantatas by J.S. Bach, Benjamin Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb, Audition is required — please schedule a Choir Placement Hearing at calendly.com/uncwchoirs

Instructor: Dr. Aaron Peisner

University Chorale

MUS 186-001 MW 3:30-4:45 p.m.

University Chorale is UNCW's all-campus choir, performing a wide variety of repertoire, with a special focus on music from around the globe, madrigals, and contemporary works. University Chorale frequently collaborates with Chamber Singers to perform major choral-orchestral works. No audition is required, but please sign up for a choir placement hearing: calendly.com/uncwchoirs

Instructor: Dr. Aaron Peisner

Jazz Ensemble

MUS 184-001 TR 5-6:15 p.m.

Composed of students from throughout the university, music majors and minors, as well as non-majors, Jazz Ensemble (Big Band) performs a variety of jazz music from swing to mainstream jazz and has established a tradition of musical excellence in jazz with performances at home and abroad. Open to all UNCW students with instrumental experience (previous jazz experience is helpful, but not required). Auditions for placement are held at the beginning of each semester.

Instructor: Dr. Frank Bongiorno

Jazz Ensemble Audition Information

  • play major scales, two octaves or full range
  • sightread one jazz excerpt
  • play a prepared piece of your choice
  • drummers will need to demonstrate various styles in addition to sight-reading
  • amps and drum set will be provided

Latin Jazz Combo

MUS 189-002 TR 5-6:15 p.m.

Latin Jazz Combo focuses on the study and performance of music in Afro-Latin and Latin jazz styles, including mambo, chachacha, rumba, bolero, bomba, guaguancó, songo, bembé, comparsa, guajira, and cubop. Open to all UNCW students with instrumental experience (previous jazz experience is helpful, but not required). Auditions for placement are held at the beginning of each semester.

Instructor: Dr. Natalie Boeyink

Latin Jazz Combo Audition Information

  • play major scales, two octaves
  • sightread a jazz excerpt
  • play and improvise* on a prepared jazz excerpt of your choice
  • rhythm section will need to demonstrate various styles

*improvisation optional for non-jazz players

Jazz Combo

MUS 189-001 MW 5-6:15 p.m.

Performing the most current small group jazz, Jazz Combo has garnered numerous awards and have been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals throughout the world. Membership is by audition and is open to all UNCW students with previous jazz band experience. Auditions for placement are held at the beginning of each semester.

Instructor: Mr. Jerald Shynett

Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

MUS 187-001 T 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Wilmington Symphony Orchestra emphasizes the study and performance of classical and popular orchestral literature. Open to advanced students by audition.

Instructor: Dr. Steven Errante

String Ensemble

MUS 187-002 MW 6-7:15 p.m.
The String Ensemble performs music from the Baroque to Modern periods. Membership is open to all UNCW students with previous string experience; no audition is necessary. The ensemble presents two concerts each semester, performing string orchestral literature from all musical periods.

Instructor: Dr. Clark Spencer

Chamber Music & Opera Workshop