UNCA Music Department Performance Opportunities

Performance Opportunities for All UNCA Students

Dear UNCA Student:

If you have sung or played in high school choirs, community theater productions, concert band, jazz band, or other musical groups, I'd like to invite you to join or audition for any of our vocal or instrumental groups! Each ensemble may be taken as a one credit hour course. Courses MUSC 111 and MUSC 129 may be repeated for credit (a maximum of eight hours in aggregate may count toward graduation requirements).

JAZZ BAND (MUSC 122.001) is our student big band. This ensemble, which performs music from the swing era to contemporary big band charts, is open to all students, regardless of major. Faculty, staff, and community members are also welcome to perform in University Jazz Band. Auditions are required for chair placement. Preference for placement in the jazz ensemble will be given to students. Please contact Dr. David Wilken at dwilken@unca.edu or 828-251-6447.

JAZZ ENSEMBLES (MUSC 129.001-004) are open to students, faculty, staff and community musicians; audition is required. These small groups perform at jazz festival, jazz club, community and concert venues. Please contact Dr. David Wilken at dwilken@unca.edu or 828-251-6447.

CONCERT BAND (MUSC 121.001) is open to all students who have played a band instrument in high school or college. If you are interested in playing with this group, please bring your instrument to the first meeting of the semester in LH 018 or please contact Dr. John Entzi at jentzi@unca.edu or 828-251-6530.

SYMPHONY (MUSC 124.001) is open to all students who have played an orchestral instrument in high school or college. If you are interested in playing with this group, please bring your instrument to the first meeting of the semester in LH 018 or please contact Dr. Melodie Galloway at 251-6769 or mgallowa@unca.edu for additional information.

STRING QUARTET (MUSC 123.002) is a scholarship ensemble open to students by audition. Please contact the music department office at music@unca.edu or 828-251-6432 for more information on audition dates.

GUITAR ENSEMBLE (MUSC 123.001) Please contact Mr. David Stevenson at dstevenson@mhc.edu or 828-768-8110 for more information.

BRASS QUINTET (MUSC 123.003) is a scholarship ensemble open to students by audition. The group performs frequently in the WNC public schools to audiences of all ages and at many campus functions and in conjunction with the UNCA Concert Band. Music ranges from the Renaissance to the Jazz Era, as well as original works brass quintet. For audition dates, please contact the music department office at music@unca.edu or 828-251-6432 or ensemble director Dr. John A. Entzi at JEntzi@unca.edu or 251-6530.

UNIVERSITY SINGERS (MUSC 111.001) is our large choral ensemble open to all students, faculty, staff and community members, no audition required. This group sings a wide repertoire including classical, musical theater, gospel and jazz, and performs on campus and in various community and concert venues. Register and come to the first class in LH 018. Contact Dr. Melodie Galloway 251-6769 or mgallowa@unca.edu for additional information.

JAZZ CHOIR (MUSC 111.002) is an audition-only vocal jazz ensemble. Music of New York Voices, Vox P, Bobby McFerrin, and big-band jazz arrangements make up the repertoire; some performances will be with the University Jazz Band or Jazz Ensembles. This group will sing in campus and community concerts and the UNCA Jazz Festival. Membership in University Singers is required to be a part of this ensemble. Audition dates are listed at www.unca.edu/music. Contact Dr. Melodie Galloway at 251-6769 or mgallowa@unca.edu for additional info.

FLUTE CHOIR (MUSC 123.004) does not require an audition but a high school level of playing is expected. Students will develop playing and performance skills, improve sight-reading, explore a variety of repertoire, enhance teamwork and leadership qualities, and serve as UNCA ambassadors performing in various settings. Contact Ms. Judi Lampert at 828-645-2527 jlampert@unca.edu for additional info.

Some of these ensembles will help you satisfy ILSA requirements. ILSA studio/workshop courses will do more than teach about the process of artistic production and performance. ILSA courses will consider such issues as communication through the arts, aesthetic values, the political, cultural and historical context of the arts, and/or the role of the audience in the arts. Requirements for the ILS Program: ILS Arts: 3 credits may be fulfilled by ARTS 310; in ARTS 322, ARTS 323, or ARTS 324 (in conjunction with the ILS Humanities Core); in an ILS Topical Cluster; or by 3 hours of applied art courses or workshops.

Four New Courses Approved:

MUSC 111 University Singers - Performance course emphasizing vocal and ensemble technique, along with a broad survey of vocal music literature.
MUSC 121 Concert Band - Performance course emphasizing reading and technique. Ability to perform on a brass woodwind or percussion instrument required.
MUSC 122 Jazz Band - Performance course encompassing jazz idioms. Open to all students by audition and director's permission.
MUSC 123 String Ensemble - Course designed to meet specific needs each semester. Possible participation in all types of trios, quartets, quintets, etc., classical or popular styles. Open to all students by audition and permission of instructor.

I can guarantee that you will have a great musical experience, make new friends, and enjoy the satisfying community that choral and instrumental ensembles create. If you have any questions, please contact me or one of the ensemble directors before the Drop/Add period is over. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING (AND HEARING) YOU!!!!

Dr. Wayne J. Kirby, Chair, UNCA Department of Music