2008-2009 Fall Ensemble Audition

schedule and information

Chorale                    Men's Chorus         Women's Choir

Wind Ensemble     Orchestra               Jazz Ensemble

All students are invited to audition for music ensembles at Roberts.  Audition sign-ups are on the main hallway bulletin boards in Cox Music Building.  Students must sign up for an audition time.  See the 'Ensembles' page for more information about ensembles and other available ensembles. 

 

Roberts Wesleyan Chorale and Roberts Wesleyan Men’s Chorus

Audition Times with Prof. Stephen Caracciolo

Roberts Wesleyan Chorale

Audition times for new and returning students are in Cox Hall 118 with Prof. Stephen Caracciolo. Seats for Tenors and Basses are open for Freshmen through Seniors. Seats for Sopranos and Altos are open for Sophomores through Seniors Limited scholarships are available for non-music majors males.

 

Sunday August 31: 2:00-4:30

Monday September 1: 4:00-6:00, 7:30-9:30

Tuesday September 2: 4:00-6:00, 7:30-9:30

Wednesday September 3: 4:00-6:00

 

The Audition Process for Chorale

• Warm up your voice before you report for your audition. Ample practice rooms are available on the top floor of Cox Hall.
• Come five minutes early to be greeted by our officers, add your information to the choral database, and have an informal picture taken!
• The audition is a relaxed interactive time with the conductor, but come prepared to sound your best. The process will include a simple check of your range and how expressively you can sing. Be prepared to sing two songs:

a. one stanza of a favorite hymn or folksong of your choice from memory, and

b. the appropriate vocal line of Lasso’s Jubilate Deo with music.

Jubilate Deo – Orlando di Lasso    

Score 

Listen

[Sopranos may be asked to also sing the Alto line at their auditions.]

 

Results of the auditions will be posted in Cox Hall on Thursday morning, September 4 and will be sent out on email at the same time. The first Chorale rehearsal is that afternoon at 4:30 in the Cultural Arts Center. If you have any further questions please feel welcome contact Prof. Stephen Caracciolo anytime.

The Roberts Wesleyan Women’s Choir, conducted by Dr. Grace Cummings, is a highly accomplished all-female ensemble, but no audition is required. Register for the ensemble and show up at the first rehearsal Thursday, September 4 at 4:30 in Cox Hall. For more information please contact Dr. Grace Cummings.

  

Roberts Wesleyan Men’s Chorus

Audition times for new and returning men are in Cox Hall 118 with Prof. Stephen Caracciolo.  Audition sign-ups are on the main hallway bulletin boards in Cox Music Building.  Students must sign up for an audition time.Limited scholarships available for non-music majors.

Sunday August 31: 2:00-4:30

Monday September 1: 4:00-6:00, 7:30-9:30

Tuesday September 2: 4:00-6:00, 7:30-9:30

Wednesday September 3: 4:00-6:00

The Audition Process for Men’s Chorus

• Warm up your voice before you report for your audition. Ample practice rooms are available on the top floor of Cox Hall.
• Come five minutes early to be greeted by choral officers, add your information to the database, and get an informal picture taken!
• The audition is a relaxed interactive time with the conductor, but come prepared to sound your best. The process will include a simple check of your range and how expressively you can sing. Be prepared to sing one stanza of a favorite hymn or folksong of your choice from memory. [If you are auditioning for a seat in Chorale concurrently with Men’s Chorus, there is only one audition for both ensembles; refer to the audition requirements for Chorale.]

 

Results of the auditions will be posted in Cox Hall on Thursday morning, September 4 and will be sent out on email at the same time. The first Men’s Chorus rehearsal will be Friday September 5 at 3:00 in Cox Auditorium.  If you have any further questions please feel welcome contact Prof. Stephen Caracciolo anytime. 

 

Wind Ensemble and Roberts Wesleyan College Symphony Orchestra, auditions with Dr. Paul Shewan

Instrumentalists interested in auditioning for either the Wind Ensemble or the Symphony Orchestra should sign up for one of the following audition times.  Audition sign-up sheets are on the bulletin in the main hallway of Cox Music Building.  Students should prepare a piece to perform that represents your level of technical ability and musicianship. 

Sunday, August 31               2:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Monday, September 1          4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 4        2:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Friday, September 5             1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

 

Roberts Jazz Ensemble, auditions with Russell Scarbrough

Russell Scarbrough: Brass/winds/composition and Roberts Jazz Ensemble Director
scarbrough_russell@roberts.edu

Roberts Jazz Ensemble

The Roberts Jazz Ensemble is one of the premiere large ensembles at Roberts Wesleyan College. We have 2-4 performances per semester in various locations on and off campus, usually with a different program in each performance. Participation in the ensemble will be among the most challenging—and rewarding—experiences you will have during your
four years at RWC.

Jazz Ensemble Auditions

Auditions for the Roberts Jazz Ensemble will be held Wednesday, September 3 during the normal jazz ensemble rehearsal time: 6:30 -8:30 in Cox Hall. No student may perform in the ensemble without an audition. Auditions consist of sight-reading, a prepared piece or excerpt, and improvisation. Make sure you are available for the entire time.

Sight-reading is one of the most important skills you can have as a musician. The sight- reading on this audition will come from parts in our jazz library, and may include music that we will perform later in the year. This is a very important part of the audition, since we often perform music with very few rehearsals (as few as one).

Students without experience in improvisation are encouraged to audition. The improvisation part of the audition will not necessarily consist of a solo improvisation. In the past, the ensemble has performed entire compositions without written music, including group improvisation.

The prepared piece need not be long, elaborate, or exceedingly difficult. It should be something that you really sound good on. It could be an excerpt from a jazz ensemble chart you have already performed in the past, or something you're been working on this summer -an etude, a transcription, etc. It must be prepared, however, and demonstrate adequate attention and preparation (in other words, you need to have truly practiced it,
and it will be clear if you really have).

If you know of anyone else who might be interested in playing, whether it be current students, incoming freshmen, or non-music majors, please put them in contact with me. We will need brass, piano, and I would like to include a guitar this year if we can find a good player who reads music. If you know of anyone, please have them contact me at scarbrough_russell@roberts.edu.

Specific instrument audition information:

                                                      In addition to the details above, read the items below for your ific instrument.

Saxophones:

Auditions are open for alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. There is a greater demand for those with a desire to play tenor or baritone, and there are plentiful opportunities to play solos on those instruments.

Those who have any experience playing soprano saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, or flute should bring those as well, so I can get an idea of your proficiency on those instruments. All saxophonists will eventually double on these in the jazz ensemble.

Brass:

Brass players especially should be on guard against “summer chops” upon arriving to classes in September. A regular summer practice regimen will be rewarded with a strong audition. Trumpeters will be asked to play full-range scales: for example, play a C major scale from low G up to as high as you can, and back down. You may contact me about how to prepare for this.

Rhythm:

Be able to demonstrate a familiarity with common practice jazz styles for your instrument, and describe a historic era/player whom you have listened to. For example, a pianist may be familiar with Bill Evans, and can describe how his/her playing reflects that familiarity. Also, do not neglect the sight-reading portion of the audition – it is just as important for rhythm players to be able to read well.

All:

I will be in town for almost the entire rest of the summer, and I will respond in a timely manner to email if you have any questions. I urge you to take advantage of this, and sooner rather than later. Have a great summer, practice hard, and I will see you in September!

-Russell Scarbrough
scarbrough_russell@roberts.edu