Baroque Orchestra

Bluegrass Band & Bluegrass Workshop

Cavalier Marching Band 

Fall 2025: The Cavalier Marching Band welcomes students from ALL majors to audition. Auditions for the CMB are open now and due by July 31st, 2025. All CMB audition information, including audition requirements and upload instructions, is available on the Cavalier Marching Band audition webpage, where you can scroll to find the instructions in your instrument’s drop-down menu. First-year CMB members must complete a virtual audition by July 31, 2025. Email bands@virginia.edu with any questions.

Chamber Ensembles - Brass

Trombone Ensemble
Fall 2025: Interested students should contact Nathaniel Lee (nxl4e@virginia.edu) The Trombone Ensemble is comprised of talented musicians from all schools within the University of Virginia. The group meets once a week and performs original works, popular transcriptions, arrangements and student compositions. The Trombone Ensemble will perform one concert per semester and will hold additional optional performances throughout the UVA and Charlottesville community.

Trumpet Ensemble
Fall 2025: The UVA Trumpet Ensemble is open to students of all majors and playing levels. No audition is required to join, but space in the ensemble is limited and early communication is encouraged. Interested students should contact Mr. Chenguang “Edmond” Wang (vwk9rz@virginia.edu).

Chamber Ensembles - Strings & Piano

Chamber Ensembles - Woodwind

Bassoon Ensemble
Fall 2025: The Rotunda Bassoon Ensemble performs at UVA each year on events such as Making Noise in the Library and Tea Time Recitals.  Additionally, the group performs regularly at places in the community, such as the Crozet Mudhouse, and in area nursing homes through the "Nursing Homes Swing" organization.  This ensemble explores, rehearses, and performs woodwind chamber music, including both standard and more obscure works. Focus is placed on developing chamber music playing skills, learning the tendencies of woodwind instruments, developing musicianship, and enjoying both making and sharing music! To audition, students are expected to prepare two minutes of music on repertoire of their choice, best representing their abilities. Past participants do not need to reaudition. Interested students should contact Elizabeth Roberts (ear4x@virginia.edu) Senior Lecturer in Bassoon at UVA and Principal Bassoon of the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia.

Chamber Flute Ensemble
Chamber Flute Ensemble will be offered again in the Spring 2026 semester. Students interested in the UVA Flute Ensemble for Fall 2025 should visit the Flute Ensemble page. Students who have previously participated in UVA flute ensembles do not need to audition. To schedule an audition, contact Kelly Sulick (kas6am@virginia.edu).

Clarinet Ensemble
Fall 2025: The Clarinet Ensemble is open to all UVA students. The ensemble rehearses once a week and performs at least once a semester. The ensemble studies various repertoire such as original composition for the clarinet ensemble, transcriptions from the orchestra/wind band/jazz literature. To audition, students should prepare 3 minutes of solo piece of their choosing that best demonstrates their abilities. Students who have previous participated in the ensemble do not need to audition. Interested students should contact Jiyeon Choi (jc8cg@virginia.edu) to set up an audition time.

Double Reed Ensemble
Fall 2025: The Double Reed Ensemble provides an opportunity to read and rehearse a variety of double reed chamber pieces. At least one work is selected each semester for in-depth study and performance. The group meets for weekly coaching sessions led by Kelly Peral. To audition, please choose and prepare two minutes of repertoire to best represent your playing. Interested students should contact Kelly Peral (kpp7g@virginia.edu) for further information and to set up an audition time. Past participants do not need to reaudition.

Mixed Woodwind Chamber Ensemble
Fall 2025: The Mixed Woodwind Chamber Ensemble performs at UVA each year on events, such as Making Noise in the Library and Tea Time Recitals.  Additionally, the groups perform regularly at places in the community, such as the Crozet Mudhouse, and in area nursing homes through the "Nursing Homes Swing" organization.  These ensembles explore, rehearse, and perform woodwind chamber music, including both standard and more obscure works. Focus is placed on developing chamber music playing skills, learning the tendencies of woodwind instruments, developing musicianship, and enjoying both making and sharing music!  To audition,  students are expected to prepare two minutes of music on repertoire of their choice, best representing their abilities.  Past participants do not need to reaudition. Interested students should contact Elizabeth Roberts, (ear4x@virginia.edu) Senior Lecturer in Bassoon at UVA and Principal Bassoon of the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia.

Chamber Singers

Auditions for the UVA University Singers & Chamber Singers. Fill out this interest form to receive audition and ensemble updates

Sign up at https://calendly.com/uvauniversitysingers

Fall 2025: Auditions take place the first week of class, from August 25th–31st. New singers interested in the UVA Chamber Singers should sign up for a University Singers audition slot. No prepared piece is required. Auditions are used to determine vocal range and quality, as well as sight-singing ability. Recent UVA choral highlights include a residency with Ēriks Ešenvalds, tours of Europe, the U.S. and Canada, a 2025 concert for Virginia All–State students, a performance with the Charlottesville Symphony in front of 20,000 at the UVA Bicentennial Arts Gala, and more than half a million views online. Fill out this interest form to receive audition updates, and sign-ups are available online at: https://calendly.com/uvauniversitysingers

For more info visit: https://music.virginia.edu/chamber-singers

You can also connect with us at: Website / Listen / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

For additional information on choral auditions, contact Mary McCoy at prk2ak@virginia.edu

Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia

Fall 2025: Click on your instrument for excerpt requirements and click on the date to sign up for an audition time. For audition guidelines please click here.  

All auditions will take place in Old Cabell Hall.

*Additional audition times may be arranged in case of overflow or unavoidable conflicts.

If you are interested in auditioning for the Charlottesville Symphony in the future, please fill out the audition interest form to receive more information. Visit the Charlottesville Symphony ensemble page to learn more.

UVA Music Concerto Competition:  The Charlottesville Symphony and the UVA Department of Music are pleased to announce the third student Concerto Competition, the winner of which will perform with the Symphony on the February 14th and 15th, 2026 concerts. 

Eligibility: Current UVA students who are taking for-credit private lessons with an instructor in the UVA Music Department and are participating in the symphony. Pianists, non-orchestral instruments, and vocalists are exempt from the latter.  Past winners are not eligible. Complete information and the application form can be found here. The application deadline is Friday, October 24, 2025. For questions, contact CS Director Benjamin Rous (bwr5a@virginia.edu) or Director of Performance Kelly Sulick (musicdop@virginia.edu).

Concert Band

Enrollment in the Concert Band is open to students of all majors and academic levels. Concert Band meets in the Spring Semester only and performs one concert at the end of the term. An audition is not required for enrollment and directors may hold chair placement hearings to determine appropriate part assignments.

The Concert Band’s membership is composed of students from every division and department within the University. Students appreciate the opportunity to practice and perform repertoire from a variety of genres and time periods as an outlet for creativity and expression. Past music selections have included standard band literature, pop music, and concertos with special guest artists. 

For more information on the Concert Band, please contact director Andrew Koch via email at akoch@virginia.edu.

Flute Ensemble

Fall 2025: Students who have previously participated in the ensemble do not need to audition. To schedule an audition, contact Kelly Sulick at kas6am@virginia.edu. More about the Flute Ensemble.

Jazz Ensemble

Fall 2025

We’re excited to welcome our new Director of Jazz Performance, Sharel Cassity!  Please keep an eye on this page for possible updates to the audition process.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing Jazz at UVA.
The auditions for both Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Combos (small groups) take place on the first Thursday of classes,(8/28/25) at 7:30 pm, in Room B18 of Old Cabell Hall. 

This is a large and slightly informal group audition run on the principal of an organized jam session.  Students will read some charts and jam on tunes (usually including Bb and/or F “Jazz” Blues, Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa) with rotating rhythm sections and soloists.  (One does not have to improvise to be in the Jazz Ensemble.)

The purpose of the audition is multi-fold: to sign up and obtain contact information for all students interested in playing jazz at UVA, to hear new players and place them appropriately in the various performance groups, to greet returning musicians, and to have us all meet each other as members of UVA’s jazz cohort.  There are many official and unofficial playing opportunities available here at UVA, and signing up at this group audition is the first step toward taking one’s place in UVA’s rich jazz community.  

Vocalists interested in singing jazz with the Small Groups, the Jazz Ensemble, and/or the newly formed Vocal Jazz Group should come to this audition as well and sign the register.  

All returning members of combos or the Jazz Ensemble should appear at this audition. 

Callbacks may be required. Students may indicate their interest in either the big band or smaller jazz groups at the time of the audition. The audition is open and won't require a prepared piece (but preparing Bb and F “Jazz” Blues, Autumn Leaves, and Blue Bossa would probably be useful); students will read through some charts as a group and will be asked to improvise if they want to solo.  If you can't make the audition or callbacks (especially if you are a returning member), or if you have questions please write the jazz performance faculty at jazzfaculty@virginia.edu. Participation is by instructor permission for all Jazz groups. For more information about the Jazz Ensemble click here.

Spring Semester - Students interested in joining a group in the spring can contact the Director of Jazz to let the faculty know of their interest and see if there are any slots open.

Jazz Small Groups

Fall 2025: Auditions with Jazz Ensemble on first Thursday of classes (8/28/25) at 7:30 pm, in room B018 of Old Cabell Hall.  Please see Jazz Ensemble listing for details.  Contact Mike Rosensky (mlr5q@virginia.edu) for more information about auditioning for the jazz small groups.

Jazz Improvisation

Percussion Ensemble

Fall 2025 & Spring 2026:  Contact I-Jen Fang (if4n@virginia.edu) before the first class meeting to schedule an audition. The nature of the audition, types of music to be prepared, time, date, etc. will be discussed via e-mail. Visit the Percussion Ensemble page to learn more.

Private Lesson Auditions - All Instruments EXCEPT Piano & Voice

Fall 2025: Instructors may require auditions.  All students taking lessons through the Music Department for the first time must enroll for 2000-level lessons, a credit/no-credit (pass/fail) class that carries either 0.5 or 1 credit. Only students who have successfully auditioned for the 3000-level will be allowed to register for 3000-level study, which is a graded course (2.0 credits). If you have taken at least one semester of lessons with the Music Department and wish to audition for the 3000-level, inform your instructor as soon as possible so that an audition can be arranged before the registration period ends.​

Private Lesson registration Information  /  Private Lesson Faculty

Private Lesson Auditions - PIANO

Jazz and Non-Classical Piano
Fall 2025: In Jazz and Nonclassical Piano, we will: study the masters; learn standard jazz repertoire; learn to play songs by ear; learn about improvisation; and get ideas for playing in group settings. If you have questions or want more information about Jazz and non-classical piano lessons, please contact Calvin Brown (calvinebrown@gmail.com).

Private Lesson Auditions - VOICE

Classical / Musical Theatre Voice
Fall 2025: The University of Virginia Department of Music holds placement auditions for study with members of the Classical / Music Theater Voice faculty. Students may request a specific teacher in the space provided on the audition form. Although we do our best to place as many students as possible, an audition does not guarantee placement into private lessons. Biographical listings for all voice faculty can be found here.

Contact Vocal Coordinator, Pamela Beasley (pbb2c@virginia.edu) to secure an audition time. Audition date and times for the Fall 2025 semester will be updated soon. If you are unable to audition on the specified date, a video submission is allowed. Those video recordings will be accepted August 22-28, 2025.  Please e-mail the link to your recent video audition to the address: pbb2c@virginia.edu.

What to sing at auditions:  You should prepare a selection: an art song, aria, music theater selection, folk song, hymn or anything else you are comfortable singing. A pianist will be available for the auditions. Students who wish to use the audition pianist should bring proper printed sheet music to their auditions.  If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Beasley at pbb2c@virginia.edu

Students learn safe vocal technique to open up a natural, powerful voice and to increase breath, range and flexibility from a teacher with 40 years of touring and recording experience all over the world. Vocalists will use the text "You already know how to sing: Voice lessons - Life lessons" (available at the UVA Bookstore or from Stephanie Nakasian's website).  Once a student has selected their songs for their lessons, they have the choice to accompany themselves on guitar or piano, purchase a commercial track, or ask Ms. Nakasian to prepare tracks to accompany them.

Students learn how to go from practice to learning a song to performance. There is an optional voice recital at the end of the semester.

University Singers

Auditions for the UVA University Singers & Chamber Singers

Fill out this interest form to receive audition and ensemble updates

Sign up at https://calendly.com/uvauniversitysingers

Fall 2025: Auditions take place the first week of class, from August 25th–31st. Audition for UVA's premiere chorus! No prepared piece is required. Auditions are used to determine vocal range and quality, as well as sight-singing ability. Recent highlights include a residency with Ēriks Ešenvalds, tours of Europe, the U.S. and Canada, a performance with the Charlottesville Symphony in front of 20,000 at the UVA Bicentennial Arts Gala, and more than half a million views online. Fill out this interest form to receive audition updates, and sign-ups are available online at: https://calendly.com/uvauniversitysingers

You can also connect with us at: Website / Listen / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

For additional information on choral auditions, contact Mary McCoy at prk2ak@virginia.edu

For more info, you can also visit our new expanded website: https://usingers.virginia.edu/

Wind Ensemble

Fall 2025: The Wind Ensemble is open to all UVA students through an audition process.

New in Fall 2025, students interested in auditioning for Wind Ensemble and Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra will follow their instrument’s CSO audition requirements and schedule. They will be asked to play one band excerpt as part of their audition, as outlined in the CSO audition packet. Please see the Charlottesville Symphony audition information to view the excerpts and sign up for an audition time. Students only interested in auditioning for Wind Ensemble will use the audition excerpts below and electronically submit their auditions.

Audition Excerpts for Wind Ensemble

• Flute and Piccolo (note: you are not required to audition on piccolo)
• Oboe
• Clarinet (Bb)
• Bb Bass Clarinet
• ​Bassoon
• Alto Saxophone
• Tenor Saxophone
• Trumpet (Bb)
• French Horn
• Tenor Trombone
• Bass Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba
• Percussion

Electronic auditions may be submitted using the Wind Ensemble Audition Submission Form. Fall 2025 auditions should be recorded and submitted by 10PM on Wednesday, August 27; Spring 2026 auditions should be recorded and submitted by 10 PM on Wednesday, January 14, 2025. You will receive an email from Dr. Tackitt 48–72 hours after the audition deadline with the results of your audition. Fall Wind Ensemble members have their Spring Wind Ensemble audition requirement waived.

Wind Ensemble audition excerpts are selected from upcoming repertoire. Auditionees are encouraged to utilize recordings available on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, etc. to gain a deeper understanding of each excerpt. Email the Director of Bands, Elliott Tackitt (etackitt@virginia.edu), with any questions you may have about the audition process.

Merit-based Scholarships are available!

A limited amount of merit-based scholarship funding is available. Students who would like to be considered for a Wind Ensemble scholarship will record a solo excerpt from the excerpts below. Scholarship funds are released at the conclusion of each semester. Email bands@virginia.edu for more information.

• Flute
• Oboe
• Clarinet
• Bassoon
• Saxophone
• Trumpet
• Horn
• Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba
• Percussion

The first Fall 2025 Wind Ensemble rehearsal is Monday, September 1; the first Spring 2026 Wind Ensemble rehearsal is Monday, January 19, 2026. All regular rehearsals are in the Hunter Smith Band Building on Monday evenings from 6:45–9 PM. For more information about this ensemble, click here.

For more information about this ensemble, click here.

Affiliated Groups

**During auditions please give practice room priority to those students who are preparing for auditions.**