Department of Music

Fall 2024: Auditions for the Fall 2024 CMB (CMB #21) are open now – July 31, 2024. All CMB audition information, including audition requirements and upload instructions, is available on the Cavalier Marching Band website. Select “Incoming 2024” from the blue ribbon at the top of the page then scroll to find the instructions in your instrument’s drop-down menu. The Cavalier Marching Band welcomes students from ALL majors to audition. First-year CMB members must complete a virtual audition by July 31. Email bands@virginia.edu with any questions.

Horn Ensemble
Fall 2024: Interested students should contact Cody Halquist (mec8pv@virginia.edu) All French horn players are welcome to participate in the Horn Ensemble. The group receives weekly instruction and will perform once during the semester in a live outdoor setting. Past students have improved both their ensemble and personal performance skills.  For more information about the horn ensemble, click here.

Trombone Ensemble
Fall 2024: 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. For more information about this ensemble, click here.

Trumpet Ensemble
There are no auditions for Trumpet Ensemble: Interested students should contact Max McNutt (buj4ha@virginia.edu). The UVA Trumpet Ensemble welcomes students of all levels from all areas of study at the university. The group meets for weekly coaching sessions and presents a performance by the end of each semester. For more information about the ensemble, click here.

Bassoon Ensemble
Fall 2024: 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.  For more information click here.  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.

Clarinet Ensemble
Fall 2024: The Clarinet Ensemble is open to all UVA students. The ensemble rehearses once a week, led by Jiyeon Choi, 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 2024: 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 kpp7g@virginia.edu​. To audition, please choose and prepare two minutes of repertoire to best represent your playing. Interested students should contact Kelly Peral for further information and to set up an audition time. Past participants do not need to reaudition.  More about the Double Reed Ensemble.

Flute Ensemble
Fall 2024: The UVA Flute Ensemble is composed of talented student musicians from all areas of study. The group rehearses weekly to present a full recital at the end of each semester; these performances include music from all eras and styles in both larger flute ensemble and smaller chamber ensemble formats. To audition for the group, students are expected to prepare two minutes of music on repertoire of their choice, best representing their ability. Interested students should contact Kelly Sulick kas6am@virginia.edu with any questions and to set up an audition time. Students who have previously participated in the ensemble do not need to audition. For more information about the Flute Ensemble click here.

Mixed Woodwind Chamber Ensemble
Spring 2024: 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.  For more information click here.  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 updates

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

Fall 2024: Auditions take place the first week of class, from August 26th–Sept. 1st. Audition for UVA's select chamber chorus!  The group performs a wide range of a cappella and accompanied repertoire from the Renaissance to George Gershwin, Ben Folds, and Broadway, and has sung for Philip Glass and the Tallis Scholars. Fill out this interest form to receive audition updates, and sign-ups are available online at: https://calendly.com/uvauniversitysingers (Those interested in Chamber Singers should initially sign up to audition for The University Singers, and will then be invited to a special callback – see also the University Singers audition listing.) 

For more info, visit us at: 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 Ally Harbourt at at bxy9aa@virginia.edu

Fall 2024: 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. 

*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. For more information about this ensemble click here.

UVA Music Concerto Competition:  The Charlottesville Symphony and the UVA Department of Music are pleased to announce the second student Concerto Competition, the winner of which will perform with the Symphony on the February 8th and 9th, 2025 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. More information.  Complete information and the application form can be found here. The application deadline is Friday, September 27. For questions, contact CS Director Benjamin Rous (bwr5a@virginia.edu) or Director of Performance David Sariti (musicdop@virginia.edu).

Spring 2025:  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. 

Thank you for your interest in pursuing Jazz at UVA.

Fall 2024: Auditions for the Jazz Ensemble and for the four jazz small groups take place in the fall on the first Monday of classes (9/2/24) at 7:30 pm, in room B18 of Old Cabell Hall.

Returning Jazz Ensemble members should come to this audition along with students auditioning for the first time. This is true of small group members, as well. Contact Jazz Ensemble Director, John D’earth, jed6p@virginia.edu., to discuss your interest in this, with ‘Jazz Ensemble’ in the subject line.

Jazz experience and improvisational skills are not prerequisites for playing jazz at UVA.  The suggested guidelines, below, are there to show some of the skills a progressing jazz student acquires.  But we are open to newbies who can play and want to play, especially classically trained students!

As the Jazz Ensemble/Performance Director, I see my role as assisting each music student to find a solid individual path in music while here; one that will carry that player into the next phases of life with full access to their own musical identity.

See you soon!

John D'earth
Director of Jazz Performance
University of Virginia
jed6p@virginia.edu

Suggested Guidelines for the progressing jazz student:

Fall 2024: Auditions with Jazz Ensemble on Monday, September 2nd at 7:30pm in B018.  Please see Jazz Ensemble listing for details.  Contact Mike Rosensky at mlr5q@virginia.edu for more information about auditioning for the jazz small groups.

Fall 2024 and Spring 2025:  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. For more information about this ensemble click here.

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

Jazz and Non-Classical Piano
Fall 2024: Contact Calvin Brown. 
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). More information about Calvin Brown.

Contact Vocal Coordinator, Pamela Beasley at pbb2c@virginia.edu to secure an audition time. Auditions: Friday January 19 beginning at 3:30 in Old Cabell Hall Room 107. If you are unable to audition on this date, the video submission is still allowed with dates to receive between January 15-19.   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.

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 2024: Auditions take place the first week of class, from August 26th–Sept. 1st. Audition for UVA's flagship 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 Ally Harbourt at at bxy9aa@virginia.edu

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

2024–2025: Fall 2024 Wind Ensemble audition excerpts are available below. Spring 2025 audition excerpts will be available in December of 2024. Fall 2024 Wind Ensemble members have their Spring 2025 audition requirement waived.

New for 2024–2025: “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.”

Auditions are recorded and submitted using the Wind Ensemble Audition Submission Form.  Fall 2024 auditions should be recorded and submitted by 10PM on Wednesday, August 28; Spring 2025 auditions should be recorded and submitted by 10 PM on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. You will receive an email from Dr. Tackitt 48–72 hours after the audition deadline with the results of your audition.

The first Fall 2024 Wind Ensemble rehearsal is Monday, September 2; the first Spring 2025 Wind Ensemble rehearsal is Monday, January 20, 2025. All regular rehearsals are in the Hunter Smith Band Building on Monday evenings from 6:45–9 PM.

Wind Ensemble audition excerpts are selected from the upcoming semester's 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.

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
• Baritone Saxophone
• Trumpet (Bb)
• French Horn
• Tenor Trombone
• Bass Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba
• Percussion

For more information about this ensemble, click here.

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