Department of Music

Information and sign-up forms for the Cavalier Marching Band can be found on their website.   

Horn Ensemble
Spring 2021 update: All French horn players are welcome to participate in the Horn Ensemble. The group receives weekly instruction and will perform once during the Spring 2021 semester in a live outdoor setting. Past students have improved both their ensemble and personal performance skills. Interested horn players may contact Katy Ambrose at mka2j@virginia.edu.

Trombone Ensemble
Interested students should contact Nathaniel Lee. 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
The UVA Trumpet Ensemble, led by Arthur Zanin, is not meeting this semester due to COVID regulations For more information about the ensemble click here.

Bassoon Ensemble
Spring 2021 update:  The Bassoon 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 the bassoon, developing musicianship, and enjoying making and sharing music! For the 2020-2021 academic year, enrolled members will work with the instructor to design appropriate projects.  Possibilities include: recording chamber music works to share with schools and/or retirement homes; score study and listening; developing ear training and musicianship skills as they relate to ensemble playing; and offering virtual programs for area students who play bassoon and are enrolled in band programs.  Musicians who are interested in bassoon ensemble are expected to select and prepare two minutes of music that best represents their abilities.  Audition dates for the 2020-2021 school year will be arranged individually and will occur virtually.  Interested students should contact Elizabeth Roberts .

Clarinet Ensemble
The Clarinet Ensemble is open to all UVA students. The ensemble rehearses once a week, led by Dr. 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 and e-mail to clarinetauditions@collab.its.virginia.edu. Students who have previous participated in the ensemble do not need to audition.  Students who have questions please contact Dr. Choi (jc8cg@virginia.edu) . Note on size of audition submissions:  Collab limits e-mail attachments to 250mg or less. If your audition excerpt is 250mg or larger, you can upload your audition to youtube, set the viewing permissions so we will be able to view your piece, and send that link to clarinetauditions@collab.its.virginia.edu. 

Double Reed Ensemble
Double Reed Ensemble provides an opportunity to read and rehearse a variety of double reed chamber pieces. At least one work is selected for in-depth study and performance. The group meets for weekly coaching sessions led by Kelly Peral. Interested students should contact Kelly Peral for further information, including specific audition requirements.

Flute Ensemble
Spring 2021update: 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 with any questions and to set up an audition time. Students who have previous participated in the ensemble do not need to audition. Audition dates for the 2020-2021 school year will be arranged individually.  For more information about the Flute Ensemble click here.

Mixed Woodwind Chamber Ensemble
Spring 2021 update: The Mixed Woodwind Chamber Ensemble (e.g., trio, quartet, or quintet, based on student interest and availability) 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 the instruments, developing musicianship, and enjoying making and sharing music! For the 2020-2021 academic year, enrolled members will work with the instructor to design appropriate projects.  Possibilities include: recording chamber music works to share with schools and/or retirement homes; score study and listening; developing ear training and musicianship skills as they relate to ensemble playing; and offering virtual programs for area students who are enrolled in band programs.  Musicians who are interested in the mixed woodwind chamber ensemble are expected to select and prepare two minutes of music that best represents their abilities.  Audition dates for the 2020-2021 school year will be arranged individually and will occur virtually.  Interested students should contact Elizabeth Roberts.

Spring 2021 Auditions for UVA University Singers & Chamber Singers
Online auditions – Sign up at 10to8.com/book/usingers/   

Friday 1/29               1-3 pm
Tuesday 2/2             6:30-8 pm
Wednesday 2/3        7:30-9 pm
Thursday 2/4            7-8:30 pm

UVA Chamber Singers:

Auditions take place Jan. 29-Feb. 5 in an online format
Audition for UVA's chamber chorus, performing a cappella and accompanied music. The group performs a wide range of repertoire from the Renaissance to George Gershwin, Ben Folds, and Eric Whitacre, 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: 10to8.com/book/usingers/  (Those interested in Chamber Singers should sign up to audition for The University Singers – see also the University Singers audition listing.)  Special opportunities/plans will be in place for the Spring 2021 semester.   For more information, visit our Website and Facebook for updates.

Spring 2021 update: If you are interested in auditioning for the Charlottesville Symphony, please fill out the audition interest form to receive more information and how to submit your video auditions.

The deadline for auditioning for the Spring Semester is midnight, January 26, 2021.

For more information about this ensemble click here.

For audition guidelines please click here.

To download audition excerpts click on your instrument.

Spring 2021 update:  The UVA Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Chamber Groups will hold individual auditions, for all students interested in performing in a jazz group at UVA in the Spring of 2021.   (returning members should contact their ensemble director from last semester about whether they need to re-audition before signing up for an audition time)

The UVA Jazz Singers will also be continuing into the spring. 

Contact John D’earth at jed6p@virginia.edu for information about auditioning for the Jazz Ensemble or the UVA Jazz Singers.

Contact Mike Rosensky at mlr5q@virginia.edu for information about auditioning for the jazz small groups.

Spring 2021 will see a continuation of our Infernal Resilience recording project.  Read about it on the Music Dept. website and go to virginiajazz.org to hear recordings of the big band and the small groups from the fall semester.  Read about the mission.  We are recruiting players of instruments not usually associated with a big band and we need all horns, especially saxophones.

These auditions are geared toward discovering your strengths as a player.  Rusty chops or lack of experience in jazz, or lack of confidence in improvising (each possibly exacerbated by an unprecedented health crisis) are familiar to us all.  We, who lead the jazz performance program at UVA, want the jazz audition to be an opportunity to grow further as a musician, and not necessarily to prove prowess.  The more advanced jazz students, those already here and those about to make themselves known to us, form the core of our jazz leadership.  We are all learning together and learning from each other.  If you are interested, take the audition.  We have room for many voices.  (Go to the music dept. website for information about the jazz projects planned for continuation of the our work in the fall semester.) 

Audition Guidelines:

Please see Jazz Ensemble listing.  Contact Mike Rosensky at mlr5q@virginia.edu for information about auditioning for the jazz small groups.

Spring 2021 update: Admission is by instructor permission. Due to Covid-19, auditions for Spring 2021 will be held online. Please submit an audio or video recording of up to 5 minutes in length (any style that you feel represents you best) by Friday, February 5, 2021 to klezmerauditions@collab.its.virginia.edu or arrange for an in person Zoom audition with joelerubin@virginia.edu.

Rehearsals will take place on Zoom on Fridays from 12-2 pm, beginning on Feb. 5, 2021. We will be working with our guests, Svetlana Kundish (voice) and Patrick Farrell (accordion, piano, arrangements, compositions)

(https://www.pattysounds.com/sveta-kundish--patrick-farrell.html) from Berlin to prepare a recording and videos for our end of the semester project (in lieu of a live concert).

This music was passed on orally from generation to generation, and many of the ornaments and other aspects of phrasing which are so integral to the klezmer sound can only be approximated by Western staff notation – not to mention the patterns of improvised variation which are the cornerstone of the style. There will therefore be an emphasis on learning by ear as much as possible. Sheet music with basic melodies and harmonies for each piece will be provided.

The following instruments are sought: violin, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, flute, saxophone (tenor, alto), trumpet, trombone, tuba (and other low brass), percussion (drum set, xylophone), piano, and accordion, although others will also be considered.

No previous knowledge of or experience with klezmer music is required! Instrumentalists of intermediate to advanced level should consider trying this ensemble. You do not have to have previously learned or worked by ear. Students can audition with any manner of piece to show their ability.

Please contact Joel Rubin with any questions: joelerubin@virginia.edu.

For more information about this ensemble click here

For more information about this ensemble click here

Students interested in the Mobile Interactive Computer Ensemble (MICE) should enroll in the course, MUSI 4600. For more information about this ensemble click here

Spring 2021 update:  Contact I-Jen Fang with any questions. For more information about this ensemble click here

Spring 2021 update: Contact I-Jen Fang 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

Private Lesson registration Information.  Private Lesson Faculty. 
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.​

Jazz and Non-Classical Piano: For Jazz and non-classical piano lessons please contact Butch Taylor at butchtaylormusic@gmail.com or John D’earth jed6p@virginia.edu.

Classical / Musical Theatre Voice:  : Placement Interviews for study with members of the Classical/Music Theater Voice Faculty will be held on Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021 beginning at 4:30 pm via Zoom. If you are interested, contact Vocal Coordinator, Pamela Beasley at pbb2c@virginia.edu in order to be assigned a time slot. You will then receive a form to complete and return via email by Feb.1, 2021.   You should prepare a selection to sing for the voice faculty. The selection can be an art song, aria, musical theater selection, folk song, hymn or anything else you are comfortable singing. You may choose to sing with an accompaniment track or acapella.  If for any reason you are unable to join us on Feb. 2 but are interested in private lesson study, you may submit a video performance to the Vocal Coordinator for consideration by the voice faculty anytime between Jan.  25 and Feb. 1.  You are welcome to request a particular teacher (space provided on your completed form) and we will do our best to honor all such requests. Biographical listings for all voice faculty can be found at http://music.virginia.edu/faculty/lessons.

Jazz or primarily Non-Classical Voice: No audition is required - contact Stephanie Nakasian at nakasian@virginia.edu to schedule a mutually convienient timeslot for your virtual lessons. 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 you. Ms. Nakasian intends to have a virtual voice recital at the end of the semester.  For all details please see Stephanie Nakasian's Fall Voice Lessons.

Spring 2021 update:  Auditions for UVA University Singers & Chamber Singers
Online auditions – Sign up at 10to8.com/book/usingers/   

Friday 1/29               1-3 pm
Tuesday 2/2             6:30-8 pm
Wednesday 2/3        7:30-9 pm
Thursday 2/4            7-8:30 pm

UVA University Singers:
Fall 2020 Auditions take place Jan. 29-Feb. 5 in an online format
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 performance with the Charlottesville Symphony in front of 20,000 at the UVA Bicentennial Arts Gala, a 2015 international concert tour to Europe, a 2017 performance for the creators of Les Misérables, the 2020 Virtual Family Holiday Concert, and more than half a million views online. Special opportunities/plans will be in place for the Spring 2021 semester. Fill out this interest form to receive audition updates, and sign-ups are available online at: 10to8.com/book/usingers/   You can also connect with us at: Website / Listen / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Contact Bands@virginia.edu to schedule an audition time. Woodwind and brass players should prepare no more than 4 minutes of material that showcases both technical and lyrical ability. A sightreading segment will also be provided. Percussion players should prepare a solo or excerpt for snare drum and/or mallet percussion. A sightreading segment will be given at the audition. Students may choose to audition on both snare and mallets but are not required to do so and may choose to audition on only one instrument. The Wind Ensemble performs one concert each semester in Charlottesville, with literature ranging from pops to contemporary to traditional band masterworks. The group also tours the mid-Atlantic every spring. For more information about this ensemble click here

Oratorio Society of Virginia