Ensembles

Fall 2024 Audition Information

TU Choirs

All TU students are welcome and encouraged to join a choir.

Auditions

If you plan to join Choral Society, you do NOT need to audition. Make sure that you register in MUSA 150/350/650.
 
If you HAVE NEVER sang in a TU choir before, if you are new, or are planning to sing in Chorale and haven’t sung in Chorale before, please sign up for an audition: Audition Sign Up Sheet.
 
Auditions will be in Dr. Sáez's office (CA 2099)
 
If you can’t find a convenient time on the sign-up sheet, contact me directly: dsaez AT_TOWSON
 
If you would like to meet with me to discuss any concern regarding choirs, sign up for a time: Audition Sign Up Sheet 
 
If you are considering joining Men’s Chorus, please contact Prof. Holmes directly at saholmes AT_TOWSON for more information.
 
Come ready to sing a song you feel comfortable singing. It can be a hymn, an aria, a folk song, or an excerpt from a choral piece that you know well. You can play the accompaniment from your phone or bring an extra copy of the music for the accompanist.

Course Meeting Times

Choral Society – MUSA 150/350/650
Mondays from 7 to 9:40pm

Treble Voices* – MUSA 252/452/652
Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 to 3:15pm 

Men’s Chorus – MUSA 252/452/652
Mondays and Wednesday from 2 to 3:15pm

Chorale – MUSA 251/451/651
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 3:15pm

TU Bands and Orchestra

Membership in the TU Bands and Orchestra is by audition and is open to any Towson student regardless of major - everyone is welcome, and we would love to collaborate with you.  These ensembles rehearse weekly preparing performances to share musical gifts and talents with the community for both the fall and spring terms.

Audition Faculty:

Dr. Webb, Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, conductor, lwebb AT_TOWSON
Dr. Gotoff, Symphony Orchestra, conductor, jgotoff AT_TOWSON 

Audition Dates, Times, and Location:

Winds, Brass, Strings

• Tuesday, August 27 | Wednesday, August 28 | Thursday, August 29
  • Auditions are scheduled during the ensemble course meeting times (see below for further details and instructions)
  • Room 3071, band room

Percussion

• Friday, August 30
  • Auditions are scheduled during the Percussion Ensemble course time
  • Room CA 3071, band room

Course Meeting Times

• Wind Ensemble
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00pm-3:15pm (Webb)
• Symphony Orchestra
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30pm-5:20pm (Gotoff)
• Symphonic Band
  • Wednesdays from 6:30pm-9:10pm (Webb)
• Percussion Ensemble
  • Fridays from 2:00pm-3:15pm

Please keep your schedules open from other courses outside the ensemble course meeting times; this will help in remedying any potential course conflicts. If you have not done so, please register for the class, band and/or orchestra as soon as possible. ALL band students should register for Symphonic Band, MUSA 261/461/661 (select the proper time [Wind Ensemble] 2:00pm – 3:15pm OR [Symphonic Band] 6:30pm – 9:10pm). ALL string students should register for Symphony Orchestra, MUSA 262/462/662. If you cannot register now, it is extremely important that you still sign up and audition; we will get you registered for the proper course once auditions are completed.
 
Rehearsal will commence during the second week of classes, the week of September 2nd. Bring yourself, a positive attitude, an open mind, a motivated spirit, your instrument, sticks/mallets, your music (if available), reeds, valve/slide oil/grease, mutes, pencil, water, and anything else you may need.

Fair Audition Process:

A fair audition is an opportunity to perform excerpts for faculty without them seeing who you are. All auditions will be held behind a screen, and your instrument and number (Bassoon #1) will be announced to the faculty rather than your name. This ensures fair and impartial assessments of each auditionee's technique and overall musicianship.

• Arrive outside the audition room a few minutes before your scheduled audition time. Auditions may be running ahead or behind schedule, please be flexible.
• The audition assistant will greet and walk you into the audition space.
  • If you have a question, you may whisper to the audition assistant so they can relay your question to the faculty. 
• The audition faculty will guide you through the audition process and ask you to perform the specified audition material (i.e., please play your chromatic scale, etc.) 

Audition Sign Up Instructions:

Please review the below information carefully as auditions are completed over the course of four days and designated for specific instrumentation. Sign up slots are in 5-minute increments so please arrive a few minutes early so that we can stay on time with the schedule. 

Tuesday, August 27 (designated for winds, brass, and strings)

• Winds and Brass, please sign up for an available time between 1:30pm and 3:25pm
• Strings, please sign up for an available time between 3:30pm and 5:15pm

Wednesday, August 28 (designated for winds and brass ONLY - no strings)

• Winds and Brass, please sign up for an available time between 6:30pm and 9:05pm

Thursday, August 29 (designated for winds, brass and strings)

• Winds and Brass, please sign up for an available time between 1:30pm and 3:55pm
• Strings, please sign up for an available time between 4:00pm and 5:15pm

Friday, August 30 (percussion ONLY)

• Percussion, please sign up for an available time between 2:00pm and 3:15pm

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Step 1

• Select the best pre-filled audition time and enter your full name and instrument on this signup sheet

Step 2

• Save your number, day, and time in your calendar/notes/planner (i.e. phone, email, etc.)
• Note: The number on the signup sheet will not be your audition number; it is simply to keep a count of the allotted slots per day. You will receive a new Fair Audition number based on your instrument (i.e. Euphonium #1 – #5) once everyone registers. 

Step 3

• Complete the audition registration form
• DEADLINE to sign up: Monday, August 19, 11:59pm
  • It's best to complete this form directly after you pick a signup time.
  • You will need to enter your audition time so please write it down.

Audition Materials:

Please navigate to this music folder and find your specified instrument, download the file, and prepare the selections to the best of your ability, along with the outlined scales (see below). 

• Winds and Brass, full range chromatic scale (lowest to highest note possible), specified excerpts
• Strings, 3 octave major scale, specified excerpts
• Percussion, specified excerpts

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Happy practicing and wishing you a wonderful summer and fantastic year ahead!

Drs. Webb and Gotoff