Campus Orchestra

Campus Orchestra is comprised of advanced level pre-college musicians, college students of all degree areas, music minors, and post-college adults. Campus Orchestra may be taken for UA elective credit via MUA 169-009, CRN51116 OR via no-credit enrollment.

For any questions regarding Campus Orchestra email Dr. Jane Weigel at jweigel@ua.edu

Particiants must complete the mandated UA enrollment forms and make the $50 payment to participate.  Campus Orchestra Syllabus – Spring 2023[13]

RYZER: Use this form if you are under age 19 and not taking for UA Early College Credit. RYZER LINK:  https://www.uayouthprograms.com

CMS: Use this form if you are age 19 or over and not taking for UA credit. CMS LINK:  https://ua-app01.ua.edu/uaCommunityMusic/public/

We plan a tribute to John Williams for the spring concert, Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

Auditions: All Wind/Brass/Percussion re-audition for seating placement/open chairs. Only NEW string players need to audition (acceptance and seating). Strings returning from fall do not re-audition.

  • First Rehearsal: January 23, 2023 is a sight reading rehearsal. All members are expected to attend rehearsal. 5:30-7:00 p.m., Room 204 (IRR).
  • If enrolling via the no-credit path, College Orchestra participants under age 18 must be enrolled via RYZER site mandated by UA, deadline for enrollment is January 30.  Cost is $50 / semester if not enrolling for UA credit.
  • See links to no-credit enrollment above.
  • If enrolling via the for-credit at UA path (same number for UA students and Early College students), add MUA169 CRN20403

Overview

Campus Orchestra is a full orchestra made up of musicians with advanced abilities. The ensemble is under leadership of School of Music faculty member(s) with conducting assistance by a doctoral conducting major.  Campus Orchestra is comprised of pre-college aged students and UA students (mainly non-majors and music minors) and some post-college adult musicians. Campus Orchestra meets Mondays from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the IRR (room 204) of Moody Music Bldg. Each semester there is one performance.

Follow the School of Music on Instagram and Twitter for Campus Orchestra updates, and Facebook (Campus Orchestra name change in process – look for Tuscaloosa Youth Orchestra on FB for now).

UA Mask Mandate: At this time UA mandates wearing a mask in medical facilities and on public transportation while on campus.

Auditions

For any questions, email Dr. Weigel at jweigel@ua.edu. Notification of acceptance is within two days of the audition date, and notice of seating placement will be at our first rehearsal. Please read this entire page for all audition details, enrollment, and attendance requirements.

Auditions are for acceptance and seating placement. WIND/BRASS/PERCUSSION will play for Mr. Christopher Lawhorne the week of January 17. To schedule your wind/brass/percussion audition email Mr. Lawhorne: cdlawhorne@crimson.ua.edu

Requirements

WIND, BRASS: All wind and brass will re-audition for seating (and open chairs) spring, 2023 semester.

  • All Major Scales (2-octaves)
  • Full Chromatic Scale;
  • 2 Prepared pieces of your choosing. These two pieces can include etudes or solos. One should demonstrate the technical level and the other musical / tonal abilities. Length of each selection should be 1-3 min.
  • Some excerpts are provided (UA Large Ensemble Audition). Link: https://alabama.app.box.com/s/3ddaqyhqrbjumjjrh2fc19triik8ksx9
PERCUSSION: Percussion will re-audition for part assignments and open chairs for spring, 2023 semester.
  • Snare: Demonstrate rudiments and rolls at various dynamics. One solo/etude (1 minute) from Peters, Cirone, Delecluse, Goldenberg, or equivalent.
  • Marimba: All major scales for two mallets, two octaves. One movement or solo piece/etude (1 minute) from Peters, Abe, Bach (Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin), Creston, Musser, Rosauro, etc… AND One movement or solo piece (1 minute) demonstrating four mallets.
  • Timpani: Rolls and general strokes at various dynamics; basic knowledge of intervals and tuning. One short solo or etude (1 minute); 3-4 timpani preferred (Goodman, Vic Firth, Peters, Delecluse, Schinstine, etc…)

STRINGS: If you were in Campus Orchestra Fall, 2022, you do not have to re-audition for spring semester. If you would like to join campus orchestra for spring 2023, you need to audition for acceptance and seating placement.

  • Prepare 2 scales and 2 arpeggios (at least two octaves if possible) from the following keys: A Major, Bb Major, C Major, D Major, Eb Major, E Major, F Major. Bass players must play E Major and G Major 2 octaves.
  • 2 minutes of a solo piece of your choice
  • Campus Orchestra excerpt(s) for your instrument (printable pdf below – bring this to your audition)
  • Sightreading

Excerpts for Strings:

Click on your instrument to view/print. Prepare the bracketed areas of the part and bring your own copy of the excerpt to the audition.

BASS SP23

CELLO SP23

VIOLA SP23

VIOLIN 2 SP23

VIOLIN I SP23

We anticipate needing this instrumentation for our ‘Tribute to John Williams’ concert on May 3, 2023:
  • 3 Flutes (one on piccolo)
  • 2 Oboes
  • 2 Clarinets
  • Bass Clarinet
  • 2 Bassoon
  • 4 Horns
  • 3 Trumpets
  • 3 Trombones (one on bass)
  • 1 Tuba
  • 6 Percussion

Pre-college students who do not audition to the level of Campus Orchestra may enroll in Junior Strings (a coached/conducted string ensemble for pre-college students), OR participate in a professionally coached chamber music ensemble where they can hone their ensemble skills. Email jweigel@ua.edu for more info.

Enrollment

Enrollment in Campus Orchestra occurs in one of two ways:

  • NON-credit enrollment for pre-college students (payment on the RYZER site – see link above, which will open the day after the audition date). Cost is $50.
  • Non-credit adult students enroll via the CMS website link. Cost is $50.
  • FOR-credit enrollment  UA students enroll for MUA169-CRN20403. Pre-college students enrolling via UA Early College credit use this same CRN.

Email jweigel@ua.edu for more information.

Attendance: Rehearsals and Concert

Full rehearsals will be listed soon.

January 23 First rehearsal

March 13 NO rehearsal due to Spring Break

May 3 Concert

Concerto Competition – Suspended for Spring 2023.

An audition is held on the first Monday in February to select one member of the orchestra and one pianist from CMS to play a solo work/movement with the orchestra at the spring concert. Students must audition with an accompanist.

Email Dr. Weigel (jweigel@ua.edu) if you need some names/contact for local accompanists. Orchestral parts must be available on IMSLP or in the UA library AND must be pre-approved by the ensemble conductor.

Interested students should contact Dr. Weigel.

Concert

Campus Orchestra concerts occur in the Moody Music Building (810  2nd Ave., UA Campus) at 7:00 p.m. Admittance is free and children are welcome! These concerts are live-streamed to allow friends and family outside West Alabama access to the performance. Just go to the music website and select the streaming link.