Welcome to the University Orchestra Website!

The University Orchestra is one of the major ensembles at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. With an average of 60 players, the orchestra consists of undergraduate and graduate students from the Music Department and also of students from the University in general and from the community.

With most of the concerts in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, the orchestra performs five major concerts an year, with two in the fall and three in the spring semester. Since 2005, the orchestra has led the spring Pops Gala concert, which is becoming one of the major campus events. Past years also saw the orchestra in Springfield and Northampton for guest concerts.

Besides the major orchestra repertoire, the orchestra often collaborates with the University Choirs and Jazz program, has the music faculty as soloists and keeps its commitment with contemporary music, premiering pieces by composers like Salvatore Macchia, Charles Bestor, and Lewis Spratlan. Members who are non-music majors or minors at the University, once accepted, are entitled to a weekly 30-minute lesson!

The orchestra is proud of its members and every year sponsors a Concerto Competition for its members and students from the Music Department, with auditions in January or February and the winning concerto performances during the spring semester.

Please, join us in our beautiful journey! Come check out some of our rehearsals. We are in room 36 in the Music Wing.

Lanfranco Marcelletti, director

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (acceptance by audition only)

Rehearsal: Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 – 7 PM, Room 36, Fine Arts Center.

The Chamber Orchestra was created in the fall of 2007 to give the opportunity to university students who are not music majors or minors to participate in the musical life of the department and to nurture their passion for music, with the hope to eventually join the University Orchestra. The non-music majors and minors, once accepted, can take it for credit (one) and have a free 30-minute weekly lesson with a graduate student (also for credit).

The group is conducted by Prof. Marcelletti or his graduate student and performs once a semester. The repertoire is based on the group level and has the help of graduate students in the preparation. Auditions happen in the beginning of each semester, normally at the end of the first week of class. The student is required to bring two contrasting pieces. Sight reading and scales may be requested. Please, check Prof. Marcelletti's board (room 263A in the Fine Arts Center ) for sign-up sheets and more information.

For the music majors and minors participating in this group, the given credit is not valid towards the major ensemble requirement.