Wind Bands
ALL UMASS STUDENTS (not just Music majors) ARE WELCOME TO PLAY IN UMASS BANDS!
Link to UMass Wind Studies website =>
Spring 2022 Ensemble audition information
We anticipate in-person ensemble experiences this spring. Orchestra/Wind Ensemble/ Symphony Band placement auditions for Winds/Brass/Percussion will take place at the beginning of the semester, Mon-Fri, Jan. 24-28, mostly in Rms. 36 and 44. For Concert Band, see below.
Wind/Brass/Percussion Audition Schedule (pdf) =>
Please fill out this Audition form => (Google form)
Please sign up for an audition time here => (Google sheets)
Large ensembles are Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, Concert Band, UMass Symphony Orchestra, & All-University Orchestra. Additional spring ensembles are Opera Orchestra (Strauss' Die Fledermaus) and Studio Orchestra (jazz). You will have the opportunity to express your ensemble preferences on the Audition form.
See below for audition excerpts.
The UMass Amherst Bands are open to all students, subject to auditions held at the beginning of each semester, and appear in concert on campus several times a year. The Bands have represented UMass Amherst at conferences and festivals that have included Symphony Hall in Springfield, MA; the Washington, D.C. home of the Marine Band; and the Capitol Building in Boston.
WIND ENSEMBLE
Matthew Westgate, conductor
MUSIC 568, meets MWF 10:10-11:50am. Performs major works in twentieth-century wind literature. Regularly commissions and premieres new works and has recorded the wind music of David Maslanka and Charles Bestor on the Albany and Centaur CD labels. Recently invited to perform at Music Educators National Conference and College Band Directors conferences in Connecticut, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. home of the U.S. Marine Band.
SYMPHONY BAND
Matthew Westgate, conductor
MUSIC 567, meets MWF 2:30-4:10pm. Performs a wide range of wind literature, including works by composers such as Persichetti, Benson, Woolfenden, Holst, Grainger and Ticheli. Features guest soloists and conductors and has performed at MENC and CBDNA Eastern Division Conventions.
CONCERT BAND
Timothy T. Anderson, director
MUSIC 569, meets T-Th 4:40-6:10pm, GNP Marching Band Building. The Concert Band meets and performs in both the fall and spring semesters (one concert each semester) and features a wide variety of standard band literature. The University Community is particularly encouraged to join - everyone is welcome.
The UMass Concert Band is open all Five College students, with audition. The only audition is part assignment. The group gives one concert per semester. Concert Band meets in the George Parks Marching Band Building. Rehearsals during fall semesters are Thursday evenings, 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Spring semester rehearsals are 4:40 - 6:10 pm, Tuesday and Thursday. Concert Band is conducted by Dr. Anderson and graduate students.
Audition material for chair placement for Spring 2022:
Piccolo Flute Oboe Clarinet in Bb Bass Clarinet Bassoon Alto Sax Tenor Sax Baritone Sax Horn in F Trumpet in Bb Trombone Euphonium TC Euphonium BC Tuba
Anyone who will be participating in Concert Band this Spring is asked to fill out this form, so we know what everyone will be playing: https://forms.gle/cdzgEFEbFYZwT6Cg7
MINUTEMAN MARCHING BAND
Timothy T. Anderson, director
One of the finest university marching bands in the Northeast, this 300-member ensemble performs at home and away football games and makes many guest appearances throughout the region and nationally. Website »
MINUTEMAN HOOP BAND
Provides musical excitement and spirit at home basketball games and post-season tournaments. Open to students from the entire University Community. Website »
WIND/BRASS/PERCUSSION - For Spring 2022 excerpts, see below or contact your applied teacher!
Placement Audition Excerpts, Spring 2022
For Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, and Symphony Orchestra
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
Saxophone
Horn
Trumpet
Tenor & Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion
If you have questions about any of these excerpts or instructions, or if they are not linked here, please contact the studio teacher (see below).
Any questions, please contact the studio teacher directly:
Prof. du Toit (Flute)
Prof. Cohen (Oboe)
Prof. de Guise-Langlois (Clarinet)
Prof. Hulting-Cohen (Saxophone)
Prof. Taghavi (Bassoon)
Prof. Berlin (Trumpet)
Prof. Michal (Horn)
Prof. Spiridopoulos (Trombone)
Prof. Bottomley (Tuba/Euphonium)
Prof. Kataoka (Percussion)
