Wind Bands
ALL UMASS STUDENTS (not just Music majors) ARE WELCOME TO PLAY IN UMASS BANDS!
Link to UMass Wind Studies website =>
Fall 2023 Ensemble audition information
Orchestra/Wind Ensemble/Symphony Band placement auditions for Winds/Brass/Percussion will take place at the beginning of the semester (begins Tuesday, Sept. 5).
(For Concert Band, see below.)
Wind/Brass/Percussion Orch/WE/SB Audition Schedule (pdf) =>
Please fill out this Audition form => (Google form)
Please sign up for an audition time here => (Google Sheets; make sure to click on the correct tab for your instrument at the bottom of the form)
Large ensembles are Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, Concert Band, UMass Symphony Orchestra, & All-University Orchestra. Additional spring ensembles are Opera Orchestra and Studio Orchestra (jazz). You will have the opportunity to express your ensemble preferences on the Audition form.
See below for Wind/Brass/Percussion audition excerpts (Orch/WE/SB).
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
Lindsay Bronnenkant, 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, conductor
MUSIC 569, meets Thurs. 7:30-9:30pm (Fall) and T-Th 4:40-6:10pm (Spring), 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 to all Five College students, with audition. The only audition is for part assignment (not entry). 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 only) for Fall 2023 - please find your instrument within the linked Google drive folder =>
Anyone who will be participating in Concert Band this fall is asked to fill out this form, so we know what everyone will be playing. Please sign up for an audition time here =>.
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 Fall 2023 excerpts, see below or contact your applied teacher!
Placement Audition Excerpts, Fall 2023
For Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, and Symphony Orchestra
Woodwind excerpts (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone) =>
Brass excerpts (Trumpet, Tenor & Bass Trombone, Horn, Euphonium, Tuba) =>
Percussion excerpts (Cycle I) =>
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) Fall 2023: Bixby Kennedy
Prof. Hulting-Cohen (Saxophone)
Prof. Taghavi (Bassoon)
Prof. Berlin (Trumpet)
Prof. Michal (Horn)
Prof. Spiridopoulos (Trombone)
Prof. Bottomley (Tuba/Euphonium)
Prof. Kataoka (Percussion)
