Wind Bands
ALL UMASS STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO PLAY IN UMASS BANDS!
Spring 2021 Ensemble audition information
1. STUDENTS: Register for your ensemble now. This will dramatically help with the planning process.
2. All in-person Wind/Brass/Percussion students will be in the Wind Ensemble. This class will begin remote and move to in-person chamber groups as the weather changes, unless there is a shift in the COVID-19 numbers in our area.
3. All remote-only Wind/Brass/Percussion students will be in the Symphony Band.
4. ALL woodwind and brass students must complete a video audition, even if they are remote. I hope to be able to do more online music making in both groups in the spring. Percussion students will work with Prof. Kataoka for placement, due to equipment sharing issues.
5. As a reminder, any student that is taking lessons must be in a large ensemble.
The video due date is Monday, February 1 by noon. Your applied teachers determine the audition materials. Technical questions can be directed to Angelie Peterson.
See below for audition excerpts.
The link to submit audition videos is here: https://forms.gle/NnyJ7poPJLUs88jx6. Please title your audition video with your instrument, underscore, then your last name. For example: TRUMPET_Severinsen. That will help us sort the responses quickly.
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 (in-person, 2020-21)
Matthew Westgate, conductor
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 (Remote, 2020-21)
Matthew Westgate, conductor
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
Normally, 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.
For Fall 2020, Concert Band will be a remote class.
Because Concert Band will be online only this fall, the content is changing. The class will meet on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm ET for approximately 1 hour. The content will be a survey of the wind band: its origins, its evolution and its music. Students will write short reaction statements to the music and material presented. It is hoped this will provide an engaging opportunity for band musicians to learn more about the music they play. Link to Syllabus/Course Description (pdf)
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 2021 excerpts, see below or contact your applied teacher!
Placement Audition Excerpts, Spring 2021
For Wind Ensemble (in person) and Symphony Band (remote)
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
Saxophone
Horn
Trumpet
Tenor & Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion
If you have questions about any of these audition excerpts or instructions, 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)
