Auditions and Enrollment for All Pitt Music Department Ensembles Now Underway
Our choirs and instrumental ensembles perform a wide variety of music, including Western art music, jazz, folk music, popular music, and music of non-Western cultures are open to students throughout the University regardless of major. Find out how to audition or register for each ensemble below.
African Music and Dance Ensemble
No audition is necessary to join the African Music and Dance Ensemble. Directed by Yamoussa Camara, the African Music and Dance Ensemble meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the temporary facility behind the Music Building from 5:30-7 p.m. The first meeting takes place on Tuesday, August 29. Please join the Ensemble to discover African Music and Dance.
Afropop Ensemble
The University of Pittsburgh Afropop Ensemble is currently open for all interested musicians. In this course, students will learn how to perform and compose popular music styles that originated from or have a cultural connection to Africa. Through performance, the course exposes the interconnections between African music and the music of the African diaspora such as reggae and jazz. The ensemble, directed by Ernest Owusu-Poku, meets Mondays from 6-8:30pm in the temporary facility behind the Music Building. Come to the first meeting on August 28 to join or learn more about the ensemble.
Bluegrass Ensemble
The Bluegrass Ensemble will draw from students who have some experience with bluegrass instruments, including violin (fiddle), guitar, mandolin, banjo, and dobro. The ensemble seeks to augment the University of Pittsburgh world music ensemble program through an emphasis on local music traditions and will make connections with the folk music revival scenes in Pittsburgh. Meetings are Tuesdays from 6:00-8:30 p.m. in Bellefield Hall room 311. Contact director Bryce Rabideau for more information.
Gamelan Ensemble
No audition is necessary to join the University Gamelan. Directed by Andrew Weintraub and instructed by Jay Arms, the Gamelan meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:30 p.m. in the temporary facility behind the Music Building. Please join the Gamelan to discover this rich Indonesian musical tradition.
Heinz Chapel Choir
Auditions for Heinz Chapel Choir are open to all registered students at the University of Pittsburgh. Starting on August 14, you can sign up for an audition online. Auditions will be held on August 28, 29, 30, and 31. This is typically the only audition period for the Choir - alternates are selected at this time, as well as the roster for the academic year.
Another way to sign up for an audition is to visit HCC during the Student Activities Fair scheduled for Sunday, August 27. That's a great place to meet Dr. Rice and some of the current members and ask any questions you might have about the Choir.
Please visit HCC's website to review rehearsal times, important dates, and audition procedures before signing up for an audition appointment. If you have problems scheduling an audition or have any questions, please email HCC’s director, Dr. Susan Rice, at srice1@pitt.edu
Pitt Jazz Ensembles
Pitt Jazz Ensemble (Music 0640)
OPEN AUDITIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS:
Monday, August 28th @ 4:30pm-5:45pm and Wednesday, August 30th @ 4:30pm-5:45pm
Location: Music Building 132
Director Ralph Guzzi can be contacted at rpg12@pitt.edu for questions.
Instrumentation: Standard Big Band
Saxophones
Trumpets
Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums
Percussion/Vibraphone
For auditions, musicians will sit in with the band. Sight reading will be in sections. No prepared pieces are needed and improvisation is optional. Rhythm section players will need to demonstrate different playing styles. The students who passed the auditions will receive a permission number to enroll in Music 0640.
Small Jazz Ensemble
Students can enroll in the small jazz ensemble class, Music 0673 + 2740. Email Jeff Grubbs, jeffgrubbs@icloud.com, for more information.
Men's Glee Club
Interested students can sign up to audition for the Pitt Men's Glee Club at the Student Activities Fair on Sunday, August 27th, 1-4 at the Petersen Event Center, or email Richard Teaster directly at rteaster@pitt.edu. You do NOT need to perform a prepared piece.
Treble Choral Ensemble
Auditions for the Pitt Treble Choral Ensemble are open to all current members of the Pitt community. Auditions will be held in person Monday, August 28 from 4-8:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 29 from 3:30-8 p.m. Visit the ensemble's website for additional audition information and sign up for an audition slot. Email pittwomenschoraleensemble@gmail.com with any questions.
University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is composed of both music majors and non-music majors who have a strong devotion to music. Our level of performance improves substantially every year and all skilled musicians from throughout the University (students, faculty and staff) are welcome as well as people from the general community.
The orchestra is offered as a 1 credit course called University Orchestra - Music 0620. A successful audition is required for the permission code to register for the course, as it is to join the orchestra without registration for the course.
Auditions are typically done virtually by means of an unedited video recording which should be sent in by the week before classes begin for the semester you wish to play in. Please review the full details about the course, audition submission procedure, and repertoire for the year.
Email director Roger Zahab at rzahab@pitt.edu for the orchestral excerpts for your instrument selected from major works by Beethoven through Copland, Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky, or to ask any additional questions.