Ensembles

The Department of Music at Towson University has a variety of ensembles including a symphony orchestra, a symphonic band, several choirs, a “Music for the Stage” program, jazz ensembles, and small instrumental ensembles.  Audition information for Fall 2023 is below.

Prism Brass
TU Chorale
Marching Band
Percussion Ensemble

Fall 2023 Audition Information

TU Choirs

Everyone is welcome to join a choral ensemble at Towson!

Auditions

  • If you are interested in joining University Chorale or Treble Voices, you must sign up for an audition here: Audition SIgn Up Sheet
  • Come ready to sing a song you feel comfortable singing.  It can be a hymn, an aria, a folk song, or an excerpt from a choral piece that you know well.  Please bring an extra copy for Dr. Sáez.
  • Auditions will take place in Dr. Sáez's office (CA 2099).
  • If you can't find a convenient time on the sign-up sheet, contact me directly at . 
  • If you would like to meet with Dr. Sáez to discuss any concern regarding choirs, sign up for a time: Audition Sign Up Sheet
  • If you are considering joining Men's Chorus, please contact Prof. Holmes directly at for more information.

If you want to join Choral Society, there is no need to audition. Choral Society meets every Monday from 7 to 9:30pm.

Some Highlights

  • Treble Voices will perform The Planets by Hoist at the Kennedy Center with the Washington New Orchestra.
  • University Chorale will join Bach in Baltimore in a performance of Bach Cantata #63.
  • Choral Society will perform excerpts from John Rutter's Gloria and holiday music.

Class schedule

  • University Chorale (MUSA 251/451/651) meets Tuesday and Thursday from 2-3:15pm.
  • Treble Voices* (MUSA 252/452/652) meets Monday and Wednesday from 2-3:15pm.
  • Men's Chorus (MUSC 252/452/652) meets Monday and Wednesday from 2:00-3:15pm. Please contact Men's Chorus director .

For more information, please contact .

* Open to all self-identified women
 

Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra

Auditions for both ensembles will take place in Dr. Cicconi's office, in person, which is room CA 3089 (percussion in 3071). You can sign up for a time RIGHT NOW on this google sheet.

Auditions will take place on Monday, August 28; Tuesday, August 29; Thursday, August 31; and Friday, September 1. PERCUSSION, your auditions will take place Friday, September 1st in 3071.. The first rehearsals will take place the second week of classes, the week of September 4th.

Ensemble rehearsal and meeting times are as follows: 

  • Wind Ensemble meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00pm-3:15pm (Cicconi, Conductor)
  • Symphony Orchestra meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30pm-5:20pm (Cicconi, Conductor)
  • Symphonic Band meets Wednesdays from 6:30pm-9:00pm (Fischer, Conductor)

Please be sure to SIGN UP and REGISTER for the ensembles. ALL band students should register for Symphonic Band, MUSA 261/461/661.  If you cannot register, THIS IS FINE, please audition and we will get you registered once auditions are completed.

During the audition process (blind auditions) you will be asked to play the attached excerpts in the dropbox link below.  Please find your particular instrument, download the file, and prepare the selection. You only need to prepare the selections that are within the brackets.  Please note, your excerpts may be over a span of 1-2 pages, be sure to download them all but only play the excerpts within the brackets. Excerpts for Winds taken from FESTIVAL VARIATIONS by Smith and Excerpts from Strings taken from SYMPHONY NO. 5 by Beethoven.

  • Audition music can be found at this dropbox link.
  • Listening examples of audition music can be found at this link.

Please sign up for the class, band and/or orchestra as soon as possible.  If you need to be authorized, please let Dr. Cicconi know immediately. AGAIN, if you cannot register, THIS IS FINE, please audition and we will get you registered once auditions are completed. NOTE: If you have a class conflict, this is OK, we can work it out, just let Dr. Cicconi know what the conflict is and we can be flexible. We want EVERYONE to play.

STRING PLAYERS: All string players will be placed in symphony orchestra. The audition will simply help me find your seating placements.  Play at tempos that are most comfortable for you.

The repertoire for this semester is some of the very best yet, so, please consider playing again. It is going to be AWESOME.

Both groups have exciting performances over the course of the semester and I cannot wait to work with you all again.  I look forward to a terrific semester of music making and am proud and humbled, as always to be your director!

Please feel free to email with any and all questions. Very much looking forward to seeing you all (and...I MISS YOU ALL). LET'S GO! DrC

Jazz Orchestra

Anyone interested in auditioning for the TU Jazz Orchestra, or who would like more information, please contact Jim McFalls () directly.