The School of Music recognises the importance of ensemble training for music students and encourages vigorous and enthusiastic participation. Experience gained through participation in ensemble rehearsals and performances is a required part of the weekly learning program of all BMus students.
Grades will be amended for key courses linked to ensemble participation in the event of a student failing to meet the ensemble participation requirements.
Non-Bachelor of Music Students
Non-Bachelor of Music students with good instrumental and vocal skills are strongly encouraged to audition for the various Ensembles listed below. Auditions are held on Tuesday (choral) and Wednesday (Instrumental) in Orientation Week. Ensemble Application forms are available. Participation in any of the large ensembles can be taken as an elective course, coded MUSC1100 (Large Ensembles A, B, C & D), then MUSC1110, 2100 & 2110, for each successive semester of enrolment. The courses offer #2 units of credit per semester. Full details of the course requirements are available on the Courses & Programs website - http://www.uq.edu.au/study/ or the School of Music Web Site - http://www.music.uq.edu.au/
Alternatively, if your program does not allow for enrolment in an elective, you may enrol in the above courses as a non-assessed or assessed student in the Faculty of Arts Community Access Program - http://www.arts.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=8968
Permission to enrol will be granted upon successful audition to enable enrolment via mySI-net.
Students admitted to Ensembles should pay close attention to the attendance requirements for the various ensemble rehearsals and performances.
For BMus students the Ensemble requirements are
Year 1 -
MUSC1201 Practical Studies 1
Year 2 -
MUSC2201 Practical Studies 2
Year 3 -
MUSC3201 Practical Studies 3
MUSC3221 Composition 3
MUSC3840 Group Music Skills A and MUSC3850 Group Music Skills B
Year 4 -
MUSC4201 Practical Studies 4
UQ Chorale
Rehearses Tuesday (4 - 6pm) each week during the semester; audition required for non-BMusic students.
There will also be rehearsals in Project Week 2009: May 18 - 24
Conductor: Ms Reka Csernyik
UQ Symphony Orchestra
Rehearses Tuesday (7 - 10pm) each week during the semester; audition required for non-BMusic students. There will also be rehearsals in Project Week 2009: May 18 - 24
Conductor: Mr Gwyn Roberts
UQ Wind Symphony
Rehearses Thursday (6 - 8pm) each week during semester; audition required for non-BMusic students.
Conductor: Mr Patrick Pickett
Full attendance at all scheduled rehearsals and performances is required to receive a pass grade in the course to which the ensemble component is linked.
- Above are the regular times that these Ensembles rehearse, but there will be additional times during the year, depending on performance commitments. For precise rehearsal and rostering details, refer to the information sheets for a particular ensemble.
- Rehearsals take place in the Nickson Room (Room 434) of the School of Music, 4th Floor, Zelman Cowan Building (#51) and in the UQ Centre. Please refer to the information sheets for each Ensemble for specific details including rehearsals and performances in off-campus venues
- Sectional rehearsals will be arranged from time to time as part of the schedule for the semester.
- A Project Week, which will included Ensemble rehearsals, will be held from Mon May 18 - Sun May 24. No regular School classes will be held during this week.
Rosters and schedules
Each ensemble director chooses repertoire and devises a rehearsal schedule and roster according to the skills of the ensemble members, and also to suit the performance venue, orchestration and type of concert to be presented. There is significant integration of players in the wind area across both instrumental ensembles, largely dictated by the orchestration of the chosen repertoire. All of the ensembles work towards developing excellence in rhythmic accuracy, pitch discrimination, acquiring a full dynamic range, and developing musical style and vitality through a variety of rehearsal techniques employed by each ensemble director.