Music making is central to the campus life of any university. All USM students who would like to play/sing in our performance ensembles are invited to sign up for auditions to be held during the first week of classes.
Ensembles and Audition Information
The Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra is comprised of USM music majors, students from other disciplines, and talented community players. The orchestra performs each semester, often in conjunction with USM Choral ensembles, Opera Workshop, USM composers, and with the winners of the Concerto/Aria competition. Covering a wide range of genres and styles, SMSO has performed intimate works from the chamber orchestra repertory of the Baroque to large-scale forces required to perform large Romantic and 20th Century works. In the past few years, SMSO performed such varied works as Corelli Concerto Grosso, Elgar Enigma Variations, Marquez Danzon #2, Price Three Dances in the Canebreaks, Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Overture, Shostakovich Symphony No. 1 and Wagner Siegfried Idyll.
The orchestra is conducted by Professor Robert Lehmann, and rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:15-9:45 p.m. in Corthell Hall on the USM campus.
Audition Requirements
Please prepare a piece(s) that best demonstrate your ability to perform both fast/technical, as well as slow/lyrical music. This may be a piece that contains both or two different works or excerpts.
- Sight-reading may be required.
- Auditions are between 5 -10 minutes.
Students may enroll in MUS 400 (Undergrad) or MUS 500 (Graduate) to receive credit for Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra.
Once accepted into the ensemble, it is expected that members will meet the required attendance and performance requirements.
- String Auditions will be held Wednesday, September 4, 2024 beginning at 7:15 p.m. in Corthell Concert Hall, Gorham campus.
- Wind, Brass and Percussion players should sign up for joint Concert Band auditions listed below.
Contact: rlehmann@maine.edu
The University Concert Band and Osher Wind Ensemble are symphonic wind and percussion ensembles directed by Dr. Will Kinne. Both ensembles are open to all University of Southern Maine students by audition. Both ensembles focus on the development and application of musicianship through the rehearsal and performance of a wide variety of repertoire. Each ensemble performs at least one major concert per semester.
The two sections of MUS 402 are described below. Both are offered for 0.5 credits.
MUS 402 – 0001 or MUS 502 (Graduate) is an auditioned wind and percussion ensemble that rehearses on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00–3:15 in Corthell Hall Room 320. Beginning in the fall of 2024, this ensemble will be known as the “Osher Wind Ensemble.”
If you are interested in auditioning, enroll in MUS 402 – 0001 University Concert Band and schedule an audition. After auditioning, students may be placed in either section of MUS 402.
New in 2024, the University Concert Band section MUS 402 – 0002 University Concert Band, formerly known as “lab band” will rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 5:30–8:00 p.m. in Corthell Hall room 320. This ensemble welcomes any interested university student with experience playing a concert band instrument as well as music majors on secondary instruments. Students are encouraged but not required to schedule an audition.
Audition Requirements
Please prepare two contrasting works or excerpts that demonstrate your ability to perform both fast/technical as well as slow/lyrical music. Sight reading may be required. Students auditioning for the Wind Ensemble and/or Symphony Orchestra must also prepare the excerpts found by clicking here for each instrument. Students only interested in the University Concert Band, formerly known as “Lab Band,” are welcome to, but not required to perform these excerpts.
- Auditions are between 5 -10 minutes.
Students must enroll in MUS 402 (Undergrad) or MUS 502 (Graduate) University Concert Band.
Once accepted into the ensemble, it is expected that members will meet the required attendance and performance requirements.
Auditions for Fall 2024 will be:
- BRASS – Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Corthell Concert Hall
- WOODWINDS (except saxophones) – Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 6:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Corthell Concert Hall
- SAXOPHONES – Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Corthell Concert Hall
- PERCUSSION & OVERFLOW – Thursday, September 5, 2024, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., 320 Corthell Hall
Woodwind, brass or percussion players interested in auditioning for the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra should audition during the abovementioned times.
Contact: william.kinne@maine.edu
The Jazz Ensemble performs an eclectic mix of big band literature featuring music from libraries such as the Buddy Rich Big Band, the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras as well as music written by jazz luminaries such as Bill Holman, Mary Lou Williams, Mike Stern, Ellen Rowe, and Craig Skeffington. The ensemble is directed by Chris Oberholtzer.
The Vocal Jazz Ensemble is directed by Amanda Roswick and performs as a large group, smaller chamber groups, and combos with a variety of soloists.
Audition Requirements
Detailed information and music for instrumental and vocal ensemble auditions will be posted on the Jazz Board (outside of Corthell 109E).
Charts and sign-up sheets will be available on the Jazz Board after August 19, 2024.
Contact: Chris.Oberholtzer@maine.edu
The University Chorale (MUS 401/501), an ensemble of music majors and other University students, performs a wide variety of music from all historical periods. The Chorale offers singers instruction that will enable them to sing a broad spectrum of choral music expressively and with musical understanding.
The USM Chamber Singers (MUS 405/505) is the flagship choral ensemble at the Osher School of Music, championing repertoire for chamber voices from diverse eras, traditions, and cultures.
Auditions are not required for participation in MUS 401/501 University Chorale; if you are an interested singer, please enroll today! Voicing auditions will take place during the first day of class on Wednesday, September 4th 12:30-1:45pm.
Chamber Singers Audition Requirements
Auditions are required to be considered for MUS 405/505 Chamber Singers. Auditions will take place throughout the day on Tuesday, September 3rd.
- Sign-up for an audition time here.
- Singers should complete the audition form before their scheduled audition time. That can be found here.
- Students who wish to be considered for Chamber Singers must be enrolled in MUS 401/501 University Chorale at the time of the audition. If selected for Chamber Singers, student registration will switch from University Chorale to Chamber Singers. Participation in both ensembles is not required, but encouraged!
Students should come prepared to sing a song/piece of their choosing that best displays their voice. This can be an aria, art song, musical theatre piece, a pop song, folk song… whatever students are comfortable singing that displays what they are proud of about their voice. No accompanist will be provided, but students are welcome to bring a collaborator with them, use accompaniment tracks, the Appcompanist app, or sing unaccompanied. This is about students singers confidently displaying their artistry, so do whatever maximizes your singing!
Additionally, students should anticipate working through a series of vocalises as well as some standard “getting to know you” questions with Dr. Nielsen.
Successful auditions for Chamber Singers will result in a required callback Wednesday, September 4th 2:00-3:15pm to determine the final ensemble placements.
Contact: Dr. Kyle Nielsen, kyle.b.nielsen@maine.edu
Students have further singing opportunities in Opera Workshop, and other small vocal ensembles. Members of the Chamber Singers principally sing a capella repertoire from the Renaissance and Twentieth Century and masterworks from the Classic Era. Singers in the Opera Workshop perform opera and musical comedy both in scenes and in fully staged productions jointly produced with the University Theatre Department.
For more information
Opera: Malinda Haslett, malinda.haslett@maine.edu
Musical Theatre: Ed Reichert, mailto:edward.reichert@maine.edu
For more information, contact usm.music@maine.edu or (207) 780-5265.