Music @ St. Lawrence University

The music department offers the following ensembles each semester. Membership in each ensemble is by audition. Students may elect to receive 0.25 unit of credit for ensemble participation. Fall 2008 audition information can be found at the end of each ensemble’s description.
LAURENTIAN SINGERS MUS021
A select choir of undergraduate student singers, the Laurentians continue a rich 62-year legacy of choral excellence, performing regularly throughout the year on campus, in the North Country, and nationally and internationally on tour during spring break. This year’s destination is New Orleans and southern Mississippi. Their far-ranging repertoire is drawn from the entire span of Euro-American classical traditions as well as world and popular idioms. American Music, both classic and popular will be the focus this year, featuring Randall Thompson’s A Peaceable Kingdom, spirituals and civil rights songs, and a set entitled “Pops through the decades - 1930-2000.” Holiday music this fall will include Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols featuring the women and medieval English carols highlighting the men.
Rehearsals: Full - Monday and Thursday, 4:30-6:00 p.m. Women - Tuesday 4:30-5:30 p.m. Men – Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Herring Cole Hall

Audition times: Wednesday, August 27 from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. and Thursday, August 28 from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. at Bewkes 325 (the new practice room location during construction at Griffiths this year)

Audition procedure: vocalization, sing a prepared solo - one verse in any of these styles: classical/opera, folk, jazz standard, Broadway, classic rock (no contemporary rock please), sing in a quartet - a 4-voice piece will be available for you to work on in a practice room before the audition (it is suggested that you arrive early enough to allow sufficient time for your own preparation).
Contact: Barry Torres

UNIVERSITY CHORUS MUS022
Canton’s community chorus, the UC combines the vocal talents of students, faculty and staff, and community members. They perform a varied repertoire, often with instrumental accompaniment. Recent programs include a concert revue of American Operetta - music of Herbert, Romberg, Friml and Kern - featuring several UC members as soloists and accompanied by strings and piano. This fall’s concert will feature the beloved Requiem by French composer Gabriel Faure, performed using his original orchestration, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region. Concert dates are Saturday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m. in Gunnison Chapel. UC also performs at the annual Candlelight Services on Wednesday, December 10 at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.
Rehearsals: Tuesday, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in Herring Cole Hall

Audition times: by appointment until Friday, September 5. Call (229-5171) or email Barry Torres to set up a time.

Audition procedure: vocalization, sing prepared solo(encouraged but not required), music reading check (to assess ability, not a requirement).
Contact: Barry Torres

EARLY MUSIC SINGERS MUS023
A select small ensemble that specializes in the great vocal music of the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, EMS membership also includes faculty, staff, sand community members as well as students. Rehearsals are completely a cappella (sight reading is a must) and appropriate vocal practices including just intonation are explored in the beautifully authentic-style acoustics of Gunnison Chapel. The EMS will present a very special program this fall, singing an entire Requiem Mass in Latin on All Soul’s Day, Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. in Gunnison Chapel. Featured music will be the first polyphonic setting of the Requiem by 15th Century Flemish composer Jean Ockeghem along with Gregorian Propers (including the famous chant Dies Irae).
Rehearsals: Thursday, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in Gunnison Chapel

Audition times: by appointment until Friday, September 5. Call (229-5171) or email Barry Torres to set up a time.

Audition procedure: vocalization, sing prepared solo (classical or opera), sight-sing a cappella duets.
Contact: Barry Torres

STRING ORCHESTRA MUS025
A string chamber orchestra made up of violins, violas, cellos and basses which includes university students and staff, but is also open to local community musicians and students as well. An informal audition is required for membership, and violinists are rotated in three sections on a semester by semester basis. The goals of the String Orchestra are to perform a diverse assortment of musical styles including classical, baroque, traditional, contemporary and popular music, using the various techniques required to play them, and to involve itself in the community by performing both on and off campus. Generally, the Fall semester is devoted to more standard repertoire, while the Spring semester focuses on lighter, more popular works. Previous program titles have included Viva Vivaldi, Mostly Mozart, A Celtic Journey: Music from Ireland and Scotland and last spring’s A Tribute to John Williams. This fall’s concert is entitled Music from the Old World to the New World:  Traditions & Transitions and will include music by Bach, Pachelbel, Mozart, Dvorak, Warlock, Holst and Barber. The concert will be on Sunday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m. in Gunnison Chapel. We also have the pleasure of working with the Alexander String Quartet in rehearsal during their yearly residency each Fall semester.
Rehearsals: Thursday, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in The Underground (Noble Center 001) - first rehearsal is September 4.

Audition times: Wednesday and Thursday, August 27 and 28, 6:00-8:00 p.m. in The Underground (Noble Center 001)

Audition procedure: play 3 scales, one or two contrasting solos, sight reading
Contact: Christian Hosmer

CONCERT BAND MUS026
All band enthusiasts - woodwind and brass players and percussionists - are welcome to play in the Concert band, our youngest ensemble. Membership is open to intermediate to advanced students as well as faculty, staff and community members. Concert Band explores the varied band repertoire from the 18th through the 21st Centuries. Last spring’s concert Wondrous Stories: 20th and 21st Century Programmatic Music featured contemporary works based on ancient myths and legends. This fall’s concert, which will be on Saturday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m. in Eben Holden will feature World Musics from Africa, Latin America, the British Isles, etc. Woodwind and percussion players are especially welcome.
Rehearsals: Monday and Wednesday, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in The Underground (Noble Center 001)

No audition required, but you must be able to read music. Just come to the first rehearsal/organizational meeting with your instrument on Monday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. in The Underground (Noble Center 001).
Contact: Glenn Roberts

IMPROV LAB MUS047
A newly created experience to provide opportunities for students to individually and collectively develop their interests and skills in a variety of American vernacular musics - jazz, blues, rock, folk, hip-hop, alternative, country, bluegrass, etc. The music we pursue will be open to negotiation and largely student driven. “Ear” playing combined with varying degrees of written notation will be used to best suit the situation. All players and singers welcome. Let’s jam!
Rehearsals: Monday and Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in The Underground (Noble Center 001)

Audition times: Monday and Wednesday, September 1 and 3, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in The Underground (Nobel Center 001)

Audition procedure: play scales. read a lead sheet. play a solo, either prepared or improvised.
Contact: Tim Savage

RHYTHM AND ROOTS: Memphis BBQ Jug Band MUS027

This fall, Michael Farley leads students into the heart of Jug Band Music! . . . Music that’s light-hearted and bouncy. . . music that doesn’t hurt. We’re gonna throw down a Memphis-style BBQ and we’re bringing some really great jug band players here, so you’ll have the opportunity to set next to the best!

We’re looking for singers, guitarists, slide guitarists or dobro players, banjo players, mandolin players, pianists, fiddle/violinists, harp players (harmonica); wind players (clarinet, sax, trumpet, baritone, trombone, tuba), bass players (double bass, especially), percussionists (washboard, spoons/bones), accordionists. We especially need someone who is willing to try to play jug!

Rehearsals: Tuesday and Thursday, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in The Underground (Noble Center 001)