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. Spring 2009 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, Southern gospel music, spirituals and civil rights songs, as well as popular selections such as In the Mood and Respect.
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: No auditions now, only yearly membership with auditions in the fall.

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 included an all-Haydn program with orchestra last spring and 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 spring we return to the Opera House for a  concert of opera choruses from Carmen, Boris Godunov, Madama Butterfly, Pagliacci, Lohengrin and others. Concert dates are Saturday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m. at the Russell Opera House and Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. in Gilbert Recital Hall.
Rehearsals: Tuesday, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in Herring Cole Hall - first rehearsal January 20
Audition times: by appointment until Tuesday, January 27. 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, and 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. This semester we’ll focus on general skill building including sight-reading, independence of phrasing, and intonation as we work on music by three great Netherlandish Renaissance masters - Ockeghem, DesPrez and Lassus.
Rehearsals: Thursday, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in Gunnison Chapel.
Audition times: by appointment until Thursday, January 29. 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 spring’s concert is entitled “Solo” and will feature orchestra members and guests, both instrumental and vocal, in repertoire from the Baroque to the Contemporary. Concert dates Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. in Gunnison Chapel and Friday, May 1 at 8:00 p.m. at the Russell Opera House. 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 January 29.

Audition times: Wednesday, January 21, 7-8 pm and Thursday, January 22, 6-7 p.m., both nights in Noble Center 008.

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 spring’s concert, which will be on Sunday, April 5 at 2:00 p.m. in Eben Holden will feature contemporary works - Melillo: Our Time as a Song in the Universe, Paulson: Epinicion, Gillingham: Be Thou My Vision and others. 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 rehearsals with your instrument on Wednesday, January 21 and Monday, January 26 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: Wednesday and Monday, January 21 and 26, 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

Following last semester’s huge success, Michael Farley will once again lead students into the heart of Jug Band Music! . . . Music that’s light-hearted and bouncy. . . music that doesn’t hurt.

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: Wednesday and Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Griffiths 15