Performance Ensembles

Performance in an ensemble appropriate to student abilities and interests. Grading is based on participation level, individual testing, and comparative papers on repertoire covered.

Enrolling in a Performance Ensemble:

Performance ensemble courses which require an audition prior to registration: (MUS 95B, 95D, 95E, 95H, 95JC, 95K, 95L, 130/230, 131, 134/234)

Students will not be able to register for any of the above classes until the department's academic advisers have been notified by the instructor that the student has passed the audition.
Students who have been accepted will be notified within the first two weeks of the quarter giving them clearance to register for the class after department approval has been given.

Performance ensemble courses which do not require an audition (MUS 95C, 95G and 95W):

Department approval is not necessary.
Students register for these classes through WebReg.

Grading Option

Non-majors may take Music 95 courses for a total of 6 units (3 quarters) for a letter grade, after which they may be taken for a P/NP (Pass/No Pass) only (S/U for graduate students).
Music majors may take Music 95 courses for a total of 12 units (6 quarters) for a letter grade, after which they may be taken for P/NP only (S/U for graduate students).
There is one exception: Music 95G, Gospel Choir, must be taken P/NP only. This course can also be taken a total of 12 times or up to 36 units, whichever is reached first.
Grading is based on participation level, individual testing, and comparative papers on repertoire covered.

Fees:

A $15 lab/production fee, except for 95G and 95W for which the fee is $10, will be assessed for all students enrolled in a Music 95 ensemble.

Students who drop an ensemble before the drop deadline may be eligible for a refund. Please contact Student Financial Solutions by submitting a ticket via the UC San Diego Services & Support portal.

Ensembles are offered Fall, Winter, and Spring unless specified otherwise. Course numbers include Music 95, 130, 131 and 134/234:

Music 95C. Concert Choir (2 units) Open to all unviersity students. The Concert Choir meets twice a week to prepare one program of choral literature each quarter. Repertoire chosen from a wide variety of musical styles. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is mandatory. Audition Requirements: no audition required.

MUS 95D. Symphonic Chorus (2 Units) Formed in the 1950s, The Chorus of the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus is known for electrifying performances of works spanning the last 300 years of choral and choral/orchestral repertoire. The Chorus performances one to two full length choral/orchestral works per quarter in Mandeville Auditorium, and special venues around the city of San Diego and has toured internationally. They perform standard, claissical, and contemporary works and often perform comissionsed works and world premieres. This ensemble may be repeated six times for credit. Audition Requirements: La Jolla Symphony Chorus welcomes student members and requires each person to participate in a 10-minute live audition. To schedule an audition, pleaseclick here.

MUS 95E: Chamber Orchestra (2 units)

In this course, students will be members of a medium-sized orchestra which performs symphonic repertoire. Weekly meetings will be rehearsals of the quarter's program. In the final week, students will perform a concert in one of UCSD's large performance spaces. Repertoire changes quarterly, with past programs including works by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Schubert, and Mozart. Audition Requirements: Auditions can be submitted via this form. Auditions submitted after September 26^th will be reviewed based on remaining availability, which will vary by instrument. Contact Matthew Henson at mhenson@ucsd.edu with any questions.

MUS 95F: Percussion Ensemble (2 units)

This course is an undergraduate percussion ensemble designed to teach basic to intermediate chamber music and percussion skills to undergraduate percussionists. Repertoire will include music from the American Experimentalist tradition and other contemporary music by composers from around the world. Special emphasis will be placed on performing newly comissioned pieces by the UC San Diego community of compusers. Audition Requirements: Attend first class meeting for more information.

MUS 95G: Gospel Choir - Pass/No Pass Only (2-3 units)

The goal of this courose is to lead students in experiencing the singing and understanding of Gospel music and its various styles, as well as other forms of sacred music of the 20th century of the African American experience. The course may be taken for either 2 or 3 units. Extra sections and concerts are required for 3 units; the instructor will announce these requirements at the first class section. Audition Requirements: No audition required. Everyone is welcome to join; a group audition for voice section placement is held at the first class meeting. For questions, please the director, Ken Anderson, at 858-534-2414 or at k7anderson@ucsd.edu.

MUS 95JC. Jazz Chamber Ensembles (2 units)

Small jazz ensembles will be arranged by audition and organized according to instrumentation and student interest, and ability. Each ensemble will meet on a weekly basis under faculty guidance and will have the opportunity for both on- and off-campus performances. Audition Requirements: Auditions are held during the first class meeting and will continue through week one.You’ll be asked to play or sing a jazz standard of your choice, along with members of the rhythm section. Bring three lead sheets for students who will accompany you. 95JC is limited to 20 students. For questions, please contact David Borgo at dborgo@ucsd.edu.

MUS 95L. Wind Ensemble (2 units)

An intermediate to advanced level ensemble performing traditional to contempory band literature. Audition Requirements: Auditions will take place during Week 0 and will consist of: major or minor scale of your choice (any range), any 2 of the 3 short excerpts provided for your intstrument OR 1 longer etude or notable excerpt prepared on your own. Audition materials and sign-up sheet can be found at the following drive link: MUS 95L - Wind Ensemble Auditions. Please contact Kat Pittman, kspittma@ucsd.edu with any questions.

MUS 95P: Persian Music Ensemble (2 units)

A Persian classical music ensemble open to students using the instruments of their choice. Students will be introduced to the concepts of the Radif and Dastgah system in Persian music along with instruction on specific instruments. Students will study the music on Persian instruments such as the kamancheh, santur, setar, and tombak, or an instrument on which they are proficient (e.g. violin, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, or piano). No previous background necessary.

MUS 95W: World Music Ensembles: Indian Classical Music Ensemble (2 units)

An Indian Classical Music Ensemble with a focus on the Sitar and Tabla or an instrument of your choice. Voice students are encouraged to join. Students will be instroduced to the concepts of Raga and Tabla through fixed compositions and ear training. While no previous background is necessary, all students MUST attend the first class meeting. Failure to do so will require students to drop the course. This first meeting is to assign students to proper groups and offer a broad survey of the history and theory of the tradition. Audition Requirements: No audition required. Attend the first class meeting to be assigned an instrument. For more information, please contact the director, Kartik Seshadri, at 858-822-1491 or at kaseshadri@ucsd.edu

MUS 130: Chamber Music Performance (4 units)

Instruction in the preparation of small group performances of representative instrumental and vocal chamber music literature. Audition Requirements: Auditions are held during the first week of each quarter. Attend the first class meeting and prepare a movement of a concerto chosen from the standard repertoire, an entire sonata, or another major work for your intstrument. For more information, please contact the director, Takae Ohnishi, at tohnishi@ucsd.edu

MUS 134/234: Symphonic Orchestra (4 units)

Repertoire is drawn from the classic symphonic literature of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries with a strong emphasis on recently composed and new music. Distinguished soloists, as well as The La Jolla Symphony Chorus, frequently appear with the orchestra. The La Jolla Symphony Orechestra performs two full-length programs each quarter, each program being performed twice. Audition Requirements: Refer to the La Jolla Symphony website for application/audition form. For more information, please contact the orchestra manager, Ted Bietz at orchestra@ljsc.org