MAJOR ENSEMBLES

Major Ensemble Placement Auditions will be done in-person, September 3-6, 2024 (after 3:00pm).

Please follow the directions for your instrument/voice:
Non-Music Students please follow the directions for Arts & Science Students

Instrumental

  • Tuesday, September 3 – Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon
  • Wednesday, September 4 – Percussion, Strings, Brass
  • Thursday, September 5 – Saxophone, Piano

Choirs for Non-Voice Students (including Pianists, Organists, Accordionists, etc.)

  • Tuesday, September 3 – 2nd, 3rd and 4th year Piano and Organ students, for Choir Placement
  • Wednesday, September 4 – 1st year Piano and Organ students, for Choir Placement

Unified Vocal Auditions (for all Voice Majors no matter degree)

  • Tuesday, September 3 – All Opera Voices (Opera Undergrad, Opera Diploma, Masters Opera)
  • Wednesday, September 4 – All Historical Voices, Masters and DMA Voices (not Opera)
  • Thursday, September 5 – All Common Year, Comprehensive, Composition, Music Education Voices, 1st year Performance and ACP Voices
  • Friday, September 6 – All 2nd, 3rd and 4th Year Performance Voices

Jazz Students – for placement in jazz ensembles and combos

  • Tuesday, September 3 – Instrumental
  • Wednesday, September 4 – Instrumental and Voice

Harp – Placements in all Major Ensembles will be coordinated by the Harp Faculty

Guitar – Your required Major Ensemble is Guitar Orchestra directed by Rob MacDonald, please ensure that you are registered for this course

Students will not be able to register for ensembles.  Once the placements are completed after the auditions, a list is sent to the Registrar’s and Graduate Office’s and they will register you in the appropriate ensemble.

If you have any questions or would like to audition for any other ensembles, please contact the Performance Office at performance.music@utoronto.ca

2024/2025 Major Ensembles:

  • UT Symphony Orchestra: Mon, Wed & Fri 3:00-5:00pm Uri Mayer
  • Wind Ensemble: Mon, Wed & Thurs 3:00-5:00pm Gillian MacKay
  • Wind Symphony: Tues, Thurs & Fri 3:00-5:00pm Pratik Gandhi
  • Contemporary Music Ensemble: Tues & Thurs 3:00-5:00pm Wallace Halladay
  • MacMillan Singers: Tues & Thurs 3:00-5:00pm Jamie Hillman
  • Chamber Choir: Mon & Wed 3:00-5:00pm Kathleen Allan
  • Soprano/Alto Chorus: Mon & Wed 3:00-5:00pm Maria Conkey
  • Tenor/Bass Chorus: Tues & Thurs 3:00-5:00pm Thomas Burton
  • Guitar Orchestra: Wed & Fri 3:00-6:00pm Rob MacDonald
  • Graduate Classical Saxophones: TBA Wallace Halladay
  • Jazz Orchestra (12tet): Mon & Wed 11:00am-1:00pm Jim Lewis
  • Jazz Orchestra: Tues & Thurs 10:00am-12:00pm Shirantha Beddage
  • Hybrid Ensemble: Tues & Thurs 10:00am-12:00pm Andrew Downing
  • Vocal Jazz: Mon & Wed 11:00am-1:00pm Christine Duncan

Attendance & Punctuality:

Attendance is mandatory for all scheduled rehearsals and concerts.  Absences for medical reasons and outside engagements must be reported in advance to the Ensemble Conductor.  Appropriate documentation will be required to support the absences.  Absences on medical grounds must be documented with a University of Toronto Medical Certificate.  You will still be responsible for making sure your music arrives at the rehearsal/sectional.  Please check with the individual Ensemble Conductor regarding their policy on substitute players.  Unexcused absences may result in loss of credit or loss of assigned part.

Inability to perform due to physical problems does not excuse anyone from attending rehearsals.  Students must be present to observe the rehearsal even if unable to play or sing.

A professional standard of punctuality is expected; ensemble members are to be seated (and tuned if applicable), ready to begin at the scheduled start time.

Musicianship & Preparation:

It is understood that performers are to come prepared to every rehearsal, including the first one.  It is at the discretion of the Conductor to evaluate that this is so.  The Ensemble Conductor will evaluate musicianship and preparation on an ongoing basis.

Participation:

Evaluation of the quality of student’s contribution will be at the discretion of the Ensemble Conductor.

Performing ensembles are not, and should not be, considered in the same light as other university classes.  Since the Faculty of Music is a professional school of music, it is appropriate that all ensemble groups be treated like professional organizations.  A casual approach to attendance is unacceptable and necessity of teamwork, mutual dependency within the ensemble, and a strong sense of responsibility to one’s colleagues as well as the ensemble as a whole, is essential.