Ensembles
Spring 2026 UNCA Music Ensemble Audition Information
Ensembles are, in many ways, the heart and soul of the UNC-Asheville Music Department. Most are open to the entire campus, not just Music majors/minors. You can plan on auditioning and/or joining during the first week of classes. Don’t be intimidated by our audition process. It allows us to make sure you are in the best ensemble that suits you. Join us! Please fill the form linked below to sign up for an audition.
Potential ensemble auditioners, please NOTE!:
- Many ensembles require an audition during “Combined Auditions” on Thursday, January 15, 2025 in Brown Hall 217-219, beginning at 4:00 PM.
- Some ensembles require communicating with the ensemble director.
Students registering for classes please NOTE!
Should you need the ensemble credit for your schedule needs, please register for “Ensemble Placeholder”, MUSC-129.000, which has no registration restrictions. We will adjust the actual course number after audition week, when you are placed in an appropriate class.
General Audition Guidelines
Specific to Jazz / Blues Ensemble Auditions:
1) Any standard of your choosing including the head and at least 1 chorus of improvisation. (Note: If you are interested in a particular combo, please choose a piece that demonstrates your playing in that style. See individual ensemble requirements below.)
2) Scales – D major scale, C harmonic minor scale, chromatic scale
- Drummers: Display competency in a variety of styles (jazz swing, jazz ballad, funk, bossa, rock)
- Note: If you are interested in a particular combo, demonstrate your playing in that style.
Ensemble Descriptions and Specific Requirements
Meeting time: M 7:00 PM Off campus
The Asheville Choral Society welcomes students from all disciplines who have a love of singing. This 120-voice chorus performs three concerts per year and meets one night each week for rehearsals. Repertoire includes large classical works, often with chamber or full orchestra, modern choral styles, solo opportunities, and community outreach experiences. Along with community members, multiple UNCA faculty, staff, and students regularly participate. Singing in the chorus requires a placement audition, information here: Asheville Choral Society, and regular attendance. Students may register and sign up for an audition (through the ACS website) to sing in this ensemble for one or more semesters for ARTS and one ensemble credit. For questions and more information, contact Dr. Melodie Galloway, mgallowa@unca.edu. There are no prerequisites. Fall and Spring.
Meeting Time: M,W 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
University Chorale is an ensemble that prepares singers for a lifetime of choral participation as experienced singers, music educators and enthusiastic amateurs. The choir performs a full range of literature including major works with orchestra, standard repertoire for choral ensembles, and other works representing a global diversity of musical styles. No audition required. Fall and Spring. Contact Dr. Melodie Galloway mgallowa@unca.edu
Meeting Time: M,W 12:30 – 1:45
Asheville Singers: The Asheville Singers is an ensemble of gifted and talented pre-professional singers. The ensemble performs a wide variety of music in 2 main concerts throughout the semester. It also serves as an ambassador ensemble for UNC Asheville, representing the university at local, state, and regional events. To audition for this group, please prepare 2 contrasting songs that you are confident singing. Styles may include: classical, folk, musical theater, or gospel. Indicate which voice part you usually sing (if you know it) and a brief summary of your choral singing experience. Auditions are held by appointment during the first week of classes. Contact Dr. Melodie Galloway mgallowa@unca.edu.
Meeting time: M, W 3:30 – 5:10 PM
The UNCA Wind Ensemble performs repertoire ranging from classic band works to contemporary compositions for wind ensemble. Membership is open to all UNCA community members with experience on a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument. Contact Dr. Emily Eng eeng@unca.edu.
Meeting time: W 7:00-9:30 PM
The Blue Ridge Orchestra performs orchestral repertoire from all eras. Composed of musicians from the Asheville and UNCA communities, the BRO performs four full-scale concert programs per year, as well as other outreach events. More information about the season can be found here: https://blueridgeorchestra.org/
Auditions for the Spring Semester should be submitted via the Google Form found here, by Wednesday, January 14 if possible: https://blueridgeorchestra.org/audition
Students who are auditioning/enrolling should attend the brief introductory meeting/check-in on Tuesday, January 14 at 11:40am in the Lipinsky Lobby. For questions, please contact Dr. Emily Eng eeng@unca.edu
Meeting time: M 5:00 – 7:00
Bluegrass music is a 20th century amalgam of popular and traditional music styles that coalesced in the 1940s in the American southeast, emphasizing vocal performance and instrumental improvisation. This ensemble will highlight through performance many of the influences and traditions that bluegrass comprises, including ballads, breakdowns, “brother duets,” gospel quartets, Irish-style medleys, “modal” instrumentals, “old time” country, popular song, and rhythm and blues, among many possible others. Though experienced players will have plenty of opportunities to improvise, participants need not have played bluegrass before. The ensemble should include fiddle, 5-string banjo, steel string acoustic guitar, mandolin, resophonic guitar (Dobro®), upright (double) bass. Audition requirements: please perform two contrasting songs from a ‘roots” genre (folk, blues, country, roots-rock, Celtic, Tejano…), on an appropriate instrument (see above). At least one of the two should feature your voice. Contact Wayne Erbsen banjo@nativeground.com
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
The CGE focuses on music that features the guitar or compositions arranged for the guitar ensemble, including original compositions and arrangements by CGE members. This group also uses improvisation and similar approaches that facilitate spontaneous composition and soundscapes.
During Fall 2025, CGE will incorporate both musical and mindfulness practices so that we can be more present when music happens. Our mindfulness practices include meditation and active listening, allowing us to work toward finding stillness. Our musical practices focus on efficient and effective technical approaches to the 6-string guitar. Combining these techniques will enable us to create music through improvisation and spontaneous composition.
Prerequisite:
- You must have a basic facility with the 6-string guitar in standard tuning.
- You must have Regular access to an acoustic (steel-string) guitar.
Audition:
- Please send the director an email stating your intentions for joining the ensemble.
- Include a short video demonstrating your facility with the guitar. Please play a few short examples that demonstrate your skills with:
- Chord playing
- Single-note phrases (riffs, melodies, or a solo)
- Demonstrate any technical variations you like to use (ie. pick or fingerstyle)
- Email video samples to tdoyle@unca.edu
- Audition videos must be submitted by Thursday, January 16 at 8 pm.
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
This ensemble explores the melodies, rhythms, and textures of African and African derived musical practices. Ensembles will include traditional and contemporary instrumentation. Experience in African-related performance traditions is desirable, but not required. For auditions, please prepare a piece on your primary instrument that demonstrates notable polyrhythm, cross-rhythms, compound meter, and/or syncopation. Contact Adama Dembele adembele@unca.edu.
Meeting time: M,W 2:00 – 3:15 PM
This group plays music of all styles, either written for or adapted for percussion. We focus mostly on student compositions and arrangements; new ideas are always welcome! Percussion experience isn’t required but you must be able to read music at least moderately well. Contact Matthew Richmond mrichmon@unca.edu.
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
The students in this ensemble will perform each other’s original songs. The songs can be written in, or influenced by, any music genre. Songwriters will explore notation styles and rehearsal practices that best suit the music, the instrumentation and the players. Singers, spoken word artists and rappers are welcome. Instrumentation will be based on what the students in the course can play. Acoustic, electric and electronic instruments, as well as MIDI controllers, are welcome. The course will culminate with a public concert featuring songs by each of the ensemble members. Songwriters Ensemble Audition Requirements: For in-person auditions, please prepare any piece of your choosing that demonstrates your skills on your primary instrument. In addition, please fill out this Google form:
Contact: Emily Eng eeng@unca.edu
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
The Chamber Music Ensemble presents a unique training experience in the art of chamber ensemble playing in an intimate group performance setting. This class is designed to provide students with a wonderful opportunity to delve into the world of traditional chamber music repertoire and explore arrangements encompassing both Classical and popular styles. The course’s highlight is the final recital at the end of the semester, open to the public. Students showcase their growth and present chamber music pieces prepared throughout the semester. For more information contact Claudia Malchow cmalchow@unca.edu.
Meeting time: TBA after auditions. No audition needed for past members.
The Breakfast Club will explore the songs and sounds of the 80s. MTV and VH1 videos along with the soundtracks from classic 80s movies and will provide us with plenty of material to choose from. This group is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists. Applicants should prepare a song from the 80s for the auditions (a vocal melody or key instrumental melody/part and drum part would be appropriate).
For more information, contact Zack Page zack.page@gmail.com
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
Hola everyone, and welcome to the Latin Jazz Big Band. In this high-energy course, we will learn and perform jazz standards arranged with Latin rhythms as well as music from major artists of the genre including Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana, and Gato Barbieri. We may also delve into various subgenres within popular Latin styles such as Merengue, Salsa, Bachata or even Cumbia. This ensemble is open to all who wish to audition. No prior experience with playing this music is needed. Auditioners should be fluent with their major scales.
For more information contact Will Boyd: wdboyd1@gmail.com.
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
This edition of the Experimental Ensemble will take an ecological approach to experimental composition and performance.
Contact Bill Bares, wbares@unca.edu.
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
This ensemble will examine the diversity of blues forms and scales, and the constraints and freedoms that pertain to those structures when singing and playing in an improvisatory format. All instrumentation is welcome to audition. Please come prepared to perform and improvise over a blues. You may bring a playalong back-up track if you wish.
Contact Mike Barnes, ashevilleguitar@gmail.com or mbarnes@unca.edu.
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
This ensemble will perform the music of the great jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock. Over the course of this semester, we will focus primarily on his compositions for acoustic jazz groups, such as “Maiden Voyage” and “Dolphin Dance.” For your audition, please prepare two tunes. At least one of these tunes should be a composition by Herbie Hancock that will demonstrate your ability to play over changes. “Maiden Voyage” and “Dolphin Dance” are good choices. Please do not choose “Chameleon.” You should prepare to play the melody to the tune, improvise over the form, and comp (if applicable). You should prepare to perform your audition with a backing track.
For more information, please contact Dr. Brian Felix, bfelix@unca.edu.
Meeting time: TBA after auditions
Not accepting new members Spring 2026
Questions? Contact Pam Miller pmiller4@unca.edu.
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