Performance

Performance is a fundamental part of Cornell’s cultural life. The Department of Music encourages music-making through a wide array of chamber and large ensembles, as well as its offerings in private lessons and directed coaching by members of the music faculty. Master classes, degree and non-degree recitals, contemporary music concerts, and an annual concerto competition supplement the music department’s concert offerings.

^{Fall 2019 Audition Information}

^{NEW! Audition Commumal Warm-Up Room: added after the audition information}

Choral Ensembles:

Our choirs have been lending their voices and bringing spirit to occasions at Cornell since the beginning of the university's history. Touring, recording, and outreach offer truly unique experiences for members -- perks which bring us together and motivate our members to lead and inspire. The four department choral ensembles (Chorus, Glee Club, Chamber Singers, and Chorale) hold joint auditions starting on August 25th.

Please explore singatcornell.com for a comprehensive overview of all the choral ensembles at Cornell and a link to audition signups.

Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra:

Students MUST sign-up for an audition at this link. Once you complete the form, Interim Director Katherine Kilburn will assign an audition time for you via email. For additional information, go to http://cuorchestra.org.

Sunday, August 25, 2019 -- B20 and B21
Trumpets (with Scott Harrell): 11:30 - 12:30 pm B21
Keyboards and Harps (with Piyawat Louilarpprasert) 1:30 - 2:30 pm B20
Low brass 2:30 - 3:30 pm B20

Monday, August 26, 2019 -- B20
Oboes (with Emily DiAngelo TBC): 2-3:30 am
Clarinets (with Lenora Schneller): 3:30 - 5:00 am
Flutes (with Liz Shuhan and Juliana May): 5:00 - 6:30 pm

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 -- B20
Violas (with Madeline Schatz-Harris): 1:00 – 4:30 pm
Basses (with Desmond Bratton TBC): 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Bassoons (with Daniel Hane): 5:30-6:30 pm

Wednesday, August 28, 2019 -- B21 (except horns)
Cellos (with John Haines-Eitzen): 9:00 - 12:30 am B21
more times if needed for cello auditions in the afternoon 2-4:30 pm in B21
Percussion (with Mike Sparhuber): 5:00 - 6:00 pm B21
Horns (with Ilze Brink-Button): 8-9:30 B20

Thursday, August 29, 2019
Violins (with Ariana Kim): 1:00 – 4:00 pm B21

Friday, August 30, 2019
Violins (with Ariana Kim): 1:00 - 5:00 pm B21

Wind Symphony:

Please visit www.cuwinds.com and click the Auditions link for instructions and procedures, musical excerpts, and audition times. Direct questions to James Spinazzola, Director of Winds (jms862@cornell.edu).

Tuesday, August 27 – Lincoln Hall B20
6:30-8:00pm – Oboes & bassoons
8:00-9:30pm – Saxophones
9:30-10:30pm – Double bass, piano, conflicts & overflow

Wednesday, August 28 – Lincoln Hall B20 and B21
9:20-10:30am - Percussion in B20
10:30am-12pm – Clarinets in B20
12:30-1 Clarinets, cont. in B20
1:00-3:30pm – Flutes in B20
3:30-5:00pm – Trumpets in B20
6:30-6:00-7:30pm – Horns in B21
7:30-9:00pm – Low brass: trombones, euphoniums, tubas B21
9:00-10:30pm – Conflicts & overflow B21

Thursday, August 29 – First day of classes
10:00am – Audition results posted on Wind Symphony board (outside Lincoln B20), and on www.cuwinds.com
4:45-6:45pm – First rehearsal (Lincoln B20)

Friday, August 30

5:00pm – Welcome picnic on the Arts Quad!

Jazz

All auditions take place in B20 and B21 Lincoln Hall. Students should read through the CU Jazz Program Packet.

For information, please contact Paul Merrill (pm75@cornell.edu) and visit http://jazz.arts.cornell.edu/.

Chamber Flute Ensemble:

For information, please contact Juliana Pepinsky (jm857@cornell.edu).

Chamber Music Ensembles:

Auditions for Chamber Music for the fall is on Thursday, August 29, and Friday, August 30th from 1 to 4 pm at 231 Lincoln Hall. You can sign up for the audition on this online list. Students are asked to prepare two contrasting pieces for their 10 minute audition, and they will be asked to sight read a short selection. Cornell faculty meet with groups individually each week for an hour, in addition to a bi-monthly chamber music class, in which student play for each other and receive feedback from students and faculty alike. Groups will be expected to rehearse on their own at least once a week. All students will perform in a Student Chamber Music Recital near the end of the semester. Please contact Miri Yampolsky (my86@cornell.edu) or Juliana Pepinsky (jm857@cornell.edu) for more information.

Baroque Orchestra: Coming Soon

For information, please contct Morton Wan (mtw74@cornell.edu).

Deixa Sambar (Brazilian Ensemble): Not offered in Fall 2019

Deixa Sambar performs several styles of samba, Brazil’s national music. Members need not have prior background in music-making, but a good sense of rhythm is desirable. Members include students as well as Ithaca community members, “brasileiros” as well as newcomers to Brazilian culture. No audition necessary. For more information, contact Professor Steven Pond (sfp8@cornell.edu).

Gamelan Ensemble:

The Gamelan Ensemble is open to the Cornell community by permission of the instructor. For information, please contact Christopher Miller (cjm299@cornell.edu).

Improvisation Ensemble: Not offered in Fall 2019

For more information, please contact Annie Lewandowski (APL72@cornell.edu).

Steel Band:

For information, please contact Christopher Miller (cjm299@cornell.edu).

Percussion Group:

For information, please contact Mike Sparhuber (mas847@cornell.edu).

Individual Lesson Auditions

Jazz Lessons:

All auditions take place in B20 and B21 Lincoln Hall. Students should read through the CU Jazz Program Packet.

For information, please contact Paul Merrill (pm75@cornell.edu) and visit http://jazz.arts.cornell.edu/.

Piano Lessons:

Piano lessons auditions will be held on August 29-30, 4-6:30 pm, and there will be a sign-up sheet on the door of the piano studio later in the summer: 331 Lincoln Hall. The audition is 10 minutes long, and students should prepare two contrasting works of their choosing, and we will have you sight-read. Contact Professor Xak Bjerken (xb10@cornell.edu) for more information.

Violin Lessons:

For violinists auditioning for CU Orchestras that are also interested in participation in the Lessons Program, that audition will suffice as both. For violinists interested in private lessons only, the audition will be held on the evenings of August 29th and 30th in Lincoln 239. Violinists and violists interested should prepare two 3-octave scales (one major, one minor) as well as two contrasting solo work excerpts. please contact Dr. Ariana Kim directly at arianakim@cornell.edu to schedule a specific time slot.

Voice Lessons:

Audition schedule: August 23, 24, and 25, plus additional times by request. Prospective students should bring one or two pieces that best demonstrate their current level, both musical and vocal. Placement options are sometimes available for beginners without repertory. Those students will be asked to vocalize for range identification and musical skill. All students should also fill out this form prior to their audition. For more information and to schedule an audition, please contact Lucy Fitz Gibbon (lhf33@cornell.edu).

Students interested in taking lessons for the first time on any other instrument should audition during the instrument’s scheduled ensemble audition time. Students do not need to re-audition if they have taken lessons in the past, unless they are taking lessons on a different instrument for the first time. Contact the Faculty Sponsor for your instrument (a list of these sponsors can be found at music.cornell.edu/performing/private-lessons/)