Music ensembles

The University of Calgary Chorus is our largest choir and provides an opportunity for all university students to be involved in a choral experience. Membership is maintained at approximately 85 with a very good balance of voice parts. Repertoire consists of classic major works as well as Canadian, folk, and contemporary pieces. New singers joining as “Club Members” or volunteers will be selected based on skill and balance of voice parts.

Membership in the Symphonic Band allows students to grow as musicians through the preparation and performance of high-quality wind band music. We average 60-80 members and have a very active performing schedule. Tours and recordings are occasionally part of the season's activities.

The University of Calgary Wind Ensemble has earned a reputation as one of the finest University groups of its kind in Canada and one of the principal international leaders in the field. Most notably, we have performed at the CBDNA National Conference and at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Conference. Our commercial CDs on three recording labels have established our reputation for musical sensitivity, technical polish and innovative programming.

The University of Calgary Orchestra has been broadcast on CBC Radio's Our Music and on its national programs In Performance and Take Five. We have appeared in the Millennium Music Foundation Concert Series and at the Third Esther Honens Calgary International Piano Competition and Festival.

In recent years the University of Calgary Jazz Orchestra (UCJO) has performed with well-known international jazz artists as part of the UCalgary Monday Night Jazz Series. These artists include: Maria Schneider, Michael Blake, Jeff Jarvis, Charles Pillow, Jodi Proznik, Bob Sheppherd, Brad Turner and PJ Perry. In 2013, the UCJO and the Chamber Jazz Ensemble performed at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, where both groups were awarded Outstanding Ensemble Awards and several Outstanding Soloist awards. In 2014, the UCJO and Chamber Jazz Ensemble performed at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival (Chicago Illinois USA) and won ten Outstanding Soloist awards.

We also perform a fall and winter concert each year, in addition to holding numerous local performances. We are dedicated to the performance of swing oriented jazz music and have in recent years focused on the music of Duke Ellington, Maria Schneider, Benny Carter, Count Basie and Radiohead.

Jazz Band auditions will be conducted entirely by online video submission. Click below for more information and to submit your audition video.

The UCalgary World Music Ensemble brings together students from across campus to perform music of various ethnic traditions from throughout the world. The group is made up of both music and non-music majors, undergraduate and graduate students, and even alumni and community members. The ensemble performs a concert at the end of each semester, and appears at other events.

The World Music Ensemble will meet on Tuesday evenings this year.

The Chamber Music Program at the University of Calgary offers a rich and varied experience for qualified performers, regardless of instrument. Graduate and undergraduate performers collaborate to perform on-campus and in the community. There are several chamber ensembles that are off-shoots of this program, including percussion, guitar, and brass choir.

• Guitar Ensemble
• Brass Choir Ensemble
  Established in 2003 by Gareth Jones, the ensemble is comprised of the top brass UCalgary students (trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba), as well as alumni of the program. The repertoire ranges from Renaissance works to modern day masterpieces.
• Percussion Ensemble
• Vocal Ensemble
  • This auditioned ensemble is an opportunity for students to sing in a small group at an advanced level. Repertoire will be primarily early music with possible solos, duets etc. Rehearsals will take place Tuesdays 4-5pm. Auditions will take place on September 2, 10am-2pm in E215. Email julie.harris1@ucalgary.ca to arrange an audition.

Audition Information for Guitar Ensemble, Brass Choir, Percussion and Vocal Here

• Jazz Combo
  by Kodi Hutchinson, Tyler Hornby, Carsten Rubeling

Audition Information for Jazz Combo Here