Ensembles New

 

Chamber Choir (MUPF 201/301)
2012/13 Director: Donald Christianson dchristi@ucalgary.ca   Website:www.donaldgchristianson.com
The Chamber Choir continues to be the signature choral group at the University of Calgary. The choir strives to sing a broad range of repertoire of the highest quality and membership is by audition. They are active throughout Alberta and in 1988 and 1996 were finalists in CBC Choral Competition. Past tours have included the Eastern USA in 1990, Western Canada in 1994, and Europe in 1996. To hear the Choir performing 'O Clap Your Hands' by Ralph Vaughan Williams (Spring 2012) please click here.

 

University Chorus (MUPF 205/305)
2012/13 Director Colleen Whidden, cwhidden@ucalgary.ca
University Chorus is the largest choir in the Department of Music. 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.



Symphonic Band (MUPF 211/31)
2012/13 Director Gareth Jones, jonesgd68@yahoo.com
The Symphonic Band is open to all qualified instrumentalists. It averages 60-80 members, and has a very active performing schedule. Tours and recordings are occasionally part of the season's activities.

Wind Ensemble (MUPF 213/313)
2012/13 Director: Gareth Jones jonesgd68@yahoo.com
The U of C Wind Ensemble has earned the reputation as the finest University group of its kind in Canada and one of the principal international leaders in the field. Most notably, the UCWE has performed at the CBDNA National Conference and at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Conference. Their nine commercial CDs on three recording labels have established their reputation for musical sensitivity, technical polish and innovative programming.

U of C Orchestra (MUPF 215/315)
2012/13 Director: Edmond Agopian agopian@ucalgary.ca
The University of Calgary Orchestra has been broadcast on CBC Radio's Our Music and on its national programs In Performance and Take Five. The orchestra has appeared in the Millennium Music Foundation Concert Series and at the Third Esther Honens Calgary International Piano Competition and Festival.

Collegium Musicum (MUPF221/321)
2012/13 Director: Julie Harris
harrisfast@hotmail.com
The University of Calgary's Early Music Ensemble performs a wide variety of repertoire from the Middle Ages to the late-Baroque in a historically-informed context. Early vocal repertoire is a particular focus of the ensemble.

Vocal Jazz (MUPF 223/323)
Director: Collen Whidden
cwhidden@ucalgary.ca
Children of Eden
A Musical Comedy about the hardest part of love… letting go
The University of Calgary Operetta Company has done it again as preparations are underway for the January 2013 run of Children of Eden. From Stephen Schwartz (creator of the Broadway play WICKED), and John Caird, Children of Eden is a frank, heartfelt and often humorous examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children.

In this two-act musical, Adam, Eve, Noah and the "Father" who created them deal with the headstrong, cataclysmic actions of their respective children. Through great dialogue, a stirring storyline and brilliant music, the show ultimately delivers a bittersweet but inspiring message: that "the hardest part of love... is letting go."

With the Children of Eden, The University of Calgary Operetta Company continues its six-year tradition of presenting full-length musical theatre and opera performances. Its community theatre-style collaborative model allows artists from a variety of backgrounds to participate in the production and performance of a full-scale work of musical theatre comprising a cast of cast of 57, and orchestra of 14.

Past shows include West Side Story (2009), Miss Saigon (2010,) Titanic: The Musical (2011) and Guys and Dolls (2012).

 

U of C Jazz Ensemble (MUPF 225/325)
2012/13 Director: Jeremy Brown jbrown@ucalgary.ca
The (UCJRE) University of Calgary Jazz Repertory Ensemble is dedicated to performing music from the entire history of jazz music. In addition to works by composer/musicians such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson and Benny Goodman, the group also performs contemporary works representing a broad stylistic diversity.  The instrumentation of the ensemble varies according to repertoire, utilizing a core of five saxophones, five trombones, five trumpets, guitar, bass, piano, drums and percussion players.

New Music Ensemble (MUPF 227/327)
2012/13 Director: Laurie Radford lradford@ucalgary.ca
The New Music Ensemble is really multiple chamber ensembles, depending on the requirements of the music being played. Performers get a chance to play solo and mixed chamber works of the 20th and 21st Centuries, including works by contemporary composers. As well, collaborative group improvisation is a main focus of the ensemble, allowing students to explore their own musical ideas while developing new performance techniques.

World Music Ensemble (MUPF 229/329)
2012/13 Director: Rod Squance rsquance@ucalgary.ca
The World Music Ensemble is made up of a combination instruments from different cultures throughout the world, including Western and non-Western instruments, and is open to both music majors and non-music majors. Students have the opportunity to explore and perform the music of different cultures and learn new instruments from different cultures, developing new music and reworking traditional music through a student-driven creative process. The classical music, folk music and popular music of various cultural traditions is explored. Students will have the opportunity, if desired, to compose for the group. The individual musical heritages of each student are drawn upon, resulting in new musical expressions that will demonstrate the potential of intercultural understanding and communication.



Chamber Music (MUPF 241/341)
Coordinator: Vladimir Levtov levtov@ucalgary.ca
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, brass choir and improvisation.

Guitar Ensemble
Coach: Ralph Maier rkcmaier@shaw.ca

Brass Choir Ensemble
Coach: Gareth jones jonesgd68@yahoo.com

Percussion Ensemble
Coach: Rod Squance rsquance@ucalgary.ca

ENSEMBLE AUDITION TIMETABLE 2012/13

 

The UCalgary String Quartet

The University of Calgary String Quartet was formed in 1994 with Canadian string artists Amanda Forsyth, Edmond Agopian, Olga Kotova and Christopher Sandvoss. Since then, the quartet has performed in concert halls across Canada and has been broadcast several times regionally and nationally on CBC Radio. Its CD recording of Brahms's Piano Quintet with Canadian pianist Anton Kuerti, recorded by CBC Radio, received enthusiastic reviews from the Canadian press. Maev Brennan, arts critic for the Daily Courier wrote: "more than just colleagues, these four seem to be musical soul mates. They balance, blend and interweave perfectly whether playing Mozart or Shostakovich." As the resident string quartet at University of Calgary, the quartet regularly works and performs with guest students, pianists, wind and string players and singers. Along with the traditional classical repertoire the quartet includes in its concerts klezmer and other Eastern European folk music, arranged for string quartet by Edmond Agopian. At present the quartet members are professor Edmond Agopian (violin), Lev Nesterov  (violin), Beth Root Sandvoss (cello), and Dean O'Brien (viola).