Ensembles
Students with varying abilities and interests find performing opportunities in eight faculty-led ensembles that perform regularly both on and off campus, including national and international tours.
All ensembles can be elected for academic credit.
Audition information can be found by clicking on the ensemble you are interested in
The Colby Symphony Orchestra is made up of a wide variety of musicians. In addition to students, who make up about half of the ensemble, the Orchestra is staffed by Colby’s applied music associates and local amateurs and professionals.
Rehearsals take place Monday evenings from 7:00 to 10:00. Each fall, auditions are held for all incoming players, primarily to give the conductor an idea of the levels of playing ability available within the ensemble. These auditions are very informal and relaxed. Jinwook Park is the conductor of the Colby Symphony Orchestra.
Audition Information:
Wednesday, September 7th 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Thursday, September 8th 8:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
String and wind players please prepare one movement from concerto or sonata, or one showpiece
Please email Jinwook Park ([email protected]) for more information.
Picture courtesy of Marti Stone Photography
The Colby Jazz Band is open to all student saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar, and drum players on an audition basis. The group plays traditional big band music from the Swing era to contemporary funk and Latin jazz, and several jazz combos specialize in improvisation. Jazz combos play for events on and off campus. Rehearsals are on Thursday nights from 7:00-9:30.
Audition Info:
Auditions for Jazz Band will take place on
Thursday, September 8th from 5:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Friday, September 9th from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Click here to sign up for a time, review audition requirements, and find music for auditions
For more information please email Brendon Wilkins: [email protected]
Picture courtesy of Marti Stone Photography
The Colby College Wind Ensemble is comprised of Colby students and members of the community. Open to everyone on a non-audition basis, the ensemble invites the participation of all interested woodwind, brass, and percussion players. The Wind Ensemble often has clarinet, flute, sax, choirs, brass, and percussion ensembles depending on student interest. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:30, and the group plays one concert each semester.
Individual meetings to join Wind Ensemble:
Wednesday, September 7th from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Thursday, September 8th from 11:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
Sign up for an individual meeting with Brendon Wilkins here.
For more information please email Brendon Wilkins [email protected]
Picture courtesy of Marti Stone Photography
The Colby College Chorale is a large, all-inclusive mixed chorus dedicated to the performance of a wide variety of international choral music – sacred, secular, popular and major masterworks from all over the world, including one performance a year in conjunction with the Colby College Symphony Orchestra. Membership in the Chorale is open to all students at Colby, regardless of class year or major; the most important prerequisite is that you enjoy making music with your peers, and that you are willing to participate in a highly engaging and entertaining environment, resulting in high-quality performances with a dedicated choral community.
Enrollment is confirmed through non-competitive auditions (or MeetSings) at the beginning of each semester.
Anyone interested in Collegium must audition, including prior participants. Please bring a full solo selection of your choice. Sight reading and interview will take place at the audition.
Sing/Meets are for anyone interested in Chorale + CKCS and/or first time voice lesson participants. All you need is a 30-second solo snippet of your choice!
REHEARSAL TIMES
Chorale:
Monday 4:00-6:00 PM in Given Auditorium
Tuesday 7:00-9:00 PM in Given Auditorium
Collegium:
Wednesday 7:00-9:30 PM in Given Auditorium
Picture courtesy of Marti Stone Photography
The Colby College Collegium is a select vocal chamber ensemble devoted to the performance of vocal music of the Renaissance and Baroque for smaller forces, but also explores repertoire in all genres, with a range from ancient music to contemporary popular music styles. The ensemble is made up of 12-16 mixed voices with no more than four on a part.Collegium serves as choral ambassadors for Colby College through off-campus performances, frequent collaborations, recording projects, and international touring. String and wind players may join the Collegium Chamber Players, which explores the instrumental music of the 15th through 17th centuries, but also may be incorporated in pieces from other time periods and styles. The ensemble has an array of Renaissance and Baroque instruments, including lutes, baroque guitars, viols, recorders and other early wind instruments, a chamber organ, and harpsichords.
Auditions for membership takes place at the beginning of each academic year or by appointment.
Anyone interested in Collegium must audition, including prior participants. Please bring a full solo selection of your choice. Sight reading and interview will take place at the audition.
Sing/Meets are for anyone interested in Chorale + CKCS and/or first time voice lesson participants. All you need is a 30-second solo snippet of your choice!
REHEARSAL TIMES
Chorale:
Monday 4:00-6:00 PM in Given Auditorium
Tuesday 7:00-9:00 PM in Given Auditorium
Collegium:
Wednesday 7:00-9:30 PM in Given Auditorium
Picture courtesy of Marti Stone Photography
Led by master drummer Jordan Benissan, a native of Togo, West Africa, the Colby African Drumming Ensemble offers students a chance to perform music from various African cultures. Students gain hands-on experience with various instruments, including drums, rattles, and bells, and learn several traditions of African singing and dancing. The group presents concerts both on campus and throughout the state of Maine.
Picture courtesy of Marti Stone Photography
Colby’s active chamber music program will give you a variety of opportunities to make music with your peers. The guitar and flute ensembles are standing groups that perform each semester. Students also form many of their own ensembles, included string quartets, piano trios and piano quintets.
Ensembles perform in the Music Departmental Recital by audition, held in Given Auditorium at the end of each semester. Recent chamber pieces performed includes Mendelssohn Trio in d minor, Beethoven String Quartet, Brahms Trio in B major. Chamber music groups are coached by members of our applied music faculty, and you can elect to take chamber music for academic credit or participate as an extra-curricular activity!
For students interested in joining the Guitar ensemble, contact Mark Leighton for more information.
[email protected]
For ones interested in setting up an ensemble or joining one, please contact professor Yuri Funahashi.
[email protected]
In addition, students can perform in:
- student recitals
- flute/trumpet choirs
- guitar ensemble
- master classes
- annual concerto competition
- informal concerts in the Mary Low Coffeehouse
- collaborations with Theater and Dance
Picture courtesy of Marti Stone Photography
There are also numerous student-run groups, including several a cappella groups, Broadway Musical Revue, Pep Band, and Handbell Choir.
For student contact information please see the student clubs page.