Student ensembles
Student Ensembles Semester 2, 2023
Ensemble Studies ATS1348 and ATS2801
The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance has an exciting and wide range of music ensembles open to all students across the university. Participation is via:
- Enrolment in the Music Ensemble (ATS1347/1348//2800/2801).
- Completion of the ensemble selection google form before the first day of semester.
- For selected ensembles, there is a brief recorded audition component. The link to the audition/registration form will be posted on the unit’s Moodle Site.
For any other questions regarding entry requirements into these units, please contact the Ensemble Studies Coordinator, Roman Ponomariov via roman.ponomariov@monash.edu
ONLINE AUDITIONS are open for video submissions
Audition information
- All auditions require upload of a short, 90-second video.
- Students may choose to audition on more than one instrument (e.g. wind instrument doubling).
- Please ensure you read the ensemble specific audition requirements in the sections below and/or contact the ensemble director directly.
Audition timeline
- Video auditions due via the google form by 5pm Monday week 1 (first day of semester 2).
- Students notified of audition of results by Friday week 1.
- Ensembles start rehearsals in week 2.
Current Ensemble Offerings
Music of the World Orchestra
Director: Rob Burke
Overview: The Music of the World Orchestra is an ensemble that crosses cultural boundaries, creating bridges through cultural awareness and respect, communication, listening, transcription, adaption and improvisation. The ensemble will develop listening and improvisational skills and will develop understanding of new sounds and experimentation. The ensemble is open to all vocalists and instrumentalists that want to get a global perspective and experience playing music from all parts of the world. This ensemble will embrace every members ‘voice’ where we will develop an ensemble sound based on the instrumentation and the chosen repertoire. This is 21 century music making!
Entry: Please submit a 90 second video that provides an overall impression of your playing ability and influences. All styles welcome!
Rehearsal Times: Wednesday, 3 - 4.50 pm (G01)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Monash University Big Band/Supersax Ensemble
Director: Angela Davis
Overview: The Monash University Big Band is an ensemble that explores the stylistic history of the Big Band/Super Sax repertoire. Auditions are open to all students including those in the J&I & Classical streams. The ensemble facilitates the development of students’ skills in improvisation, sight-reading, understanding of jazz styles and ensemble performance practices. The Monash University Big Band has performed with international artists John Abercrombie, Vanessa Perica, George Garzone, Maria Schneider, Tim Ries, Ed Partyka, Eddie Palmieri and his septet at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and with Argentinian New York based composer Guillermo Klein.
Entry: Please submit a 90 second video that provides an overall impression of your playing ability, including improvisation. We will be assessing sound, time, dexterity and musicality. Can you also state your sight-reading expertise from 1 - 10 in the video. 1 being not able to sight-read and 10 being able to sight-read very difficult compositions.
Rehearsal Times: Thursday, 3.00 - 5.00 pm (G36)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Theatre and Performance Ensemble
Director: Stacy Holman Jones
Overview: Theatre and performance ensemble is an opportunity to develop your skills in theatre and performance including writing, acting, directing, lighting, sound, set and costume design, and stage and production management. You will work collaboratively to develop, stage and present performances for a variety of audiences. These performances may include work with existing texts, developing original scripts, poetry, prose fiction, nonfiction, and oral histories that reflect and seek to transform the world around us. This ensemble is designed to create a safe, inclusive, and creative space for developing and showcasing your talents.
This program is designed as a workshop. Each week we will gather and work with/around a theme, a performative mode or context, and/or a specific performance project. You do not have to be a trained or experienced performer to participate. You must, however, be committed to exploring how performance allows you to develop, refine, and create debate around the questions you are asking in your work and life.
Entry: No audition required
Rehearsal Times: Wednesday, 1 - 2.50 pm (G22)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Contemporary Voice Ensemble
Director: Louisa Rankin
Overview: The Contemporary Voice Ensemble is an opportunity to explore an exciting palette of modern compositions for vocalists spanning jazz, gospel, pop, soul and world influences. Students will delve into a lush world of harmonies, challenging rhythmic concepts, vocal technique and the basics of contemporary improvisation. Our eclectic repertoire draws on the very best of Australian contemporary vocal composition, American vocal jazz traditions, modern gospel material, as well as South Indian vocal percussion, encouraging a fresh approach to a cappella performance in all its forms.
Entry: No audition required
Rehearsal Times: Wednesday, 1 - 2.50 pm (G36)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Theatre Orchestra
Music Director: Roman Ponomariov
Overview: This ensemble will explore repertoire featured in music theatre settings. We’ll focus on developing skills such as elasticity, blend, rhythm, phrasing, intonation, and expression, as well as explore specific interpretation associated with various styles. We’ll explore some of the modern music theatre repertoire, as well as work on the finer chamber skills required to accompany the stage or soloists. Woodwind students are encouraged to consider joining this ensemble and explore the world of doubling. This ensemble can accommodate acoustic instruments, as well as a rhythm section.
Entry: Please submit a 90 second video that provides an overall impression of your playing ability.
Rehearsal Times: Thursday, 11 am – 12.50 pm (G21)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Funk Ensemble
Director: Ella Thompson
Overview: Monash Funk Ensemble incorporates elements of soul, jazz, R ’n B and pop — the classic ingredients of groove-based music. From James Brown to Vulfpeck, this ensemble will focus on the interplay between the rhythm, horn and vocal sections within the ensemble.
Entry: Please submit a 90 second video that provides an overall impression of your playing ability.
Rehearsal times: Thursday, 11 am - 12.50 pm (G01)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Latin Jazz Ensemble
Music Director: Vashti Sivell
Overview: This ensemble explores some of the diverse rhythmic styles of Latin music in the context of jazz and improvisation. This will include Afro-Cuban rhythms such as Son, Cha Cha, Songo, Rumba, Afro 68, as well as Brazilian styles commonly used in Latin Jazz. Students will gain an understanding of the concept of Cuban clave and its function as the foundation for rhythmic phrasing within the ensemble. Students will apply concepts learned to jazz standards, arrangements and compositions. There is a performance goal of 20min of recorded material, ideally with video as a final group project. Between classes, students will rehearse and record parts for in-class feedback.
Entry: Please submit a 90 second video that provides an overall impression of your playing ability.
Rehearsal Times: Thursday, 4 - 5.50 pm (G01)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Monash University Choir
Music Director: Gerald Marko
Overview: The Monash University Choir has no audition requirement and is open to students from all faculties, backgrounds, abilities, and musical tastes. This choir explores evidence-based voice training across a versatile repertoire ranging from gospel, pop, and classical, to music for screen/games and improvisation. Students will be asked to prepare notated works as well as engage in learning by listening, via self-study and explorative learning. As a result, participating in this ensemble will equip students with a strong technical foundation across all genres, but also improve aural, reading, rhythmic, and performance skills in a large group setting. Solo parts will be on offer via internal auditions during the semester.
Entry: Please submit a 90 second video that provides an overall impression of your singing ability (any genre/style), and include a short sentence on your current vocal goal for this semester (“What I want to get out of this choir is…:”). NOTE: This video is not an audition requirement, but merely a demonstration of your current skill set and vocal goal.
Rehearsal Times: Tuesday, 1 - 2.50 pm, Auditorium (G36)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Pop, Soul and R&B
Music director: Ella Thompson
Overview: The Pop, Soul and R&B Ensemble comprises an instrumental rhythm section only in 2021 (no vocals or horns due to COVID restrictions). The repertoire is selected from a range of popular music styles, both contemporary and historical, performing original and traditional pop, soul and R&B compositions. The group focus for all students is on performance, arrangement, movement, and teamwork. Each member of the group is required to research material and be involved in arrangements.
Entry: Please submit a 90 second video that provides an overall impression of your playing ability.
Rehearsal Times: Thursday, 2 - 3.50 pm (G01)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Monash Chamber Orchestra
Music Director: Roy Theacker
Overview: This ensemble will focus on some smaller-scale orchestral repertoire, performing Classical, Romantic and modern works. This ensemble would be an appropriate option for strings, woodwinds, and horns.
Entry: Please submit a 90 second video that provides an overall impression of your playing ability.
Rehearsal Times: Monday, 11 am - 1.50 pm (G36)
Mode of Delivery: On Campus
Percussion Ensemble
Music Director: Dr Louise Devenish
Overview: The advanced student percussion ensemble at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance at Monash University is directed Dr Louise Devenish. Each year, our concert season includes performances of new and existing works by Australian musicians, significant works from the international percussion repertoire, audio/video recording projects, and collaborations with other instrumentalists and composers within the School. With Percussion Ensemble you will also perform at various events on campus such as Open Day, Day of Percussion, etc., and off campus in professional venues such as the Melbourne Zoo or schools, and/or in collaborations with industry peers such as ANAM or Speak Percussion.
Percussion Ensemble members includes all students enrolled in percussion performance, and accepts additional members from the wider School and University via audition and enrolment in Ensemble Studies units. Students from all streams and degree types are welcome to audition.
Entry: Please submit a 3-minute video that provides an overall impression of your playing ability across at least two different percussion instrument types as listed below:
- Mallets (vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, malletkat)
- Hand drums (djembe, congas, timbales, pandeiro, cajon etc)
- Drumset or snare drum
- Multi-percussion
- Auxiliary or electronic percussion etc.
You do not need to be proficient in all of these instrument types, but you do need to be proficient in a minimum of two instrument types. You can choose to demonstrate this through improvisation, notated repertoire, your own compositions, or parts you have learned in other ensembles.
For more information on the audition requirements or to find out more about Percussion Ensemble to help you decide to audition, please contact louise.devenish@monash.edu
Rehearsal Times: Tuesday, 3.30 - 5.20 pm (G36). Set up time from 3 pm.
Mode of Delivery: On Campus