Ensembles
University of Manitoba ensembles are an integral part of our music programs. Ensembles cover a range of genres and sizes from an 80-piece concert band to small chamber groups.
Our ensemble directors are constantly developing new experiences and educational opportunities through our ensembles – whether it is music-making with students from different universities, working with mentors from around the world, or deep dives into repertoire and into examining the process of making music together.
We are committed to providing music-making of the highest level for all of our students.
Ensemble Auditions
Photo credit: Gary Barringer — Photo by Gary Barringer, Graphic Designer, Photographer, Animator
Participation is required for students seeking a Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree, Master of Music and the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Performance.
Our Bachelor of Music program requires that a student participate in at least two ensembles each year for four years. The Bachelor of Jazz program requires at least one ensemble each year for four years. All new and returning music students must audition for ensemble placement for their credit ensembles every year. Auditions take place late August and early September.
We welcome auditions by community members and students from other faculties who wish to perform with one of our ensembles.
University of Manitoba Ensembles
Accompanying (1 and 2)
This is a required course for first- and second-year piano majors. Students in this course learn the art of performing in collaboration with small ensembles and solo instrumentalists or vocalists.
Director
Judy Kehler Siebert
Who is eligible?
Year 1 and 2 piano majors only, or by professor consent
Rehearsals
- Time: Tuesdays, 11:30 am to12:45 pm
- Location: Eva Clare Hall (fall term), T2-162 (winter term)
Chamber ensembles
We have a wide array of chamber ensembles, made up of different instruments and vocal groupings. From strings to brass, to small vocal groups, our chamber ensembles offer repertoire and instrumental pairings suited to each unique group.
Faculty
Our faculty varies for these ensembles.
Who is eligible?
All students enrolled in the Desautels Faculty of Music Major Practical Study course.
Normally the classical area Small Chamber Music Ensembles involve combinations of instrumentalists. Placements are made in consultation with the student's MPS instructor and ensemble faculty members.
Rehearsals
Determined between the ensemble members and the designated coach.
Contact
Judy Kehler Siebert
Composition Seminar
Composition Seminar is a colloquium in which students and faculty study and discuss a wide range of topics including repertoire, compositional approaches, music notation, technology, analysis, performance practice, aesthetics, contemporary trends, and the role of the arts in society.
Directors
Örjan Sandred and Gordon Fitzell
Who is eligible?
Composition majors only
Seminar times
- Time: Wednesdays, 2:30 to 5:30 pm
- Location: T2-175, Taché Arts Complex
Concert Band
The University of Manitoba Concert Band is a 60-piece ensemble that performs a wide variety of wind band repertoire, and provides a platform for budding conductors to take on leadership roles.
The Concert Band presents four concerts a year (usually with the Wind Ensemble).
Founded by Connie Turner, the Concert Band is conducted by Jacquie Dawson, and it includes a mix of students from the Desautels Faculty of Music, other university students, community members and select grade 12 students.
Director
Jacqueline Dawson
Who is eligible?
Any university-age or community member is welcome to audition; players do not need to attend the University of Manitoba. Participants who are not Desautels Faculty of Music students pay a fee of $60 per year.
Rehearsals
- Time: Tuesdays, 7:00 to 9:30 pm
- Location: Room T2-145, Taché Arts Complex
Concert Choir
Concert Choir provides an opportunity for students, faculty, alumni and community members to explore a variety of choral repertoire in a supportive, yet challenging environment. Concert Choir also provides a platform for budding conductors to take on leadership roles and offers a space for future music educators to gain valuable choral singing experience.
Director
Catherine Robbins
Who is eligible?
Auditions are open to all Desautels Faculty of Music students, University of Manitoba students and community members. Participants who are not Desautels Faculty of Music students pay a fee of $125 per year.
Rehearsals
- Time: Wednesdays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Room T2-266, Taché Arts Complex
Fiddling Ensemble
North American Fiddlers' Hall of Fame member Patti Kusturok will be leading Métis Fiddling ensembles at the Desautels Faculty. Students should register for Chamber Ensemble (MUSC x190 T04) to participate in this ensemble.
Director
Patti Kusturok
Who is eligible?
This ensemble is open for Desautels Faculty of Music students, University of Manitoba students and community members who play stringed instruments or who are taking Métis Fiddling lessons with Patti during the 2024-25 year.
Rehearsals
Rehearsal times will be determined by Patti and the ensemble members.
Statement of Intent
There is no audition for this ensemble.
To provide the best experience possible for students registered in the Métis Fiddling ensembles, we are asking that students send a brief statement of intent (150 words or less) to music@umanitoba.ca ATTN: Patti Kusturok, Fiddling Ensemble.
Please provide a bit of information about what is drawing you to participating in a fiddling ensemble and let us know if you have previous exposure to fiddling, even if you haven’t played yet.
Jazz Orchestra
The University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra is a 17-piece jazz orchestra that provides the full big band experience.
Bachelor of Jazz Studies students are required to participate in at least one ensemble each year for four years. In addition to UMJO, students can audition for the small jazz ensembles.
Director
Jonathan Challoner
Who is eligible?
Entrance is by audition and is open to Desautels Faculty of Music students, university staff and students, and the community.
Rehearsals
- Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30 to 4:30 pm
- Location: T2-272, Taché Arts Complex
Jazz Vocal Ensembles
Jazz vocal ensembles offer jazz vocalists the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents while being backed by small jazz ensemble instrumentalists. Led by accomplished jazz vocalist Erin Propp, the jazz vocal ensembles give our jazz vocal students the confidence and organization they need to front a jazz band.
Director
Karly Epp
Who is eligible?
Jazz voice majors
Rehearsals
- Time: Thursdays, 4:00pm to 6:00pm
- Location: T2-272, Taché Arts Complex
Musical Theatre
In Musical Theatre, participants learn repertoire from musicals both old and new, curated into shows surrounding a theme. Musical Theatre participants also have the opportunity to perform in cabaret-style performances of song in intimate settings.
Director
Donna Fletcher
Who is eligible?
Entrance to this course is through the general ensemble auditions held at the beginning of September. Open to Desautels Faculty of Music students, University of Manitoba students and community members. Participants who are not Desautels Faculty of Music students pay a nominal fee.
Rehearsals
- Time: Tuesdays, 3:30 to 6:30pm
- Location: T2-266, Taché Arts Complex
Opera theatre ensembles
In the University of Manitoba Opera Theatre, participants learn repertoire from opera scenes both old and new, curated into shows surrounding a theme. These themed shows occur annually. Select participants also have the opportunity to perform in the Desautels Chamber Opera Group, which stages a full-length chamber opera biennially. In years during which the chamber opera is not performed, select participants will have the opportunity to perform opera repertoire with the orchestra.
Director
Katherine Twaddle
Who is eligible?
Students enrolled in the Desautels Faculty of Music with a major in voice.
Casting for the biennial November production with orchestra, which alternates with the Chamber Opera production, is based on participation in the excerpt production in February of the previous academic year. Priority for both of these productions is given to students enrolled in the Masters of Music Performance in Voice.
Rehearsals
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 am to 12:45 pm (T2-266, Taché Arts Complex)
- Fridays, 2:30 to 5:30 pm (T2-266, Taché Arts Complex)
Percussion Ensemble
The Percussion Ensemble performs an eclectic and varied selection of percussion-centred music, performing concerts multiple times per year, both in the faculty and at select external locations.
Director
Victoria Sparks
Who is eligible?
All who are interested are encouraged to apply. Preference is given to students majoring in percussion.
Rehearsals
- Times: Thursdays, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
- Location: T2-145, Taché Arts Complex
Rhythm Section Ensemble
The University of Manitoba small jazz ensembles, led by the Jazz Studies faculty, provide many opportunities for music students to perform and earn credits.
Bachelor of Jazz Studies students are required to participate in at least one ensemble each year for four years. In addition to the small jazz ensembles, students can audition for the University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra.
Student ensembles perform opening sets for the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances and at many other community events.
Director/ faculty
Our faculty varies for these ensembles.
Who is eligible?
Jazz majors, Desautels Faculty of Music students, UM students and community members. Eligibility is determined by audition. Priority is given to Desautels Faculty of Music students.
Rehearsals
- Various times and locations
Small Jazz Ensembles
The University of Manitoba small jazz ensembles, led by the Jazz Studies faculty, provide many opportunities for music students to perform and earn credits.
Bachelor of Jazz Studies students are required to participate in at least one ensemble each year for four years. In addition to the small jazz ensembles, students can audition for the University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra.
Student ensembles perform opening sets for the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances and at many other community events.
Director/ faculty
Our faculty varies for these ensembles.
Who is eligible?
Jazz majors, Desautels Faculty of Music students, UM students and community members. Eligibility is determined by audition. Priority is given to Desautels Faculty of Music students.
Rehearsals
Two per week, based on schedules of ensemble members.
Contact
William Bonness
Symphony Orchestra
The University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra (UMSO) provides intensive training and performance experience in orchestral repertoire. Comprised mainly of string, woodwind, brass and percussion majors at the Desautels Faculty of Music, the ensemble is also open to all University of Manitoba students, staff and members of the community by audition.
Orchestra members perform a wide range of repertoire including baroque masterpieces and contemporary premieres in addition to the classical and romantic orchestral canon. UMSO members have regular opportunities to work closely with musicians from the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in coachings and sectionals.
UMSO also collaborates with UM Opera Theatre, the University Singers and other choirs, and the composition department at the Desautels Faculty of Music.
Director
Monica Chen
Who is eligible?
Entrance is by audition and is open to Desautels Faculty of Music students, university staff and students, and the community.
Rehearsal schedule
- Times: Mondays: 2:45 to 5:00pm & Wednesdays: 4:45 to 7:00 pm
- Location: T2-145, Taché Arts Complex
Contact
Minna Rose Chung, coordinator
Works performed in past seasons:
- Elgar: Enigma Variations
- Mozart Opera: The Magic Flute (fully staged)
- Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
- John Adams: Shaker Loops
- Morlock: My Name Is Amanda Todd
- Violet Archer: Poem for Orchestra
- Dvorak: Serenade for Strings
The symphonic repertoire is meticulously programmed across all musical contexts, with each concert thoughtfully curated to showcase contemporary compositions alongside traditional masterworks. Each year, the winners of the annual concerto competition are prominently featured, performing with the UMSO or the Wind Ensemble (WE) in the subsequent academic year.
In addition, the UMSO engages in annual collaborative projects with Opera Theatre or Chamber Opera, alternating on a rotational basis for staged performances. The UMSO is steadfast in its commitment to the promotion and performance of new music, consistently prioritizing the integration of innovative compositions into its programming.
University Singers
The University Singers is a choral ensemble performing varied choral works both classic and modern, and students performing with this group learn an eclectic array of repertoire. The group has been featured on professional recordings and has performed with celebrated musicians from around the world.
Participants have the opportunity to perform in varying locales in Europe, with annual fundraising concerts hosted to offset the cost.
Director
Elroy Friesen
Who is eligible?
Auditions are open to all Desautels Faculty of Music students, University of Manitoba students and community members. Participants who are not Desautels Faculty of Music students pay a nominal fee.
Rehearsals
- Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 -3:15 p.m.
- Location: Room T-266, Taché Arts Complex
Upper Voices
The University of Manitoba Upper Voices is a choral ensemble designed for voices in the upper registers, regardless of gender. Upper Voices performs varied choral works both classic and modern, and students performing with this group learn an eclectic array of repertoire.
Director
Elroy Friesen
Who is eligible?
Auditions are open to all Desautels Faculty of Music students, University of Manitoba students and community members. Participants who are not Desautels Faculty of Music students pay a nominal fee.
Rehearsals
- Times: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30-4:15pm
- Location: T-266, Taché Arts Complex
Wind Ensemble
The University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble programs and perform first-class repertoire. The ensemble has also been active in commissioning and performing new music for winds, including pieces by Canadian composers. The ensemble also provides the opportunity to instrumental conducting students to take on leadership roles.
Director
Jacqueline Dawson
Who is eligible?
Desautels Faculty of Music students; non-music students and community members are also welcome to audition.
Rehearsals
- Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:45 to 5:00 pm
- Location: T2-145, Taché Arts Complex
eXperimental Improv Ensemble (XIE)
The eXperimental Improv Ensemble is an interdisciplinary performance group.
Activities of the ensemble vary widely, ranging from live soundtrack performance to the mounting of multimedia art installations. The XIE is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with partners both on and off campus. Recent academic collaborations include projects with architecture, computer science, sculpture, and electrical engineering.
Director
Gordon Fitzell
Who is eligible?
Open to all UM students, at the discretion of the director, with priority given to Composition majors and other DFOM students.
Rehearsals
- Time: Fridays, 2:30 to 5:30pm
- Location: Room T2-175, Taché Arts Complex
Past performances include:
- Winnipeg New Music Festival
- Canadian Museum of Human Rights
- performance with dance collaboration with the UM Department of Religion
- collaboration with Brandon University's New Music Ensemble
- evening of live soundtracks at Cinémathèque
- outdoor sound installation for the Museum of Clear Ideas
- Taste for Justice—a “sonic cuisine” fundraiser sponsored by Amnesty International