Concert Ensemble Information
Wind Ensemble
Fall and Spring – Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 3:00 to 5:00pm
The Wind Ensemble is the University of Houston’s premier performing organization. The ensemble has gained a national reputation through performances at the conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association (1988, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2011, and 2016), the Midwest Clinic (2012), the College Band Directors National Association, Colorado Music Educators Association (2010), the Meyerson Symphony Hall Series in Dallas, the 2015 World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in San Jose, CA, and numerous performance in the Houston metropolitan area.
The Wind Ensemble has recorded twelve compact discs, including four recorded after being selected by the International Percy Grainger Society to record Grainger’s works in a four-volume series. One of their recordings was chosen as a compact disc of the year by Stereophile Magazine, and two others were nominated for Grammy awards: volume IV of the Grainger series, and their recording of Gustav Holst’s The Planet’s the first college wind ensemble recording to be honored with a Grammy nomination. The 56-member organization performs at least four concerts during the academic year, each exploring the wide diversity of wind-ensemble literature from the canonic wind repertoire to exciting new and unexplored chamber works written within the last decade. The Wind Ensemble is conducted by Mr. David Bertman.
Audition required.
Undergraduate students should enroll in MUSI 1102-04 (25934)
Graduate students should enroll in MUSI 6106-2 (25905)
Symphonic Winds
Fall and Spring – Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:00am-1:00pm
The University’s second concert band is the Symphonic Winds. Symphonic Winds is dedicated to performing the highest level of literature possible and performs concerts throughout the year. The Symphonic Winds meets in the fall and the spring semesters. The Symphonic Winds ensemble is conducted by Dr. Cameron Kubos.
Audition required. Students should enroll in MUSI 1102-02 (25812)
Symphonic Band
Fall and Spring - Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:00am-1:00pm
The Symphonic Band rehearses and performs compositions for all levels of concert band and new arrangements of standard marches. The band’s goal is to introduce students to new music and offer music education students the opportunity to work with their peers. The Symphonic Band currently meets during the fall and spring semesters and is primarily geared towards non-music majors. Non-music majors are not required to audition. The Symphonic Band ensemble is conducted by Mr. Bertman, Dr. Kubos, and the graduate conducting studio.
Students should enroll in MUSI 1102-03 (25813)
Auditions
Fall 2024 Auditions will occur during the first three days of school in the fall (August 19-21, 2024). Auditions will generally be in the afternoon and each instrument will only have to be there one day. We will post a detailed schedule later in the summer. The first round for all instruments will be a blind audition, and if a second round occurs it may not be blind at the discretion of the panel.
ALL wind players must audition and will be placed by the ensemble directors into one of the wind ensembles or the orchestra wind section. If you are a non-music major percussionist, please email Dr. Wilkins at bwilkins@central.uh.edu to ask for more information.
If you are a non-music major, you should perform the audition just like a music major and will be placed in one of the ensembles. For all non-music majors, please fill out the Non-Music Major Audition Form (click here).
Music can be found below. The excerpts at the start of each passage are from Aegean Festival Overture (Makris/trans. Bader). All other passages are marked by their piece, and if you have questions, please directly contact the Moores School of Music faculty for your instrument.