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 and the graduate conducting studio.
Students should enroll in MUSI 1102-03 (25813)
Auditions
Auditions for Spring 2025 will be done by recording. All music and the submission form can be found below. All recordings are due by Friday January 10, 2025. All auditions can be submitted at the Audition Submission form (click here).
ALL music major 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. Non-music major wind players do not have to audition, and can choose to just be placed into the Symphonic Band. If you wish to be considered for the Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, or Orchestra, you must audition regardless of major.
For all non-music majors, please fill out the Non-Music Major Audition Form (click here). Please do this even if you are choosing to audition.
Music can be found below. Please record all three excerpts as marked for your instrument. We ask that you do so on video showing you as you play the excerpt. Please do the submission in one take (excerpts played in the order listed without cuts to the video).
Bass Clarinet