*All students auditioning must complete the Audition Registration Form by Sunday, August 18th at 11:59pm*

Monday, August 19

9:00-10:15am — Percussion in Music Building 108

Tuesday, August 20

11:00am-12:00pm — Tuba in Forbes 1115

12:15-1:15pm — Euphonium in Forbes 1115

1:30-3:30pm — Clarinets in Forbes 1115

3:45-4:30pm — Oboes in Forbes 1115

5:30-7:00pm — Horns in Forbes 1115

Wednesday, August 21

11:30am-1:15pm — Flutes in Forbes 1115

1:45-3:45pm — Trumpets in Forbes 1115

4:15-6:00pm — Saxophones in Forbes 1115

6:15-6:45pm — Bassoons in Forbes 1115

Thursday, August 22

12:45-2:45pm — Trombone in Forbes 1115

Results will be posted Friday morning, August 23.

Fall 2024 Wind Ensembles

Concert Band (MUAP 238/538): The Concert Band is the band program’s largest concert ensemble with an average of 70-95 players. With a performance schedule of one to two concerts per semester, the Concert Band performs a wide variety of wind band repertoire. Membership is open to all JMU students without audition. Interested individuals should register for MUAP 238. For additional information, please contact Dr. Birdsong (fall semester) at birdsoae@jmu.edu or Mr. Rikkers (spring semester) at rikkesd@jmu.edu.

Meeting Times:

Tuesday/Thursday, 2:20-3:35pm

Music Building Room 108

Concert Band Fall Concert Dates:

• October 7, 7:30pm
• December 5, 7:30pm

Symphonic Band (MUAP 239): The Symphonic Band is an ensemble of 50-60 select woodwind, brass and percussion players. The ensemble performs two to three concerts per semester with music ranging from the best of the core repertoire to the latest in contemporary composition. Along with the Wind Symphony, the Symphonic Band hosts a guest composer residency each spring semester. Membership is open to all JMU students and is determined by auditions at the beginning of each semester. For additional information and to request audition materials, please email Dr. Cicconi at cicco2cm@jmu.edu.

Meeting Times:

Tuesday/Thursday, 12:45-2:00pm

Forbes 1115

Symphonic Band Fall Concert Dates:

• October 9, 7:30pm
• December 5, 7:30pm

Wind Symphony (MUAP 346/546/646):

The Wind Symphony is the premier woodwind, brass, and percussion ensemble at James Madison University. With an active performance schedule, the Wind Symphony is committed to performing the great works of the wind band’s core repertoire while also exploring the best of contemporary composition. The ensemble has hosted on-campus residencies with composers David Maslanka, John Mackey, Michael Daugherty, Joel Puckett, Steven Bryant, Donald Grantham and JMU alumnus Brian Balmages. The ensemble has also presented premieres of faculty composers Jason Haney (Jetpack) and Eric Guinivan (Vicious Cycle), and consortium premiers of Maslanka’s Symphony No. 8, Puckett’s The Shadows of Sirius, Grantham’s Tuba Concerto, Turrin’s The Sounding of the Call, Stamp’s Divertimento, Plog’s Concerto 2010, and Balmages’ Portraits in Bluestone. As part of JMU’s annual Contemporary Music Festival, students have also had the opportunity to work with composers such as Karel Husa, Joseph Schwanter, Don Freund, Donald Erb, John Harbison, Francis McBeth, Mark Camphouse and Samuel Adler. 

In addition to on-campus concerts the Wind Symphony recently performed for the 2015 National Conference of the College Band Directors Association (CBDNA) in Nashville, TN, and the VMEA In-Service Conferences in 2015 and 2011. Prior to that the Wind Symphony has performed at CBDNA regional conventions in New Orleans, Charlotte, Williamsburg, and Greensboro, plus numerous performances for the VMEA State Conference. They have also performed at the Kennedy Center in 1987 and 2007.  Graduates of the Wind Symphony hold positions in several of the Washington-based military bands, military post bands and symphony orchestras throughout the world, and numerous graduates are serving as noted educators and conductors throughout the country. Membership is open to all JMU students and is determined by auditions at the beginning of each semester. For additional information and to request audition materials, please email Dr. Cicconi at cicco2cm@jmu.edu.

Meeting Times:

Monday - 4:10-5:00pm

Wednesday/Friday - 4:10-5:25pm

Wind Symphony Fall Concert Dates:

• September 24, 7:30pm
• September 27 (Pops Plus! Concert), 8:00pm
• October 14 (Contemporary Music Festival), 7:30pm
• December 3, 7:30pm

Fall 2024 Orchestral Ensembles

Symphony Orchestra (MUAP 345/545/645): The Symphony Orchestra is the premiere performing group of the orchestral area with a wide and diverse repertoire and up to 5 concerts performances per semester. Entrance into this group is via audition regardless of major. 

Meeting Times:

Monday, 3:00-3:50pm & Tuesday/Thursday, 2:20-3:35pm

Forbes 1115 and Forbes Concert Hall

Symphony Orchestra Fall Concert Dates:

• October 1, 7:30pm
• October 15 (Contemporary Music Festival), 7:30pm 
• November 13, 7:30pm
• December 7 (Holidayfest), 7:30pm
• December 8 (Holidayfest), 2:00pm

Chamber Orchestra (STRINGS ONLY) (MUAP 344): The JMU Chamber Orchestra is comprised of string musicians, and presents up to 4 performances each year. Membership is open to all students regardless of major looking for an opportunity to continue playing at JMU. They perform two concerts a semester. The repertoire tends to be from the baroque, classical, and early romantic eras. No audition required, but those that audition may be placed in Chamber Orchestra.

Meeting Times:

Tuesday/Thursday, 12:45-2:00pm

Music Building Room 108 and Forbes Recital Hall

Chamber Orchestra Fall Concert Dates:

• October 28, 7:00pm
• November 19, 7:00pm

Opera Orchestra (MUAP 360): This ensemble will serve as the accompanying ensemble for staged productions within the School of Music and the School of Theatre and Dance.  Enrollment in this course will be open to all students at the university. Prerequisite: Students will be admitted to the ensemble on an audition basis. Members of the JMU Opera Orchestra will receive 9 tickets this Fall semester to any performances in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts!

Fall Opera 2024: The Little Prince by Rachel Portman & Nicholas Wright

Meeting Times:

Tuesday/Thursday, 5:30-6:45pm

Forbes 1115 and Mainstage Theatre

Opera Performances:

• November 8, 7:30pm
• November 9, 7:30pm
• November 10, 2:00pm