Symphonic Ensembles 4 (MUSI20094)

The Symphonic Ensembles (including large instrumental bands and orchestras) play an important role in the educational and performance activities of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM). Students participating in Symphonic Ensembles gain invaluable experience through rehearsing and performing a wide variety of works from the symphonic canon.

The MCM has several performing groups within the Symphonic Ensemble subject, with the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony taking priority over all others. Auditions for all ensembles are usually held in February, after which students will be rostered on merit into an appropriate ensemble.

Audition - At the completion of the audition process, students will be placed by staff into a ‘primary’ performing group. Once a student has been placed into a performing group there is no flexibility for negotiating a change. Where applicable, students will then be rostered into a self-chosen ‘secondary’ performing group. It is important for students to provide staff with their preferred choices to enable staff to attempt to follow students’ wishes.

If students do not offer an order, staff will also choose each student’s secondary ensemble, again without recourse for negotiating a change. Students can offer to play in more than two ensembles (and many students do). Once both primary and secondary ensembles have been rostered, students cannot then change their ensemble priorities without the consent of both the Head of Area and Head of Orchestral Studies.