ASU MUSIC CONSERVATORY PROGRAM ENSEMBLES

Support for ensemble playing is an important element of the ASU Conservatory Program.  As the need arises, ensembles of many different kinds can be begun for either short-term or permanent duration.  The music ensembles listed below are currently being offered.  Most of them are open to home school students, public and parochial school students, and others in appropriate age groups who wish to have another high quality ensemble performance opportunity.

Greater Augusta Youth Orchestras (GAYO)
Laura Tomlin, director

There are two youth orchestras supported by the Conservatory Program.  Orchestra I is for less-experienced students (usually middle school and grade school players or those with limited ensemble experience.)  Orchestra II is intended for those players who can successfully approach a more challenging repertoire (usually high school students and especially advanced middle school players).

Fall Semester 2009. 

Auditions for all new and returning orchestra members will be held between 4:30 and 6:30 PM on Monday, August 24, 2009.   The Greater Augusta Youth Orchestra (GAYO) includes only string players in the fall semester, but wind and percussion instruments are often added when dictated by the chosen orchestra repertory for the spring semester.  Membership is by audition only. 

Rehearsals are on Mondays (Orchestra I at 5:00 PM, Orchestra II at 6:00 PM), and at least one major performance is scheduled each semester.  Rehearsals for the 2009 fall semester will begin on Monday, August 31.

Tuition is $70 per semester.

Conservatory Wind Symphony (CWS)
Richard Brasco, director

The CWS is a concert wind ensemble for high school students (grades 9-12).  It meets only in the Spring semester each year, with rehearsals on Monday evenings from 7:15 to 9:00 PM.  Auditions for prospective new members can take several forms, but will happen during the Fall semester, and membership is announced at that time so that rehearsals can begin immediately in January.  Information about the dates and audition requirements for the 2010 semester can be obtained from area high school band directors, from the Conservatory Program office, or from the CWS director, Mr. Richard Brasco, at rbrasco@comcast.net

CWS members who would like to participate as members of the Greater Augusta Youth Orchestra will have to audition separately on the orchestra audition date in January 2010.

Tuition is $50 per semester for the Conservatory Wind Symphony.  Registration can be done by mail or online.

Conservatory Middle School Wind Symphony (CMSWS)
David Silver, director

The CMSWS meets in both Fall and Spring semesters.  It is open to 7th-, 8th- and 9th- grade students, thereby providing a significant leadership role in the ensemble to high school freshmen.  Rehearsals are scheduled for Tuesday evenings, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM., starting on Tuesday, August 18, 2009.  Registration can be done online or will take place at this first scheduled rehearsal.

Tuition is $50 per semester.

Conservatory Jazz Band (CJB)
Dr. John D. Bradley, director

This is a jazz band (“big band”) for experienced high school jazz players, and for those who want to become experienced.  The CJB performs a formal concert every semester at ASU, as well as at other venues throughout the CSRA.  Rehearsals are held on Saturdays, from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM. Potential new members should come to the first rehearsal of the semester to talk to the director.  In the Fall Semester, 2009, the first rehearsal will be held on Saturday, August 15.

Tuition is $45 per semester, payable at the first rehearsal of the semester, by mail or online.

Sand Hills String Band (SHSB)

Carl Purdy, director

A guitar, mandolin, and fiddle ensemble that focuses on performing bluegrass and popular string ensemble repertory.  It meets in the ASU Fine Arts Building on Sunday afternoon, at 2:00 PM.  The first rehearsal for the 2009 Fall semester will probably be August 23.  Tuition is $50.

Contemporary Music Ensemble (CME)

Jeffrey Williams, director

This performing ensemble will focus on performing popular and commercial music of a variety of styles and eras:  Gospel, pop, Latin, Salsa, Rock, Country, Jazz, and 20^th-centurey classical, ranging from the 1920s to current day selections.  First rehearsal on Sunday, August 23, 2009, at 7:00 PM.  Tuition is $50, payable online, by mail, or dropped in the Fine Arts Building lobby Drop Box.

Other Ensembles

The Conservatory has long-range plans to establish several other ensembles.  Among these possibilities are the following:

Conservatory Youth Choir, probably for students in the 11-16 age category;

Adult Wind Band for retirees and other seniors who played instruments in an earlier time of life, but who “temporarily” put the instruments aside

Recorder Orchestra for recorder players of any age who would like to participate in an ensemble for this most basic of wind intruments.

The most important element in the Conservatory Program’s decision about whether to try to start one of these ensembles is whether there is a viable number of people interested in the activity.  If you would like to participate in one of these ensembles, or in some other kind of musical activity, call the Conservatory Office to discuss the matter.

Please Note:

A registration form must be included with payment for each class or ensemble and for every set of lessons. This is to ensure correct registration information.  The first registration for any person in any Conservatory program must be filled out completely.  Subsequent registration forms really need only the student’s name, the teacher’s name, any changes in telephone, mailing address, or email information, and the relevant payment information, since we should already have the unchanged information in our computer database.

Click here for a printable Registration form.

The Conservatory Program Office is located in Galloway Hall on the Campus of Augusta State University. Galloway Hall is located on the corner of Walton Way & Katherine Street, behind the historic guardhouse.  Our address and contact information are:

ASU Music Conservatory Program

211 Galloway Hall

Mailing:

Augusta State University, Box #35

2500 Walton Way

Augusta, GA  30904

Phone:  706 731-7971

Fax:  706 731-7960

E-mail:  consprog@aug.edu

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