Music Ensembles at UNR
For performance dates & times, check the Events Calendar. Or, click the 'Box Office' button below for a list of upcoming events requiring tickets.
Ensemble Registration
The Department of Music offers opportunities to any University student demonstrating sufficient musical ability to participate in performing ensembles. Because most of these ensembles require an audition, students should seek instructor's approval prior to registration.
Undergraduate Music Students
- Voice Students - To fulfill degree requirements, voice students are required to participate in one of the following major ensembles:
- Applied Voice Majors may take up to four credits in MUS 470 - Opera Theater - to satisfy their major ensemble requirement. The four credits in MUS 470 must be after their 300 upper division voice audition.
- String Students - To fulfill degree requirements, string students (except guitar) are required to participate in the University Symphony Orchestra.
- Wind and Percussion Students - To fulfill degree requirements, wind and percussion students are required to participate in one of the following major instrumental ensembles:
- Keyboard and Guitar Students - To fulfill degree requirements, keyboard and guitar students are required to participate in a major ensemble. Keyboard students may substitute up to 50% (four semesters) of major ensemble requirement by enrolling in MUS 229, MUS 429 and MUS 629, Techniques of Piano Accompaniment. Guitar students may substitute up to 50% (four semesters) of major ensemble requirement by enrolling in MUS 205, MUS 405 and MUS 605, Guitar Ensemble.
Graduate Students
- Graduate Students -- To fulfill degree requirements, graduate students in the Department of Music are required to participate in some form of conducted or coached ensemble for a minimum of two credits.
Music is an intrinsically social phenomenon. To borrow words from the poet, Robert Browning, to be in the presence of a musical event is to feel one's "solitude peopled at once." This is true, not only for the audience, but also for the musician as well. Ensemble playing is an immensely important learning tool for music students. It helps the aspiring musician learn -- hands on -- how to interact socially and technically with other musicians and with a live audience. The dynamic can be studied through texts and visuals, but the act of making music with others in a live setting is the more profound teacher.
The Department of Music promotes a wide range of ensembles, both major and minor, with new ones emerging as students and faculty create and collaborate. Below is a partial list:
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Faculty Ensembles
Major Student Ensembles
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Non-Major Student Ensembles
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Area & Alumni Ensembles
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Ensembles Without Audition Requirements
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- Vocal Ensembles
- Instrumental Ensembles
