Large ensembles offer performance opportunities for both music majors and non-majors. Music majors and students enrolled in applied instrumental lessons or on a music scholarship must join a major ensemble, as required by the School of Music handbook. Auditions are open to all University students and can fulfill the Silver Core 7 requirement for non-music majors.
Ensembles:
Music majors, students enrolled in applied instrumental lessons, and scholarship recipients of all majors are required to participate in a major ensemble.
Auditions are blind. Candidates will be assigned a number and audition behind a screen on a first come, first-served basis. Attend your instrument’s assigned time, come as early as possible during the time block; attend overflow/conflict slots only if you cannot attend your instrument’s assigned block.
For all auditioning for orchestra, wind ensemble and concert winds (music majors, minors, and non-majors):
For non-music majors/music minors auditioning for Concert Winds only:
You can find excerpts by visiting in this folder.
For printed copies or accessibility accommodations, email band@unr.edu
Location: Nightingale Concert Hall (use backstage entrance on first floor of Church Fine Arts)
Monday, August 24:
Tuesday, August 25:
Auditions will be held the first few days of the semester. Auditionees will sign up for an audition time that suits their schedule. Contact Jason Altieri, Orchestra Conductor at jaltieri@unr.edu for details.
Fall 2025 auditions are closed. Please check back in the Spring 2026 semester for spring audition materials.
For printed copies or accessibility accommodations, please email band@unr.edu.
Ensembles available for students interested in singing at the University of Nevada, Reno include the Chamber Chorale and the Concert Choir. Anyone, regardless of major, may participate in these ensembles. The Chamber Chorale requires an audition prior to enrollment, and the Concert Choir is open to anyone without an audition.
For more information, see the Auditions Process below and Ensemble Information. You can also contact Beth Gibbs, Ph.D., Director of Choral Activities at bgibbs@unr.edu.
Beth Gibbs, conductor
Auditions for the Chamber Chorale will be held prior to and during the first days of each semester for incoming students. Interested singers may request a link to the sign-up sheet by emailing Beth Gibbs (bgibbs@unr.edu).
For the audition, students should prepare 16-measures of a solo to be sung a cappella (approximately 30 seconds of music). The song can be of any style and does not have to be memorized. Other elements of the audition include a range check, tonal memory exercises and sight singing.
Brittney May, conductor
The Concert Choir does not require an audition and students may enroll directly. The course number is MUSE 101.1001. Please contact Brittney May (brittneymay@unr.edu) with questions about the Concert Choir.
The audition will consist of a sight-reading excerpt and a tune of your choice. For more information contact Josh Reed, Jazz Area Coordinator at jreed23@unr.edu.
If you’d like to be in a combo or soloist with the band, please plan to improvise in your audition. Backing tracks will be provided. Drums, piano, and guitar amps will be provided. Bassists, please plan to play acoustically.
Students that wish to audition must sign up for an audition time.
At Nevada Opera Theatre at the University of Nevada, Reno, students explore their skills as singing actors through the fall scenes workshop, our flagship spring mainstage production, and a summer auditing partnership with the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices.
Students of any major can participate in Nevada Opera Theatre.
Auditions for the fall opera scenes program are scheduled by emailing Michael Lam (tungkeil@unr.edu).
Auditions for the 2027 spring production of Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow are open to all University students, staff/faculty and Reno-Tahoe community members. Audition information is available here.
For information regarding the Institute of Young Dramatic Voices, please visit their website.
For more information on any program, please contact Vocal Coordinator and Artistic Director of Nevada Opera Theatre, Katherine Parker (katherineparker@unr.edu).