Music Ensembles

Please see important registration & advising information at bottom of chart. Printable version.

Ensemble Title	Difficulty	Instructor	Description	Instrumentation/Requirements
Claim Jumpers	Advanced	Bill Clark William.Clark@cudenver.edu (303) 556-8123 AR 288 J	Twenty years ago UC Denver¹s first traditional jazz ensemble, the Timbuktu plus Five, was named National Collegiate Dixieland Champions by the National Association of Jazz Educators. Since 1982 the band has received two DownBeat awards, been honored by the Governor of Colorado, and appeared at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee more than 20 times. In 1998 the band spent a week playing in and around Munich. In June of 2003 the Claim Jumpers were featured at a concert at the Moscow Conservatory. In 2005 the ensemble performed at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee and the Cedar Basin Jazz Festivals. Standards are high with regard to both aesthetics and professionalism. The Claim Jumpers strive to play significant traditional jazz literature and the highest level.	Trumpet, clarinet/soprano sax, trombone, piano, bass/tuba, guitar/banjo, drums/percussion, jazz fiddle, vocal. Opportunity for advanced sound reinforcement / sound sculptor with processing of instruments through PA.
Pop/Rock	Intermediate	Jon Cullison Jon.Cullison@cudenver.edu AR 274 K	Build a repertoire of songs from past to present representing different styles, a concentration on tunes with challenging technical / vocal requirements, learning adequate musicality, as well as arranging, performance presentation, group cooperation / collective participation skills.	General instrumentation of pop / rock styles. Also can take any acoustic instrumentation of strings, brass, and winds. Opportunity for student to earn ensemble credit by running live sound reinforcement.
Electric/Acoustic	Advanced	Jon Cullison Jon.Cullison@cudenver.edu AR 274 K	Real-time musical collaboration utilizing musical vocabularies from commercial, traditional, and experimental sources. Established methods of improvised music are studied and used as agents of musical creativity and the porter to stylistic border-crossings, also creative interpretation & arranging of compositions and popular songs	Any mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentation including computer, turntable, guitars, keyboard, voice, as well as strings, brass, woodwind, drums / percussion. Opportunity for advanced sound reinforcement / sound sculptor with processing of instruments through PA.
Jazz Combo	Intermediate to Advanced	Drew Morell Drew.Morell@cudenver.edu (303) 788-1824 AR 274 E	Instrumental jazz ensemble. Be-bop, swing, funk, & fusion. Open to advanced level horns, guitar, piano, bass, drums & percussion. Students should plan to commit for 1 year, unless scheduled to graduate in December. Auditions are in the Fall. Audition material available by contacting Ensemble Director 1 month prior to first day of classes.	Trumpet, sax, trombone, guitar, bass, drums/percussion, piano. No vocalists. As an advanced ensemble, completion of PMUS 3300 Advanced Sight Reading & Improv highly recommended.
Percussion I	Advanced	Thomas VanSchoick Thomas.VanSchoick@cudenver.edu (970) 381-8580 AR 284 A	Traditional and Afro-Cuban percussion literature. Open to students with experience reading and playing in a percussion ensemble.	Percussion instruments including (but not limited to): Drum set, Mallet Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone, etc.), Hand / Frame drums, etc. Note: instrumentation is determined by literature. Music Theory helpful, but not required. Opportunity for Music Business student to earn ensemble credit by doing Publicity – contact ensemble director.
Percussion II	Intermediate	Thomas VanSchoick Thomas.VanSchoick@cudenver.edu (970) 381-8580 AR 284 A	Traditional and Afro-Cuban percussion literature. Open to students with experience reading and playing in a percussion ensemble.	Percussion instruments including (but not limited to): Drum set, Mallet Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone, etc.), Hand / Frame drums, etc. Note: instrumentation is determined by literature. Music Theory helpful, but not required. Opportunity for Music Business student to earn ensemble credit by doing Publicity – contact ensemble director.
Percussion III	Beginning (Novice)	Thomas VanSchoick Thomas.VanSchoick@cudenver.edu (970) 381-8580 AR 284 A	Traditional and Afro-Cuban percussion literature. Open to any student. No previous experience required. Purpose is to understand rhythm and gain experience in ensemble setting. Ideal for beginners.	Percussion instruments including (but not limited to): Drum set, Mallet Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone, etc.), Hand / Frame drums, etc. Note: instrumentation is determined by literature. Opportunity for Music Business student to earn ensemble credit by doing Publicity – contact ensemble director. No previous experience or study in Music Theory required.
Singer/Songwriter	Advanced	Judy Coe Judith.Coe@cudenver.edu (303) 556-6013 AR 288 H	Auditions are first day of class – be prepared to perform, play & sing 2 original tunes w/ printed lyric sheets.	Vocalists. Self-accompanying skills highly encouraged. Crew also encouraged. Waiver allowed for former members.
Latin Ensemble	Advanced	Pete Ellingson Peter.Ellingson@cudenver.edu (303) 882-1770 AR 274 B	Salsa, Latin jazz, and traditional Caribbean styles (son, danzón, cha-cha-chá, bomba, and rumba). Students should plan to commit for 1 year unless scheduled to graduate in December. Audition material available by contacting the ensemble director 1 month prior to the first day of classes. Auditions are held the week before classes begin.	Piano, bass, guitar, 3 percussion (congas, bongó, timbales), 4 horns, 2 lead vocalists. Vocalists must be able to pronounce the Spanish language, but do not need to be fluent in the language.
Guitar Ensemble	Advanced	Drew Morell Drew.Morell@cudenver.edu (303) 788-1824 AR 274 E	Signature Ensemble. Very Advanced. Jazz guitar group, playing be-bop & fusion. Students should plan to commit for 1 year/2 semesters, unless scheduled to graduate in December. Auditions occur Fall semester. Audition material available by contacting Ensemble Director 1 month prior to first day of classes.	4 guitars; 1 bass (upright or guitar); 1 drums/percussion. No vocalists, or horns. Possibility of piano. As an advanced ensemble, completion of PMUS 3300 Advanced Sight Reading & Improv highly recommended. Students should have passed their Sophomore Proficiency.
Ninth Street Singers	Advanced	Erin Hackel Erin.Hackel@cudenver.edu (303) 556-2723 AR 288 B	Advanced a cappella mixed choir, performing music in many genres. Successful audition necessary.	Voice only. Previous choral experience, basic music theory knowledge and sight reading ability highly desirable. This group performs difficult music in 8 part harmony.
Chamber	Intermediate to Advanced	Zoe Erisman Zoe.Erisman@cudenver.edu (303) 556-2757 AR 288 K	Traditional classical music such as Beethoven and Mendelssohn.	Strings, wind, piano & horns. No percussion or vocalists.
UCD A Cappella Voices	Intermediate	Karin Hauger Karin.Hauger@cudenver.edu (702) 896-2361 AR 274 A	Intermediate a cappella choir. Successful audition necessary.	Beginners with good vocal and musical potential are welcome, subject to an audition. Minimal choral experience, e.g., church, high school, etc.
UCD 7	Advanced	Erin Hackel Erin.Hackel@cudenver.edu (303) 556-2723 AR 288 B	Advanced a cappella mixed choir, performing music in many genres. Successful audition necessary.	Voice only. Previous choral experience, basic music theory knowledge and sight reading ability highly desirable. This group performs difficult music in 8 part harmony.

Ensemble auditions are held the week prior to the first week of classes. To register for an Ensemble, students must retrieve the appropriate call number from their ensemble director.

Students registered for an Ensemble through the Metro Pool, should consult with Metro Music (AR 287) for additional information.

All Ensembles are listed at the 2000 and 4000 level. All students should register for PMUS 2000 – unless they have passed their sophomore proficiency. Students who have passed their sophomore proficiency should register for PMUS 4000.

Please note that students who do not pass their ensemble audition may be administratively dropped from the course.