Audition Information for 2024-25

Thank you for your interest in the 2024-25 USWO!

Auditions for this ensemble require the performer to prepare major scales up to 3 sharps and 3 flats plus chromatic (only 3 scales will be chosen), and two contrasting selections/excerpts/etudes to showcase your: 

  • Lyrical playing that highlights tone, phrasing, and expressivity (Excerpt 1)
  • Technical facility (faster moving notes and articulation) and musicality (Excerpt 2) 

Each excerpt should be no more than 1-2 minutes in length.

A one-minute sight-reading excerpt will also be a component of the audition.

Each audition (approximately 10 minutes) will be in person between September 3-6, 2024, in room 1047 in the Department of Music. A signup schedule will be available by mid-August.

If you have any questions about USWO, please do not hesitate to email Dr. Glen Gillis. When registering for the class (MUAP 201.1 section 01 or 120.0 section 02), be aware that you must register in BOTH semesters. 

The first USWO rehearsal will be Tuesday, September 10, 2024. All rehearsals are in Quance Theatre, T/TH at 4:15 – 6:00 pm. 

Again, thank you for your interest in the USWO. If you have any questions, or do not have access to an instrument, please contact Dr. Gillis at glen.gillis@usask.ca  

2024-25 Schedule

September 3-6, 2024 – Auditions (sign up schedule, Dr. Gillis’ office, room 1047, music dept)

September 10, 2024 – 1st Rehearsal - 4:15-6 pm (music folders provided)

September 13-14, 2024 – WO Retreat (Friday 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm; Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm)

October 4, 2024 – Play it Forward, Quance Theatre 7:30 pm

October 24-25, 2024 – Fall Tour TBA

November 29, 2024 – Final Term 1 Concert – TBA 7:30 pm.

January 7, 2025 – 1st Meeting Term 2 (new folder of music) 

January 17-18, 2025 – WO Retreat (Friday 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm; Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm)

March 21, 2025 – Final Term 2 Concert – TBA 7:30 pm.

About

The Wind Orchestra is the premier large instrumental ensemble on campus and is open by audition to all university students who play wind or percussion instruments. Established in 1974, the ensemble rehearses twice a week and performs a wide variety of wind repertoire. The group has established an impressive regional, national and international reputation, having performed in Canada, The United States, and Europe. Notable conference and festival performances include the Canadian Music Educators Association Conference, Texas Music Educators Association Conference, World Music Contest, and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference.

The ensemble is committed to performing and supporting contemporary music, regularly embarking on new commissions and consortia. The ensemble recently recorded an entire album of Peter Meechan’s music (Skyscapes), and has given both Canadian and world premieres of works by composers such as Elizabeth Raum, Paul Suchan, Dinuk Wijeratne, James M. David, Jeff Presslaff, and Tom Davoren. In addition, the ensemble has hosted world-class guest soloists in a variety of performances. Recent appearances include Ian MacDougall (Trombone), Frederick Hemke (Saxophone), Allen Vizzutti (Trumpet), and TorQ Percussion
Quartet.

During the 2020 Fall Semester the Wind Orchestra was delivered in a remote teaching and learning model. While we dearly missed making music together in the same room, we made sure to still practice and perform to the best of our abilities while staying safe. We are proud to present one of our pieces, Plaza Fanfare by Pete Meechan.

Northern Reflections - March 15 2024

Archived Recordings

The USWO followed strict health and safety protocols in the Winter Term, and were allowed to make music in-person. While we couldn’t have the entire ensemble together, we did our best to rehearse and make music in a hybrid format. Over the course of the semester we recorded some pieces in that same hybrid format. Thanks to the skill and wizardry of Mr. Wayne Giesbrecht in Media Access Productions, we present some audio and video of our efforts. Enjoy!