Ensembles

The Chamber Choir is the premiere choral ensemble at Christopher Newport University. Specializing in a cappella choral works spanning the Renaissance to today, the ensemble is committed to presenting a diverse selection of early and new music reflecting contemporary subjects by connecting to the past.

In addition to campus concerts such as Family Weekend, the Rotunda Concert Series and Holiday Happening, the Chamber Choir enjoys a robust performance schedule with regional and international tours. The ensemble has visited and performed in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy and most recently in England in March 2018.

Benefiting from Hampton Roads’ vibrant artistic community, collaborations have involved the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO), the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Arts Festival. Current and former members perform with the Virginia Chorale, Virginia Opera, VSO Chorus and in the area’s finest church choirs.

The Chamber Choir, led by Dr. John Irving, includes both music and non-music majors and invites all students with considerable ensemble experience, strong reading abilities and exceptional musicianship skills to audition. Students may register each semester, but no more than eight credits can be counted toward graduation.

Rehearsal Schedule

Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 1-2:30 p.m.

Auditions

All students who wish to sing in the Chamber Choir, including returning members, must audition. All students, regardless of major, are encouraged to audition.

Prepared Piece

Perform 1-2 minutes of a prepared selection from memory. This can be an art song, aria, folk song or hymn. An accompanist will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer. Keep the difficulty of accompaniment in mind as the staff accompanist will be sight reading.

Sight Reading

You will be given a short musical example to read with one minute to look at the line before singing. Solfège, numbers or a neutral vowel are all acceptable methods. If you would like to prepare before your audition, practice by singing individual voice parts of a hymnal or basic music text without the aid of a piano. Resources are also available online.

Tonal Memory

A series of random pitches will be played on the piano. You will then be asked to sing them back after the first hearing. There will be several different examples.

Sign Up to Audition

Electronic Music Ensemble is designed to explore performative, improvisatory and experimental performance practices in electronic music. This ensemble provides students with an opportunity to engage their computer as an instrument and learn how to think about interaction with abstract sound.

Our repertoire includes contemporary performance practices and interactions with new technologies in musically meaningful ways. A large focus of the ensemble is being able to interact with a computer and code in live situations. The group performs several times throughout the semester in various locations and spaces. The only prerequisites are a laptop, a good attitude, love for technology, an interest in abstract and experimental ideas and the willingness to learn basic coding skills.

Rehearsal Schedule

The Electronic Music Ensemble rehearses every Monday and Friday from noon-12:50 p.m. in Ferguson Center A184.

Auditions

All students are welcome to join the Electronic Music Ensemble. The only requirement is a laptop.

Jazz Combo is a survey of performance, improvisation and sight-reading for a small group in the following areas:

• Latin
• Fusion
• Be-bop
• Modal
• Swing
• Ballad
• Rock
• Straight ahead jazz
• Vocal jazz

This group focuses on developing advanced improvisation skills while studying the democratic process of musical collaboration and the standard business practices expected of professional jazz musicians. Musical repertoire will be addressed through visual and aural instruction, as learning from recordings is a crucial aspect of the development process. We partner with regional businesses, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to challenge students with a variety of venues and audience expectations.

The group performs several times during the course of the semester. A thorough knowledge of jazz theory, chord and scale relationships, and melodic soloing is recommended. Students can register each semester, but no more than eight credits can be counted toward graduation.

Rehearsal Schedule

The Jazz Combos rehearse at various times throughout the year. Fall sections include the Advanced Combo (Service Learning) which rehearses every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 2 - 2:50 p.m. and a Monday evening section. Spring Jazz Combo sections include both Monday and Tuesday evening sections.

Auditions

First day of class, 1-5 p.m.
Band Rehearsal Hall, Room R106 (until 3 p.m. then location TBD)

You must audition and be accepted into the ensemble to participate in the Jazz Combos at Christopher Newport University. Auditions will consist of a prepared jazz piece of the student’s choosing and optional improvisation. Each audition will be about five minutes long.

The Jazz Ensemble performs all styles of jazz music from Duke Ellington, through Count Basie and Charles Mingus, to the contemporary jazz ensemble composers of today. With regular rehearsals and frequent concerts, including collaborative performances, Family Day Weekend, the annual Swing Dance and our Jazz 4 Justice concert, students are encouraged to develop the stylistic skills necessary to perform a wide variety of repertoire, and to engage in the creative process through collaboration and improvisation.

Rehearsal Schedule

The Jazz Ensemble rehearses every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. in the Ferguson Center for the Arts building, room R106. Within the jazz program, every time you play your instrument in rehearsal, you are handing in your “homework” for the day. Each Jazz Ensemble section (saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm) will have one weekly outside sectional, scheduled by the section leader, at a convenient time for all members of the section.

Sectionals will rehearse music as chosen by the section leader, or by the ensemble director as needed. Additionally, each individual musician is expected to practice the assigned material outside of class, for a minimum of one hour / per one hour of ensemble rehearsal.

Auditions

Membership in the Jazz Ensemble is determined by audition. Auditions are highly competitive, as only a limited number of musicians on specific instruments may enroll in the course.

First day of class, 1 - 5 p.m.
Band Rehearsal Hall, Room R106 (until 3 p.m. then location TBD)

Auditions will consist of a prepared jazz piece of the student’s choosing, sight-reading and optional improvisation. Each audition will be about five minutes long.

The Marching Captains are a high-energy, corps-style marching band that perform at all Christopher Newport home football games, events throughout Hampton Roads, Virginia and around the world. Notable performances include the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the New Years Day Parade in London, a performance of the national anthem at a Washington Nationals baseball game and the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland.

At over 200 members, the Marching Captains are one of the largest NCAA Division III marching bands in the country. The band is composed of students from all disciplines around campus, and all CNU students are welcome to join. Auditions for the Marching Captains occur on the first day of band camp, which is held one week before classes begin in the fall semester. Information regarding band camp is distributed during the Setting Sail freshman orientation sessions held in the summer.

As a Marching Captain, you will earn college credit for each semester that you participate by registering for MUSC 112 Marching Band. Successful completion of three semesters as a Marching Captain meets the creative expressions liberal learning requirement for graduation.

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General Rehearsal / Performance Schedule

September, October, and November
MWF, 3 - 5 p.m.

October
T-TH, 7 - 9 p.m.

November 1 - 7
Tech week and performances (evenings)

Performances

"Die Fledermaus" (The Bat)
Directed by John A. McGuire

Musical Direction by J. Lynn Thompson

Friday, November 7th and Saturday, November 8th at 7:30 p.m., Peebles Theatre

Please join OperaCNU for our production of Johann Strauss's wonderful operetta "Die Fledermaus (The Bat)". This well known and beloved comedic work is based on revenge for a practical joke. It is full of mistaken identities, hijinks and forbidden romances (all enhanced and ultimately settled with the help of a good dose of champagne) has been entertaining audiences since its premiere in 1874! The operetta will be performed in English.

$10 Admission ($8 Seniors, Friends of Music, and Theatre Guild members), CNU Students Free

Prior Performances

The Pep Band is a high energy and enthusiastic ensemble that performs at all CNU home basketball games. The band creates a great college basketball atmosphere and tirelessly works to give the Captains home court advantage. The band is made up of students from all disciplines around campus.

Conductor: Dr. Mark P. Johnson

Rehearsal Schedule

Wednesdays from 8 - 10 p.m.

Auditions

Parts are assigned based on the the marching band audition from the previous Fall. Those who did not audition for the marching band are placed on parts based on the needs of the ensemble.

The CNU Percussion Ensemble performs a wide variety of repertoire, from original percussion scores to classical transcriptions. The ensemble is offered in both fall and spring semesters. Non-percussion majors must audition before classes begin in the fall.

Rehearsal Schedule

Rehearsals are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 3 - 4 p.m.

Auditions

For audition information, please contact Scott Amman at scott.amman@cnu.edu.

The Christopher Newport University Band is an ensemble comprised of wind players and percussionists from all academic disciplines around campus. The University Band studies and rehearses wind band repertoire that fosters musical growth and human connection through music. The ensemble performs an annual concert in the spring semester, and is under the direction of Dr. Mark P. Johnson.

The University Chorale is an auditioned mixed choir comprising students from all majors and a variety of musical backgrounds. The ensemble is dedicated to the performance of multi-movement choral works from the Baroque to the Modern era, collaborating with instrumental ensembles. The choir performs on campus each semester in addition to University events like Family Weekend, the Rotunda Concert Series and Holiday Happening.

The University Chorale, led by Dr. John Irving, invites all students who love to sing to audition and make music with others. Students may register each semester, but no more than eight credits can be counted toward graduation.

Rehearsal Schedule

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30-5:45 p.m.

Auditions

Auditions are required. All students, regardless of academic major, are encouraged to audition.

Prepared Piece

Perform 1-2 minutes of a prepared selection from memory. This can be an art song, aria, folk song or hymn. An accompanist will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer. Keep the difficulty of accompaniment in mind as the staff accompanist will be sight reading.

Sight Reading

You will be given a short musical example to read with one minute to look at the line before singing. Solfège, numbers or a neutral vowel are all acceptable methods. If you would like to prepare before your audition, practice by singing individual voice parts of a hymnal or basic music text without the aid of a piano. Resources are also available online.

Tonal Memory

A series of random pitches will be played on the piano. You will then be asked to sing them back after the first hearing. There will be several different examples.

Sign Up to Audition

The University Orchestra is a great way to connect with students from across campus, and to continue doing something you love, often as a welcome respite from the challenges of your coursework. The ensemble is open to all students, regardless of major, who have prior experience at the high school level. The ensemble, rehearses twice weekly and performs several times each semester, studying a wide variety of repertoire from the string- and full-orchestra literature. We mix serious art music and classics by Mozart and Beethoven with pieces by living composers, popular and film music, and more.

In addition to serving the campus community through its own performances, the orchestra supports the opera and music theater productions as needed. Students will enjoy a fantastic musical experience, striving for excellence regardless of musical background or primary area of study. The ensemble also offers the possibility of exercising your leadership skills, as the student leadership team collaborates with the conductor on creating special projects and events for the group.

Auditions

Auditions are required for all students, regardless of major. They consist of a short portion (1-2 minutes) of a prepared solo work of your choice, the provided audition excerpt(s) for your instrument and possible sight-reading. They will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 5-6:20 p.m.

Repertoire

Some recent performances have included the following works:

The Wind Ensemble comprises of the university’s most talented wind and percussion performers, most of whom are majoring in music. The ensemble performs three major concerts a year in addition to performing at special events and ceremonies. We frequently work with guest composers, conductors and soloists, providing members challenging repertoire and immersing them in cultures and performance practices from around the world.

The Wind Ensemble's repertoire reflects the standards and expectations found in the world's top music schools and conservatories, and ensemble members enthusiastically embrace their responsibility to the music and to each other. In essence, the Wind Ensemble plays several concerts of challenging and sophisticated repertoire, supports the major events of the university, and does all of this with very limited rehearsal time. The educational purposes of the ensemble are to challenge the university’s most advanced music majors, to promote the high musical standards of the department and to recruit serious and talented music majors. Students can register each semester, but no more than eight credits can be counted toward graduation. Auditions are held each semester to ensure that the members are on top of their game.

Auditions

Auditions are Monday, August 25, 2025.

The audition includes:

• Major scales
• Prepared work (the whole piece)
• Sightreading

The Wind Ensemble is a highly visible ensemble that performs approximately once a month. The musicians in this ensemble must be excellent sightreaders, learn music quickly, have strong musical skills and have a voracious appetite for new music.Rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:20 p.m.

Repertoire

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