Ensembles

Performance brings life to the music traditions studied in the classroom. The Adams School of Music and the Arts ensembles give the whole campus a chance to experience the art of music performance and draw many to A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel and Phillips Recital Hall for many concerts throughout the year.

Ensembles:

  • Chamber Music
  • College Choir
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Men's Choir
  • Symphonic Band
  • Symphony Orchestra
  • Women's Choir

A Campus-Wide Experience

Ensembles are open to all students regardless of major. Auditions take place at the start of each school year, and academic credit is available to all participants. In addition to on-campus performances, many of the ensembles perform in the local community including domestic tours.

Music ensembles at Gordon represent both the academic excellence and Christian commitment of the student body. The Music program believes that student musicians, as stewards of a powerful gift from God, are called to share His message of hope and redemption by performing to the best of their ability. Members of Gordon's instrumental and choral ensembles display a respect for the music they play, a passion for hard work and a love for their Creator.

Ensemble Auditions

Join our team and earn credit!
Join a music ensemble and contribute your talents to performances—and earn credit doing it! Music ensembles are open to all majors via audition. You can also fulfill the Fine Arts core requirement by participating in ensembles for 2-4 semesters

For the Fall 2025 semester, ALL students (new, transfer and returning, any major) who wish to participate in a music ensemble must audition in person on Tuesday, August 26. The music faculty is excited to hear you. 

Please use the link below to select your audition time. Be sure to select the correct audition category (choral, strings, woodwinds & brass, percussion or jazz ensemble). You may sign up to audition in more than one category should you wish to participate in multiple ensembles. Music majors may be asked to play specific excerpts from the repertoire for the upcoming year. 

Ensemble rosters will be announced by the ensemble director via email to each auditioning student before the first day of classes. ALL students can register for their ensemble on my.gordon.edu when add/drop begins on August 27. Students must be registered for the ensemble (0/1 credit) to participate. 

The sign-up link for ensemble auditions will be available on Friday, August 1, 2025. 

Audition Requirements

Choral – Women’s, Men’s and College Choir

Singers may sing one selection of their choice. A hymn or popular song will suffice (e.g., "Amazing Grace" or "My Country ’tis of Thee"). For music majors (vocalists only), please prepare a classical repertoire. Please bring one extra copy for the collaborative pianist. Additionally, there may be a sight-reading assessment for music majors and minors. Choir auditions will be on Tuesday, August 26, from 8-11:30 am, 12-3 pm, and 3:30-6:30 pm. 

Woodwinds & Brass – Gordon Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Band 

Woodwind and brass players must prepare one solo piece, etude or excerpt from an ensemble piece for their audition. Music majors may be asked to play specific excerpts from the repertoire for the upcoming year. Excerpts will be emailed at least one week prior to the auditions.
Woodwind & Brass auditions will be on Tuesday, August 26, from 9-11:30 am, and 12-2 pm. 

Strings – Gordon Symphony Orchestra

String players should prepare one solo piece for their audition. Music majors may be asked to play specific excerpts from the repertoire for the upcoming year. String auditions will be on Tuesday, August 26, from 3:30-7:30 pm. 

Percussion – Gordon Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Band

Percussionists are required to prepare a solo piece, etude or excerpt from an ensemble piece on two of the following instruments: timpani, snare drum or marimba. Percussion auditions will be on Tuesday, August 26, from 2:30-3:30 pm. 

Jazz Ensemble 

All instruments except drums should perform one jazz standard, Real Book tune or popular tune that demonstrates your best playing. Jazz auditions will be on Tuesday, August 26, from 3:30-7:00 pm. 

Scales for wind and brass players

  • Brass: Bb major scale up to your highest practical range
  • Woodwinds: Chromatic scale through the full range of your instrument

Rhythm Section: Additional requirements

  • Guitar, Piano and Bass: Comp or walk 2 choruses of a Bb Blues

Drums

  1. Perform a 32-bar medium swing feel at 132 beats per minute.
    1. The first 16 bars are “time.”
    2. The second 16 bars are trading 4’s-four bars of time followed by four bars of solo, etc.
  2. Perform 8 bars of any Latin feel.
  3. Perform 8 bars of any funk/fusion feel.

Voice auditions for jazz ensemble solos will happen later in the semester.