Ensembles
Large Ensembles
MUS 184 - Cardinal Marching Band (Dr. Norman Wika, Director of Bands)
The Cardinal Marching Band performs at all home football games, at a season ending concert and at other campus events during the fall semester. The band prepares 3 to 5 halftime shows each season drawing on music from the pop, rock, Latin and jazz repertoires.
Prerequisite: High school marching band experience or instructor permission.
Credits: 2 cr
Notes: Open to all SVSU students.
Joining the SVSU Cardinal Marching Band!
MUS 186 - Wind Ensemble (Dr. Norman Wika, Director of Bands)
An instrumental ensemble that plays a broad range of wind literature designed for a single player per part.
Prerequisite: Audition and instructor permission
Credits: 1 cr
Audition Instructions:
When do they meet?
Wind Ensemble, MUS 186, meets on Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00-3:50 in the fall semester. Membership in the ensemble is open to anyone by audition or instructor permission.
Wind Ensemble Audition Requirements
- If you were a member of the wind ensemble in Fall 2023, you do not need to reaudition. I will enter permission for you to enroll.
- If you were not a member of the wind ensemble in Fall 2023, and you are a music major or minor performing a jury this semester, you may use your jury as your audition. You just need to let me know so that I can be there or hear a recording.
- If neither of these cases apply, you will be required to do a recorded audition. It can be either video or audio. It should include the following:
- Chromatic scale over the full range of the instrument.
- A concert Bb major scale played in half notes over a drone. Drones may be found on youtube or in many tuner apps.
- A prepared piece that shows off your best playing.
- Recordings are due by July 1
- Upload to an unlisted YouTube channel and email the link to nwika@svsu.edu OR
- Send a OneDrive or Google drive link to Dr. Wika, nwika@svsu.edu
Percussion Auditions
All percussionists should pick 2 of the following:
- Snare drum solo
- Keyboard (preferably marimba, but any will work)
- Timpani
Videos do not need to be long. 1-2 minutes is enough.
All videos should be uploaded to an unlisted youtube channel and the link emailed to nwika@svsu.edu.
MUS 189 - Cardinal Singers
A select chamber vocal ensemble that sings a variety of literature that is both accompanied and unaccompanied.
For more information on choirs at SVSU please visit their website.
Prerequisite: Audition and instructor permission.
Credits: 1 cr
Audition Instructions:
Fall 2023 Cardinal Singer Audition Information
- The music to be learned is the second movement, "Gloria," from "A Little Jazz Mass" by Bob Chilcott, pages 13 to 24. The music is contained in the Google Drive folder listed below.
- Here is a link to a performance of the full work: https://youtu.be/VjBw7deXm_Q . The second movement starts at 1:48 and ends on 4:27
- Learn the part according to your voice part by listening to the practice track and following the score - you can also learn on your own. Link to Google Drive
- If you are unsure about your voice part, try practicing more than one part and choose the one you feel most comfortable with.
- You may choose to submit more than one audition, and you will be evaluated twice (i.e. soprano and alto/ tenor and bass).
- Once your part is well learned, please use the accompaniment track to sing along. You may also choose to listen to the performance recording if singing with the other parts is easier.
- You may use your phone as a recording device. Please make sure that it will be placed
close to your mouth and that your voice is louder than the accompaniment.
- Save your recording with your first and last name, followed by the voice part.
- Add your recording to this folder
- Please turn your recording by June 1 for current SVSU students and August 1 for incoming students.
MUS 183 - Concert Band (Dr. Norman Wika, Director of Bands)
The Concert Band reads, rehearses and performs a wide variety of music. This includes marches, show tunes, popular music and contemporary and standard works from the band and wind ensemble repertoire. Student soloists also perform with the band. The concert band performs an annual spring concert and at the spring commencement.
Prerequisite: High school band experience or instructor permission.
Credits: 1 cr
Notes: Open to all SVSU students.
MUS 181 - Concert Choir
A large vocal ensemble that sings a variety of literature that is both accompanied and unaccompanied.
For more information on choirs at SVSU please visit their website.
Prerequisite: Prior membership or instructor permission.
Credits: 1 cr
MUS 185 - Jazz Ensemble (Director: Dr. Colin Wood)
Study and performance of classic and contemporary big band literature. Rehearsal twice a week with one performance at the end of the semester. Emphasis on correct style & improvisation.
Prerequisite: Audition and instructor permission.
Credits: 1 cr
Audition Information: Jazz Ensemble Audition Instructions 2024 (148KB)
Small Ensembles
MUS 481A: Percussion Ensemble-Director: Jonathan Ovalle
MUS 481B: Jazz Combo I: Dr. Colin Wood (Audition Info: Jazz Ensemble Audition Instructions (142KB) )
MUS 481C: Jazz Combo II: Dr. Colin Wood (Audition Info: Jazz Ensemble Audition Instructions (142KB) )
MUS 481D: Guitar Ensemble: Eric Merkle
MUS 481E: Pit Orchestra: Dr. Norman Wika
Non-curricular groups:
Flute Choir-Director: Dr. Townes Miller