Joining the Ensemble

Membership in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble is open to all students with prior experience in wind or percussion instruments. If you own an instrument and want to play, and we have space in the rehearsal room, you are welcome. Auditions are necessary only when the use of school-owned instruments or limited space in the rehearsal room become issues.

The College owns a number of instruments, both common (e.g. clarinet) and specialty (e.g bass clarinet), which may be signed out by students at no charge. Should multiple students express interest in joining the ensemble, but need to use the same instrument, the issue will be settled either by audition or negotiation among the interested parties.

Students are welcome to join the ensemble at the beginning of fall or spring semesters, but if issues involving space or school-owned instruments emerge, preference will be given to those who can commit to participating for the full academic year.

ALL prospective members of the ensemble are asked to play a low-stress "hearing" each year, prior to their joining the Band. These hearings, held on the first Saturday of each semester, are a time for you and the director to meet, play a duet or two, and discuss part assignment strategies. Although parts are rotated (there are no fixed chairs), the director needs to hear each member prior to enrollment, to determine what (if any) technical considerations need to be taken into account when part assignments are made. These include range, fingering technique, sound, etc. THESE ARE NOT HIGH-STRESS EVENTS! If you need a department-owned instrument for the hearing, please contact the director.

First-year and transfer students receive a Music Department Questionnaire as a standard component of a mailing from Admissions that follows their acceptance by the College. Those students who return the form and express interest in playing will receive a letter from the director in late July or early August. This letter will include information on the ensemble as well as the music to be used in the hearing.

If you did not return the questionnaire, but are interested in joining the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, please contact the director. Information will be sent to you as soon as possible.

Non-student members of the Kenyon community, including faculty, staff, and spouses, are also welcome to join the Symphonic Wind Ensemble.