Ensembles
The Faculty of Music Ensembles are recognized as some of the best in the country. Both choral and instrumental groups have performed by invitation at many major conventions. Placement in all ensembles is by audition and permission of the Dean. Typically ensembles rehearse four hours per week and present between three and 10 concerts per year. Repertoire depends on the skill level of the players, but includes a broad range of traditional and contemporary music.
Instrumental Groups
- Chamber Ensembles
- Chamber Orchestra
- Early Music Studio
- Jazz Ensemble
- Percussion Ensemble (non-credit)
- Symphonic Band
- Symphony Orchestra (UWOSO)
- Wind Ensemble
Vocal Groups
Historical Information on Ensembles
In 1961, Clifford von Kuster was invited by Western President Edward Hall to take over the responsibility of the Music Teachers College. It was understood that this small department would immediately begin a Music Education program and Donald McKellar was invited to design and implement this program.
Several decisions were established concerning performance in this new music education program and later all undergraduate programs in the newly renamed College of Music: First, every undergraduate student would receive studio lessons on their selected musical instrument receiving full academic credit; Second, every undergraduate student was required to perform in an ensemble during each year of undergraduate studies. Western was the first institution of its kind in Canada to offer this and established the precedent for university music programs across the country.
Choral Ensembles conducted by Earl Terry and Alfred Rosé were continued from previous years. In the College's second year, 1962, McKellar formed the first instrumental band which included not only registered music students but many other students and university faculty as members.
In the third year of this new school, a small chamber orchestra was established, by McKellar as conductor. This was the beginning of what would become the College of Music Symphony Orchestra, now known as the University of Western Ontario Symphony Orchestra.
Robert (Bob) Skelton, a former concert master of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, was brought onto faculty and became the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra. Clifford Evens, Jerome (Jerry) Summers and James (Jim) McKay developed this orchestra with further assistance from other occasional and guest conductors.
The majority of new students in the Music Education program were wind players and the band program grew quickly. The initial Concert Band was renamed the Symphonic Band and a Wind Ensemble was established for more senior players by Jerome Summers. As enrollment grew a third band was occasionally formed and took the name of Concert Band.
Along with the instrumental ensembles the Choral Ensembles have been a major strength of the Faculty of Music. After Earl Terry, Dawson Woodburn, the newly appointed head of music at the new Elborn Faculty of Music, conducted the major choral ensemble. This program again grew so quickly that it needed full time leadership. Deral Johnson, was brought onto the faculty and over the next several decades the choral program at Western became one of the foremost choral programs in a Canadian university.
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