University Orchestra
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 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.
Some recent performances have included the following works:
| Composer / Arranger | Title |
| Arranged | The Polar Express |
| Bach, Johann Sebastian | Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 |
| Bach, Johann Sebastian | Overture Suite No. 3 |
| Barber, Samuel | Adagio for Strings |
| Beethoven, Ludwig van | "Overture" from Egmont |
| Beethoven, Ludwig van | Symphony No. 1 |
| Bernstein, Leonard | West Side Story Suite |
| Blair, Bradley (CNU Composition Student) | Adagio |
| Britten, Benjamin | Simple Symphony |
| Copland, Aaron | Hoedown |
| Copland, Aaron | Outdoor Overture |
| Corelli, Arcangelo | Christmas Concerto |
| Delius, Frederick | Sleigh Ride |
| Dvořák, Antonín | Czech Suite |
| Elgar, Edward | Elegy |
| Elgar, Edward | Serenade |
| Finzi, Gerald | Prelude |
| Greig, Edvard | Holberg Suite |
| Handel, George Frideric | "Comfort Ye / Every Valley" from Messiah |
| Handel, George Frideric | Concerto for Viola in C minor, Mvmt I |
| Handel, George Frideric | "Overture" from Messiah |
| Handel, George Frideric | Suite for Trumpet and Strings |
| Haydn, Franz Joseph | Concerto for Oboe in C major |
| Haydn, Franz Joseph | Toy Symphony |
| Hofeldt, William | Palmetto Suite |
| Holst, Gustav | Brook Green Suite |
| Holst, Gustav | St. Paul's Suite |
| Hovhaness, Alan | Psalm and Fugue |
| Jarrett, Jack | Serenade for Strings |
| Jenkins, Carl | Palladio |
| McMichael, Catherine | Esperance |
| Mendelssohn, Felix | Symphony No. 9 |
| Mendelssohn, Felix | Violin Concerto in E minor |
| Meyer, Richard | The Emerald Falcon |
| Meyer, Richard | The Idylls of Pegasus |
| Meyer, Richard | Vanishing Pointe |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | "Ach, ich fuhls" from The Magic Flute |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | "Batti, batti o bel Masseto" from Don Giovanni |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | Eine Kleine Nacht Muzik |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | Flute Concerto No. 2 |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | Horn Concerto No. 3 |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | "Non piu andrai" from The Marriage of Figaro |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | "Overture" from The Impressario |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | Overture to The Marriage of Figaro |
| Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | Symphony No. 40 in G minor, KV. 550 |
| Newbold, Soon Hee | Fire Dance |
| Pachelbel, Johann | Canon and Gigue in D major |
| Rutter, John | Serenade for Strings |
| Schubert, Franz | Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D.759 ("Unfinished Symphony") |
| Smith, Claude | Overture for a Celebration |
| Tatgenhorst, John | Poem for Orchestra |
| Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich | Nutcracker Suite |
| Telemann, George | Concerto for Oboe in F minor |
| Verdi, Giuseppe | "De miei bollenti spiriti" from La Traviata |
| Verdi, Giuseppe | "Saper verreste" from The Masked Ball |
| Vivaldi, Antonio | Concerto in G |
| Vivaldi, Antonio | Gloria |
| Vivaldi, Antonio | Guitar Concerto |
| Vivaldi, Antonio | Hornpipe |
| Warlock, Peter | Carpriol Suite |
| Whitacre, Eric | October |
| Whitney, Maurice | III. Gigue from Dance Suite for Strings |
| Williams, Ralph Vaughn | English Folk Song Suite |
| Williams, Ralph Vaughn | Fantasia on Greensleeves |