DESCRIPTION OF ENSEMBLES

ACADEMY ORCHESTRA
Grades 9-12
Year Long Course
1 credit per semester, 8 hours weekly

The Academy Orchestra presents approximately seven to eight concerts during the year, performing a wide range of repertoire, including collaboration with choir, dancers and soloists.  These programs are frequently broadcast over Interlochen Public Radio.  The regular program is augmented by engagement of outstanding guest conductors.

ACADEMY BAND
Grades 9-12
Year Long Course
1 credit per semester, 8 hours weekly

The Academy Band offers wind and percussion players a wide variety of performance experiences.  Daily rehearsal provides the opportunity to build basic technique and develop the concept of ensemble performance.  The band presents approximately seven to eight concerts annually of music ranging from original compositions and representative transcriptions for full band to works for wind ensembles.  The players thereby experience a wide range of music encompassing a variety of periods and styles.  The program is enhanced by distinguished soloists, guest conductors, and composers, whose visits provide students unparalleled opportunity to work with nationally prominent musical authorities.

ACADEMY CHOIR
Grades 9-12
Year Long Course
.50 credits per semester, 4 hours weekly

Academy Choir is a requirement for all Voice majors and is a open to all students with the permission of the instructor.  Emphasis is on correct singing habits and performance of a wide range of choral literature.  The choir performs approximately ten concerts during the year.

CHAMBER SINGERS - BY AUDITION
Grades 9-12
Year Long Course
.50 credits per semester, 4 hours weekly

The Chamber Singers is an ensemble of advanced singers.  They perform a wide variety of choral repertoire requiring advanced understanding of complex rhythm and melody, plus the ability to sight-sing at a high level.

JAZZ ENSEMBLES
See description under Jazz Studies Program.

BRASS ENSEMBLE - BY AUDITION
Grades 9-12
Year Long Course
.25 credits per semester, 2 hours weekly

The ensemble performs music from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.  Emphasis is on tone production and style concepts, as well as section playing.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE - BY AUDITION
Grades 9-12
Year Long Course
.50 credits per semester, 4 hours weekly

The ensemble performs music from the baroque period through the twentieth century.  Melodic and non-melodic instruments are stressed equally. 

CHAMBER MUSIC - BY AUDITION
Grades 9-12
Year Long Course
.50 credits per semester, 4 hours weekly

Participation is by invitation of instructors.  Woodwind and horn players will be formed into small ensembles such as wind quintet, clarinet quartet, and flute quartet. Brass players will be formed into a horn ensemble or brass quintets. Emphasis is on the basics of fine ensemble playing, intonation, phrasing and balance through regular rehearsals and frequent performances.  String majors will be formed in quartets and string trios, and are coached by string faculty through intensified reading, study, rehearsal and performance of chamber music with emphasis on the string quartet. Literature embraces all periods with supplemental projects, such as the reading and performance of student compositions and pieces with keyboard, wind instruments or voice.  Pianist are selected by invitation only, and is determined by audition, consideration of sight-reading skills, general level of musicianship, and the availability of other instrumentalists to form piano-based ensembles.

Students interested in including chamber music in their schedules should first make their wishes known to the private instructors during the audition time at the beginning of each year.