Concerts for a Cause
In its 2009-2010 season, the DCSO embarks on a mission to reach out to those in need. While all concerts are non-ticketed and open to the public, the orchestra asks for donations at the door to support various causes. Students in the orchestra have specifically chosen five charitable organizations to which the orchestra will contribute one hundred percent of the donations after each of their five main concerts. Through the power of music, the DCSO looks forward to bringing people together to create a better world. Please see our 2009-10 Season to see a list of the specific organizations.
The Davidson College Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble of approximately 55 student musicians. These students, originating from more than 10 states and countries, reflect the diversity of the Davidson student body. Not only are the members diverse in their backgrounds, but they are diverse in their interests and career pursuits as well. The orchestra is an excellent opportunity for students, regardless of their major, to rehearse and perform in a collaborative atmosphere while honing their technical skills and broadening their musical knowledge and experience.
The Symphony Orchestra
Rehearsals
- Mondays from 4:15-6:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 4:00 - 5:45 p.m. in Sloan 200
- Dress rehearsals on the days preceeding concerts
Audition 2009-2010
- Wednesday, August 26: Woodwinds (no saxophones), brass, and orchestral percussion
- Thursday, August 27: Woodwinds, brass, jazz rhythm & saxophones
- Friday, August 28: strings
- Sign-up sheets are posted on the bulletin board outside of Sloan 200 (the instrumental rehearsal room) When you arrive on campus, please sign up for a time
- DCSO Fall 2009 Audition Materials
- Contact Tara Chamra at tachamra@davidson.edu for more information
Auditions Consist of:
- Audition for the First Time
- Prepare one or two contrasting pieces that you feel comfortable playing. If you decide to only prepare one piece, it should contain both lyrical and more technical material. (It is best to choose selections that accurately reflect your ability, no matter what your level.) This part of the audition does not need to exceed five minutes total.
- You will NOT be asked to play scales or arpeggios, and you will NOT be asked to do any sight-reading.
- You will be asked to play some orchestral excerpts from music for the upcoming season. You can download these excerpts from this website starting August 1.
- More emphasis will be placed upon your prepared pieces, but the orchestral excerpts will give you a sense of what the repertoire will be like for the coming season
- Audition as Returning Member
- You will only be asked to prepare excerpts from the repertoire for the upcoming season
- You will have a wide selection of excerpts to choose from, and they will vary in difficulty (Some passages will be mandatory)
- You can download these excerpts in PDF format from this website starting August 1.
Performance
- The DCSO performs two full concerts in the Fall semester, and three full concerts in the Spring Semester.
- Other performance opportunities include concerts on the Davidson Town Green and a concert during Family Weekend.
- Programs span a wide range of genres and composers from the Baroque to the present.
- The DCSO joins forces with the choirs of Davidson typically once a season to perform major choral works.
- The week prior to the beginning of the spring semester is the annual tour shared with the Jazz Ensemble. Find out past and future tour destinations.
- Professional guest artists are occasionally invited to perform with the orchestra in concert.
- Once a year, the orchestra features student soloists who are winners of the concerto competition held each fall.
Contact Professor Tara Villa Chamra, Director, DCSO
Upcoming Concerts
Please refer to the Campus Calendar.
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