Main
The Main Ensemble is a non-audition, full symphony orchestra that consists of over one hundred members who choose the semester’s repertoire, conductors, and leadership. CSO Main has a relaxed environment that’s perfect for people who want to keep up their passion for music without the stress of a high time commitment. Main is the original CSO ensemble and remains the heart of the orchestra. We accept all skill levels, so any company is welcome!
Repertoire
Voted on by the orchestra
Moderate difficulty (approx. grade 3-5)
Fall 2024 Repertoire:
Symphony no. 8 “Unfinished” Mvmt 1 - Franz Schubert
Danse Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila - Camille Saint-Saëns
Symphony no. 7 Mvmt 2 - Ludwig van Beethoven
Danzón no. 2 - Arturo Marquez
Rehearsal Time
Our Main ensemble rehearses most frequently on Sundays from 12:00-2:00 pm, with some exceptions
Membership Requirements
No audition required
Dues: $25 per semester / $35 per year
Attendance: May miss no more than two rehearsals to be eligible to play in the concert.
Philharmonic
The Philharmonic Ensemble is an auditioned, smaller group of about thirty-five members. The ensemble plays either more challenging music or pops pieces - it all depends on what the ensemble wants. Note that all members of the Philharmonic Ensemble must also be members of the Main Ensemble.
Repertoire
Two pieces (in addition to the Main repertoire)
Voted on by the orchestra
Fall 2024 Repertoire:
Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson
Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Ennio Morricone
Membership Requirements
Must also pay dues and fill out the membership form.
Members of Phil must also participate in the main ensemble.
Audition: Take an audition at the beginning of the semester. Includes a major and chromatic scale along with some excerpts and sight-reading. Visit our auditions page for more information and to signup for a time slot.
Chamber
Chamber Groups are small ensembles of 2-10 members that play music with a unique style or instrumentation. Members of a Chamber Group select their own repertoire, decide on a practice schedule, and have at a variety of unique performance opportunities. Chamber Groups are open to anyone, including players who are not members of the CSO Main Ensemble. We are always looking to form new groups!
Previous Groups
Jazz band - “The Bumpin Somethins”
Classical string quartet “All Strings Considered”
String quintets
Flute choir
Saxophone quartet
Trombone quartet - “The Bone Zone”
Past Performance Venues and Partnerships
CSO Spring 2024 Chamber Concert
The Brown College Arts and Music Festival (BAM)
Swing Club at UVA
Weddings
BBQ & Jazz nights at the CSO house
Intermission of CSO Main & Phil concerts
And other prior performances
Interested?
Contact our Chamber Director, Kaitlyn Miller (fez8eg@virginia.edu) with questions about joining a chamber ensemble.
Credit where credit is due. Icons made by FreePik from Flaticon is licensed by Creative Commons BY 3.0.