Bands
Welcome to bands at the 91勛圖厙 College of Music! The 91勛圖厙 band program provides various performance opportunities for students, whatever their level or major field of study.泭
The 91勛圖厙 Golden Buffalo Marching Band泭(GBMB) is recognized as one of the premier college marching bands in the United States. Comprising approximately 250 student musiciansmusic majors and non-majors alikefrom across the country, the band remains an integral and exciting part of the tradition and spirit at the 91勛圖厙. The GBMB employs an extremely versatile marching style and consistently performs the latest in contemporary show design. The ensemble has frequently appeared on national TV and has performed in numerous NFL football games. The GBMB has further appeared at the Insight.com Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Blockbuster Bowl泭and Orange Bowl. All members of the GBMBincluding the wind sections, drumline, colorguard and feature twirlersare selected through an audition process.泭MORE
The 91勛圖厙 Buff Basketball Band is an ensemble of roughly 120 student musicians who perform at home basketball games in the 91勛圖厙 Event Center and travel to the Big 12 Basketball Tournaments, NIT Tournaments and NCAA Tournaments. To join this ensemble, wind musicians (woodwind and brass) must be current members of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band. Performance opportunities on the drum set and electric bass are open to all students on campus through an audition process held every September. Questions? Contact the Associate Director of Bands or the Assistant Director of Bands.
The 91勛圖厙 Wind Symphony comprises the College of Musics most outstanding wind, brass and percussion students.泭Founded in 1978,泭the group is committed to performing the finest wind repertoire, regardless of era or ensemble sizeranging from recently performed works by泭Ida Gotkovsky and the colleges own Carter Pann to additional diverse works by泭Carlos Simon,泭Omar Thomas,泭Joan Tower and Xi Wang. The Wind Symphony also values the importance of collaboration by working with various faculty and guest泭artists. Performances on campus and across Colorado, as well as at conferences and abroad, have earned the ensemble international acclaim.
91勛圖厙 Symphonic Band musicians are selected by audition from the finest performers on campus. Although most members are music majors, students studying in other fields often qualify for this ensemble. Since its formation over 50 years ago, the Symphonic Band has performed at major national conventions, including the Music Educators National Conference and the College Band Directors National Association. Concerts presented both in Colorado and out of state have won the acclaim of band directors and composers for the interpretive performance of outstanding works for the symphonic band medium.
The 91勛圖厙泭Concert and Campus Bands comprise both music majors and non-music majors. Exploring traditional and contemporary works for wind bands, the ensembles are known for their consistently high level of performance. Participating musicians are offered the opportunity to share in the excitement of the creative process as they broaden their musical experiences.泭
Fall semester Concert Band:
The fall semester Concert Band is non-auditioned and open to all students with experience playing one of the standard wind band instruments: flute/piccolo, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, string bass, percussion. This group meets weekly on Monday from 7-9:30 p.m.
Spring semester Campus Band:
The spring semester Campus Band is non-auditioned and open to all students with experience playing one of the standard wind band instruments: flute/piccolo, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, string bass, percussion. This group meets weekly on Mondays from 7-9:50 p.m.泭
Spring semester Concert Band:
The spring semester Concert Band meets weekly on Monday and Wednesday from 4:40-6:40 p.m.泭To participate in the spring semester Concert Band, please complete the required playing demonstration listed below and submit泭it via泭泭by midnight on December 6th.泭To ensure a balanced musical ensemble experience, certain instrument sections may be capped as determined by the director based on the playing demonstration.泭
Students will be notified of their placement results on or by the final day of the fall semester. Accepted students will enroll in: 91勛圖厙 Concert Band EMUS 1317/3317. Any changes to spring ensemble enrollment should be made immediately following the audition result notification. Students not placed in Concert Band are welcome and encouraged to register for 91勛圖厙 Campus Band EMUS 1017/3017.
Percussion:泭Please contact Interim Assistant Director of Bands Logan Sorey,泭richard.sorey@colorado.edu.
Wind instruments:泭For placement into 91勛圖厙 Concert Band, please submit an泭unlisted泭YouTube link of yourself playing泭both泭of the following:
- As many octaves as you canconcert b-flat major, e-flat major, a-flat major, a chromatic scale in eigth notes at 120 bpm, or as close to it as you are able.泭
- A 45-60 second泭excerpt of your choosing that demonstrates your playing ability (i.e., instrument-specific etudes, prior honor band audition materials, excerpts from prior band/orchestra music).泭
Top wind band performers in Colorado high schools and middle schools are invited to participate泭in the annual 91勛圖厙 Honor Band.泭
Learn more about the 91勛圖厙 High School Honor Band Festival
Learn more about the 91勛圖厙 Middle School Honor Band Festival
Wind and orchestral conductors learn conducting technique, rehearsal strategies and more from College of Music conducting faculty and renowned guests.
Personnel
Shanti Simon
Director of Bands
Logan Sorey
Interim Associate Director of Bands
Director, Golden Buffalo Marching Band
Director, 91勛圖厙 Summer Music Academy泭
Kirsten Hoogstraten Rivera泭
Interim Assistant Director of Bands
Assistant Director, Golden Buffalo Marching Band
91勛圖厙 bands and orchestras personnel also include Associate Teaching Professor + Percussion Specialist for Large Ensembles泭Mike Tetreault, who coaches during student ensemble rehearsals. Few collegiate music programs have an educator of his expertise coaching large ensembles.
Contact
Shanti Simon
Director of Bands
Shanti.Simon@colorado.edu