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Musical Ensembles

If you’re a music major, you’ll perform in one, or maybe all, of Brenau’s music ensembles. All of our ensembles accept music majors and non-majors, though some require an audition. Some of the ensembles also allow faculty, staff and community members to join, so share this information with anyone who loves making music!

Gospel Choir

This uplifting choral ensemble, which primarily focuses on the study and performance of gospel music, is open to Brenau students, faculty, staff and community members.

Opera Workshop

Students may audition to be a part of the Opera Workshop, which involves studying opera, rehearsals, and ultimately performing opera scenes or a full-scale opera production.

Spectrum Singers

Open to all students, faculty, and staff in the choral community, the Spectrum Singers ensemble studies and performs a wide range of popular, multicultural and traditional music styles.

Vocal Chamber Ensemble

Requiring audition for acceptance, Vocal Chamber is a smaller ensemble that studies and performs vocal chamber music from a wide range of historical periods.

Upcoming Music Events

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March 2023

Tue 28

March 28 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

One Family: Many Melodies

Pearce Auditorium 202 Boulevard NE, Gainesville, GA

Brenau's Vocal Chamber Ensemble, directed by Ashley Conway and accompanied by Ben Leaptrott, will perform, "One Family: Many Melodies," a collection of songs from around the world. The performance will take place in Pearce Auditorium on Tuesday, March 28th, at 7:30 PM. Admission is free and open to the public, so come join VCE for […]

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Audition Information

All students must audition in order to be admitted to the music major. All students must also be admitted to Brenau University in order to be admitted to the music major. Talent-based scholarships are awarded based on auditions, and students will be placed in appropriate level courses and lessons based on their auditions.

If you would like to schedule an audition, please contact music department chair Barbara Steinhaus at bsteinhaus@brenau.edu or 770-534-6235. All students should fill out the audition application and return it two weeks before the audition.

How to Prepare for Your Audition

Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you have a successful audition::

• Make sure you have the musical experiences that will help you:
  • AP Music Theory
  • Piano
  • Private lessons for voice or your primary instrument
• Contact Brenau faculty if you need help choosing pieces for you audition
• Practice, practice, practice
  • Record yourself and listen, thinking critically about your performance
• Dress appropriately for your audition
• Visit Brenau’s campus and meet our faculty, so you can ask additional questions

Audition Requirements:

All students must perform two pieces from memory — specific requirements listed below — and will be tested in music theory, ear training and sight reading skills.

Collaborative Pianists 

• Perform two pieces from memory, one of which must be at a fast tempo
  • One sonata or sonatina movement from the Baroque or Classical period
  • One piece from the Romantic, Impressionistic or Contemporary period

Vocalists

• Perform two standard English, Italian, French or German art songs from memory
  • English may be substituted for a foreign language
  • You may perform one operatic aria, show tune or church song, as long as it is appropriate for your voice

Instrumentalists

• Perform two pieces of contrasting moods from the standard repertoire of the instrument from memory

Frequently Asked Questions