- Overview: The orchestra@uwaterloo is open to all students, staff, and faculty. While auditions are required, the ensemble seeks to involve and engage those who have, first and foremost, a love for classical music and orchestral playing.
- Auditions: Auditions for new players will take place in early September. Please sign up on the website: https://uwaterloo.ca/music/orchestrauwaterloo.
Here is a link to some orchestral excerpt examples that you may pick from to play at your audition. I suggest two contrasting pieces. There may be some sight reading. - Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings 7:00-9:30 @ Conrad Grebel's Great Hall, starting on January 14 at 7pm. If you are able, please arrive 10 minutes early to set up every week.
- Concert: The Winter 2026 concert will be on Sunday, March 22 at Knox Presbyterian Church, Waterloo at 7:30pm. You will need to be on stage by 6:30pm. There will be an afternoon dress rehearsal the same day, in the same location from 2pm to 4:30pm. You are expected to wear black concert dress clothes.
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Repertoire for this term: This term will have an opera focus, in conjunction with the Grand River Opera
Verdi, La Forza del Destino Overture
Verdi, Pace, pace mio dio
Verdi Va Pensiero
Humperdinck, Evening prayer
Massenet, Du gai soleil
Massenet,(Cendrillon) Enfin je suis ici.
Delibes, Flower duet dome epais
Puccini, Nessun dorma
Puccini, Intermezzo from Manon
Dvorak, Rusalka Song to the Moon
Verdi, Anvil Chorus
Verdi, Parigi o cara
St. Saëns “Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix”
Charpentier, Depuis le jour
Dein ist mein ganzes herz
R.Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier: Hab’s mir’s gelobt
Verdi, LibiamoThe repertoire for this term requires:
3 flutes 2 oboes 2 clarinets 2 bassoons
4 horns 3 trumpets 3 trombones tuba
Timpani, percussion
strings
- Placement: The audition process ensures a fair placement for parts and seating allocation.
- Sheet Music: Music will be made available to all players. Some pieces will need to be signed out through the UW Library, and some pieces will be brought to rehearsal for pick-up. The sheet music is expensive and all due care and respect should be taken. Markings should be made only in pencil. Desiree Mau (Violin) is the librarian.
- Attendance policy: The nature of an ensemble such as this requires attendance. It is not like a class where if you decide not to come, it affects only yourself. This applies to all members, credit or non-credit. If you absolutely need to miss a rehearsal (severe illness, exam, or family emergency), the director must be notified in advance. Send an email to orchestra@uwaterloo.ca. If you have more than two absences that are not excused, you will not be eligible for a credit. Finally, individual music preparation is crucial. There is an attendance sheet to sign every week.
- Practice: If you would like to put in extra practice time, there are three practice rooms down the hall from the Great Hall. They are for the use of Music Students and Ensemble students such as yourselves. You can't book them, but can use them if they are available.
- Instrument Lockers: Also, we do have a limited number of instrument lockers available.
- Credit or Payment: if you are an undergraduate UW student, you may take this ensemble for credit and we will waive the fee. You do need to sign up on Quest. It is easier to drop than add past a certain date. Others will need to pay the fee. Angelica Allen will send you a link to pay the fee, once you have been admitted to the orchestra. Let her know if you need an over-ride to get a credit added.
- Placement: The audition process ensures a fair placement for parts and seating allocation.
- Sheet Music: Music will be made available to all players. Some pieces will need to be signed out through the UW Library, and some pieces will be brought to rehearsal for pick-up. The sheet music is expensive and all due care and respect should be taken. Markings should be made only in pencil. Desiree Mau (Violin) is the librarian.
Looking forward to a wonderful term of music-making.
Daniel Warren
dan@danielwarren.ca