Ensembles, Fall 2008
Click on the ensemble name to jump to detailed information.
How to Get Started
• Peruse the course descriptions and select an ensemble that interests you.
• Check for pre-requisites. If an audition or placement interview is required, call the instructor listed in the course description.
• When the audition or placement interview has been completed, call Student Services to register at 612.321.0100.
• If you have any questions regarding ensembles contact Craig Anderson, Ensembles Coordinator at 612.767.5316.
• If you have questions regarding Chamber Music, contact Melissa Falb at 612.767.5438.
Music Plus! Discount on classes if someone in your family is enrolled in at least five hours of Individual or Suzuki Instruction.
Instrumental Ensembles
New Horizons Concert Band & String Orchestra
Ages Adults
New Horizon members who wish to take private lessons in addition to ensemble rehearsals receive 25% discount on lesson tuition.
Fill your life with music, new friends and fun! Dust off the instrument that you haven’t played since high school or learn to play something new, even if you have no musical experience! Learn how to play and enjoy the company of others who also love to make music.
String Orchestra
Tuition $120
Conductor: Judith Eisner
Wednesday, 16 week session begins September 17, 2008
Thursday, 16 week session begins September 18, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
2 sections
Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.
Thursdays 6:00 p.m.
Concert Band
Tuition $85
Conductor: Sonja Rehbein
12 week session begins September 25, 2008
Classes are 90 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Thursdays 9:30 a.m.
Piano Ensemble
Tuition $300
Ages 10–Adult
Instructor: Gail Olszewski
Tired of always playing solo repertoire? Join MacPhail’s piano ensemble to meet and collaborate with other pianists your age. Students will work together on both duets and larger ensemble pieces. Two years of previous private instruction is required. The final class will be a performance.
15 week session begins September 25, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Thursdays 5:30 p.m.
Percussion Ensemble I
Tuition $264
Ages 10–14
Instructor: Eric Strom
Play tons of different instruments as you master the percussion family. Classroom learning and public performances foster lots of creative learning opportunities. You should have one year of school band or private instruction experience. Percussion Ensembles may be repeated. Please call Eric Strom at 612.767.5528 for a placement audition.
12 week session begins September 22, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Mondays 5:30 p.m.
Percussion Ensemble II
Tuition $352
Ages 12–17
Instructor: Bob Adney
Percussion Ensemble II is an intermediate level ensemble in which percussionists will perform on all areas of the percussion family including keyboard, mallets, timpani, drums. Placement is by audition or approval of instructor. Call Bob Adney at 612.767.5410, to schedule a placement audition.
16 week session begins September 15, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Mondays 6:45 p.m.
Rimshots!
Tuition $354
Ages 13–18
Instructor: Paul Babcock
This performance-oriented group for highly motivated percussion players, is MacPhail's premier percussion ensemble. Rimshots! performs concerts in a variety of settings throughout the community. Auditions are held every summer for the following school year. Performing in Rimshots! is a year-long commitment. Students wishing to audition should be proficient on mallets, snare drum, timpani, drum set and accessories. For more information call Paul Babcock at 612.767.5314.
16 week session begins September 13, 2008
Classes are 90 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Saturdays 1:30 p.m.
MacRimba
Tuition $176
Ages Adults
Instructor: Bob Adney
Do you play percussion in community bands/ orchestra but would like to spend more time with the marimba? Are you a music educator who would like to have an opportunity to be a player and not the teacher? MacRimba, MacPhail's adult marimba band, is open to 4-5 adult marimbists. We will be playing a different “book” each semester celebrating the music of George Green, Clair Musser, Gordon Peters and contemporary composers and arrangers. Everyone gets a marimba, bring mallets and your intermediate and above talents to MacRimba.
8 week session begins September 13, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Saturdays 4:00 p.m.
Youth Flute Ensemble
Tuition $176
Ages 10–14
Instructor: Paula Gudmundson
Whether you are in your school band or have been taking private lessons, this is a wonderful opportunity for flutists to gain playing experience, as a group and independently. In addition to performing a wide variety of repertoire, students will also be able to play alto flute, bass flute and piccolo. One year of school band, private instruction, or consent of the instructor is required. Please call Paula Gudmundson at 612.767.5433 with any questions.
8 week session begins September 20, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Saturdays 4:00 p.m.
Adult Flute Ensemble
Tuition $176
Ages 15 –Adult
Instructor: Paula Gudmundson
This informal ensemble meets every other week to focus on ensemble playing in a fun, low-key atmosphere. It can serve as a first ensemble experience for the beginning or intermediate flutist or as a casual reading opportunity for the more experienced player.
8 week session begins September 27, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Saturdays 4:00 p.m.
Flute Ensemble (Apple Valley)
Tuition $258
Ages High School–Adult
Instructor: Julie Johnson
This class is open to intermediate and advanced level players. Discover the flute as an ensemble instrument in a relaxed and fun environment. We will explore a variety of styles of music including classical, holiday, jazz, and blues. Everyone will have a chance to try out the bass and alto flutes. There will be at least one performance during the semester.
12 week session begins September 9, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
MacPhail Apple Valley
Tuesdays 7:00 p.m.
Youth Harp Ensemble
Tuition $176
Ages 10–18
Instructor: Phala Tracy
A perfect opportunity to experience harp in a group setting. Expand your enemble skills, perform new repertoire, explore music therapy, make new friends! Open to traditional harp students only.
8 week session begins October 4, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Saturdays 4:00 p.m.
Adult Harp Ensemble
Tuition $250
Ages 18–Adult
Instructor: Phala Tracy
Adult Harp Ensemble will be the highlight of your week. We’ll improve sight-reading, build ensemble skills and perform new music. A fun, social setting to expand your harp horizons!
8 week session begins October 3, 2008
Classes are 90 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Fridays 11:00 a.m.
Cello Choir and String Orchestras
Tuition $165
Ages Grades 7–12
Instructors: MacPhail Suzuki Cello Faculty
Calling all traditional cello students! Are you looking for a fun ensemble experience to use your developing playing skills? MacPhail’s Suzuki Department invites you to participate in their cello choir and string orchestra even if you are not a Suzuki student. Students will be placed in a string orchestra based upon their playing level. All students will participate in the same cello choir. Contact Faith Farr at 651.484.0522 to clarify performance levels and to schedule a placement audition.
13 week session begins September 13, 2008
Rehearsals are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Saturdays
Camerata Orchestra 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Cello Choir 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Sinfonia Orchestra 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
High School Orchestra 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Rock & Blues Bands
Tuition $330
Ages 10–12, 14–17 & 18–Adult
Instructors: Adam Levy, Steve Roehm
Attention guitarists, bassists, keyboard players, drummers and singers! How about a no-pressure ensemble to get your jamming skills down? We’ll cover blues, rhythm and blues, hard rock and pop rock. These bands teach songs through written music and CD’s, improvising and “jamming” techniques. The last class is a performance.
15 week session begins week of September 17, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Tuesdays 8:00 p.m. 10–12 (Roehm)
Wednesdays 6:45 p.m. 14–17 (Levy)
Wednesdays 8:00 p.m. 18–Adult (Levy)
CHORAL ENSEMBLES
MacPhail Singers
Tuition $240
Ages 18–Adult
Instructor: Betsy Benjamin
This adult ensemble covers a variety of repertoire, singing classical, pop, spiritual, and jazz in both a cappella and accompanied settings. Open to all voices and levels of experience; reading ability is helpful.
16 week session begins September 15, 2008
Classes are 90 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Mondays 6:30 p.m.
Women’s Vocal Ensemble
Tuition $135
Ages Adult
Director: Andrea Leap
If you’ve always wanted to sing in a women’s a cappella choir, then this is the place for you! Repertoire will include everything from the Renaissance to Jazz. No auditions are required, though some experience in part singing and reading music is helpful.
10 week session begins September 23, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Tuesdays 6:00 p.m.
Sonomento
Tuition $264
Ages Adult
Instructor: Craig Fields
Sonomento (previously called M’acappella Singers) provides an intensely challenging choral experience for the seriously committed choral singer. This SATB choir limited to 24 singers will specialize in the more demanding classical and semi-classical choral literature. Repertoire will vary to include many types of literature – such as baroque cantatas, classical oratorio, opera in concert, 19th and 20th century chamber works, traditional and a cappella literature. Expectations include private entrance audition, commitment to learn music quickly, professionalism, and high standards for performances. In addition, this group enjoys socializing together as friends and colleagues on a regular basis. This fall Sonomento and MacPhail will partner with the Duluth Festival Opera to present a performance of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with chamber orchestra and soloists. Performances will be at MacPhail and in Duluth, February 27, 28 and March 1, 2009.
16 week session begins September 15, 2008
Classes are 120 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Mondays 6:30 p.m.
Sing Out! (Apple Valley Children’s Choir)
Tuition $252
Ages 8–12
Instructor: Meghann MacKinnon
Join MacPhail’s exciting new children’s choir, Sing Out!, for children ages 8-12. This choir welcomes students with and without special needs to join together for fun singing and music making activities. Designed to celebrate the unique gifts of each student, Sing Out! will help each child discover their own voice. Family and friends are invited to attend a performance at the end of the semester.
12 week session begins September 20, 2008
Classes are 55 minutes long and meet once per week
Apple Valley
Saturdays 1:00 p.m.
CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES
Before registering, call Melissa Falb, 612.767.5438 for more information and to schedule a mandatory placement interview. Placement interviews will be held in January and are ongoing throughout the semester.
String Quartets / String Trios
Tuition $308
Ages 10–14, 14–19, Adult
Instructors: Jeremy Swider, Conor O’Brien
MacPhail offers string quartets and trios for beginning, intermediate and advanced students. Woodwind and brassplayers are also encouraged to call for placement. Groups are formed based on student age and playing ability.
14 week session begins the week of September 29, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Minneapolis
Tuesdays 6:30 p.m.
Thursdays 2:15 p.m
Saturdays 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m.
Cello Trios / Cello Ensemble
Tuition: $308
Ages 14- 19, Adult
Instructor: Dan McIntosh
Cello ensemble and trios are formed based on student age and playing ability level.
14 week session begins October 2, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week
Duos
Tuition: $150
Ages 14-18, Adult
Instructors: Jeremy Swider, Inrina Elkina
Duos may consist of two pianos, violin and piano, woodwind and piano, harp and violin, two vioilins, etc. Beginning, intermediate and advanced duos are available. Duos will be scheduled by arrangement. Contact Jeremy Swider for a placement interview.
4 week session begins the week of September 29, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long and meet once per week.
Piano Trios
Tuition: $308
Ages 15 - 18, Adult
Instructors: Daniel McIntosh, Jeremy Swider
Intermediate adn advanced groups are availble for violin, woodwind, cello, harp, and piano. Groups are formed by student age and ability.
14 week session begins the week of September 29, 2008
Classes are 60 minutes long
Tuesdays 7:45 p.m.
Thursdays 12:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Back to top
