Varsity Ensembles
MacPhail Center for Music’s Preeminent High School Music Ensembles for Talented & Highly Motivated Students
MacPhail is pleased to announce the application and audition process for several high school student performance ensembles beginning in Fall of 2024. The Varsity Ensembles feature highly motivated high school students throughout Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area working with distinguished MacPhail faculty members. Ensembles will rehearse and perform for the entirety of the school year, September – June. Benefits include audio and video recording, working with guest artists, and building portfolios for college/conservatory auditions. Each student performer in a Varsity Ensemble will be an integral part of the ensemble learning leadership and communication skills in addition to developing as a musician in a small ensemble of student musicians with similar aspirations. Interested students should be open to learning and sharing, and well-prepared and committed to strive for excellence. Participation in the Varsity Ensembles will build friendships, create lasting memories, and make some terrific music along the way.
Varsity Ensembles:
- Woodwind Quintet w/ Nina Olsen
- Saxophone Quartet w/ Greg Keel
- Brass Quintet w/ Jonathan Brandt
- Rimshots! (Percussion ensemble) w/ Paul Babcock
MacPhail Center for Music’s Varsity Ensembles are a FULL-SCHOLARSHIP program for accepted students.
The Varsity Ensembles feature top student talent from around the area. MacPhail esteemed faculty provide superior technical, musical, and performance instruction as well as coaching and mentorship.
Membership in these ensembles is based on the ability of a student who performs music of above-average difficulty and their demonstration of a high level of commitment and responsibility. An application and audition is required for Varsity Ensembles selection.
Varsity Ensembles:
- Provide challenging opportunities to grow as a musician in a supportive environment
- Unique performance opportunities and tours
- Access to audio & video recordings
- Work with featured guest artists
- Build portfolios, resumes, and/or dossiers
- Train and prepare for college/conservatory auditions
- Learn to be a team player and build leadership & communication skills
All students interested in MacPhail Varsity Ensembles are required to apply and attend a placement audition.
Varsity Ensemble Details:
Ensembles will rehearse and perform for the entirety of the school year, September 2024 – June 2025 at MacPhail Minneapolis.
Rimshots! Percussion Ensemble
Saturdays from 2:00-4:00pm, coached by Paul Babcock starting September
Application Due date: Aug 1 (in-person auditions scheduled individually after that)
Brass Quintet (2 trumpet, 1 French horn, 1 trombone, and 1 tuba or bass trombone)
Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30, coached by Jonathan Brandt starting mid-October
Application due date: September 30, 2024
Woodwind Quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon)
Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30pm, coached by Nina Olsen starting late-September
Application due date: August 25, 2024
Saxophone Quartet
Saturdays from 3:00-4:00pm, coached by Greg Keel starting mid-October
Application due date: September 30, 2024
Auditions
There are chairs to be filled in the Varsity Ensembles! MacPhail is actively recruiting the following instruments:
Woodwind Quintet
- Flute
- Oboe
- Clarinet
- French horn
- Bassoon
Application due date: August 25, 2024
Brass Quintet
- Trumpet (x 2)
- French horn
- Trombone
- Tuba (or bass trombone)
Application due date: September 30, 2024
Saxophone Quartet
- Saxophone (x 4)
Application due date: September 30, 2024
Rimshots! Percussion Ensemble
- One or two additional percussionists
Application Due date: Aug 1 (in-person auditions scheduled individually after that)
Applications should be submitted using the application form below. Auditions for MacPhail’s Varsity Ensembles are held through pre-recorded video. Students should video record their music selections, uploading the video to YouTube (set to ‘unlisted’). The YouTube link should be included in the application.
Rimshots! Percussion Ensemble application deadline is August 1, 2024, with in-person auditions to be scheduled thereafter. Recording an audition with an accompanist is not required, though backing tracks or accompaniment tracks are permissible.
Woodwind Quintet application deadline is August 25, 2024.
The deadline to apply for instruments in Brass Quintet and Saxophone Quartet is September 30, 2024.