Performing Opportunities
Spotlighting Opportunities to Perform
The University of Michigan-Flint’s active schedule of concerts and recitals contributes to the educational and cultural offerings of UM-Flint and the greater Flint community. Students have the opportunity to perform as soloists as well as in a variety of ensembles.
Anyone has the opportunity to perform at UM-Flint. University Chorale, Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, and some chamber music groups are open to all UM-Flint students without audition. Chamber Singers, Jazz Combo, and Steelheads Percussion Ensemble require auditions but are open to students of all majors – not just music majors.
- All auditionees will be automatically considered for a Music Scholarship at audition.
- For admission and scholarship consideration, all auditionees will be required to take a music theory placement test on the day of audition. Students transferring from another music degree program will be required to take a music history placement test in addition to all other requirements.
Chamber Singers
The Chamber Singers are a select ensemble open to all students through audition. The ensemble maintains an active performance schedule and sings choral literature from the Renaissance to 21 century, including contemporary popular music, jazz, and folk music. The Chamber Singers have a history of touring both nationally and internationally and performing at choral conventions and festivals.
Jazz Combo
The Jazz Combo is open to all students through audition. This group surveys classic and modern small-group jazz and focuses on performance, arranging, improvisation, and jazz theory. The Jazz Combo is often invited to perform for various university functions as well as community events.
Jazz Ensemble
The Jazz Ensemble is open to all students on campus who have previous experience in playing a wind or rhythm-section instrument (piano, drums, bass, or guitar). The group performs tunes that draw from a wide range of jazz styles and periods. Improvisational techniques are emphasized and studied in class.
Opera Workshop
Opera Workshop is a performing ensemble that provides singers with opportunities to develop their stage skills through the preparation and performance of select roles from the operatic repertoire. Students in this ensemble perform opera scenes, full roles for main stage production, and participate in opera outreach programs.
University Chorale
The University Chorale is open to all university students without audition. Chorale students receive historical, theoretical, and stylistic instruction of choral literature from all time periods and share their art and the joy of music with the university and Flint community.
University Orchestra
Through rehearsal and performance, University Orchestra explores the masterworks of the orchestral tradition in Western art music from the 18th century to the present. This ensemble is open to all students across campus with previous experience in string, wind, or percussion instruments, regardless of major.
Wind Symphony
The Wind Symphony performs 2-3 programs per semester focused around a central idea or theme, and is dedicated to performing quality wind literature at a high level. For students with previous experience in playing either wind or percussion instruments, this ensemble is composed of both music majors and students from other disciplines across campus.
Other Ensembles
UM-Flint provides a wealth of opportunities for musicians to enhance their education and performing skills through smaller ensembles, including Flute Ensemble, Chamber Strings, brass ensembles, and others. Each semester, the chamber ensembles present a concert of repertoire unique to the respective ensembles.