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Camerata Chamber Orchestra

Photo of a student playing a string instrument
Director
George Nicholson
Course Number
MUEN 386
Rehearsal Day/Time
Tu, 7:00-9:00 PM
Rehearsal Location
Spartan Rehearsal Hall
Participation Information

Requires audition. 

About

The Case Camerata Chamber Orchestra is open to all CWRU students, faculty, and community members by audition who play string instruments and desire to perform in a flexible but very high-quality string instrumental music setting. The group rehearses once per week and performs once or twice per semester.

The repertoire performed in this ensemble is drawn from a variety of smaller chamber genres that include pieces from the baroque, classical, romantic, and contemporary periods. Some of the pieces are conducted and others are rehearsed collaboratively by the group with coaching from the director. The group collectively decides the program and many pieces use soloists from within the group. Additionally, there are opportunities for this group to collaborate with other ensembles in the Department of Music including the Case/University Circle Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Ensembles.

Director: Dr. George Nicholson

Course Documents and Schedule

Fall 2023 

  • Aug.: Non-music majors who play string instruments may choose their audition time USING THIS LINK. Music majors will receive an assigned audition time scheduled on Mon., Aug. 28.
  • Thu., Aug. 24: Ensembles Overview (Harkness Chapel, 3:00 PM) for new students Discover Week
  • Mon., Aug. 28: Fall Classes Begin; Auditions for music majors on strings/woodwinds/brass
  • Tue., Aug. 29: Auditions for non-majors
  • Wed., Aug. 30: Auditions for non-majors
  • Thu., Aug. 31: Auditions for non-majors
  • Tue., Sep. 5: Rehearsals Begin (Spartan Rehearsal Hall, 7:00-9:00 PM)
  • Fri., Sep. 8:  Drop/Add Period Ends Be sure you are registered!

Spring 2024

  • Tue., Jan. 16: Spring Classes Begin; Auditions for new members; Rehearsals Begin (Spartan Rehearsal Hall, 7:00-9:00 PM)
  • Fri., Jan. 26:  Drop/Add Period Ends Be sure you are registered!

Auditions

  • Auditions are required once per year and take place in-person during the first week of classes.
  • A fall semester audition also counts as an audition for the spring semester. However, new members can audition the first week of the spring semester.
  • All woodwind/brass/percussion players should follow the audition guidelines on the Symphonic Winds website.
  • All string players (non-music majors) should choose an audition time USING THIS LINK.

Audition Requirements

  • Scales: Major and Harmonic Minor Scales (2-3 octaves)
  • Prepared piece: Etude or solo piece that displays level of performance (not to exceed 3-minutes) 
  • String players only: Orchestral excerpts provided below

Audition Materials (Strings)

Registration

Enrollment permissions are granted in the Student Information System (SIS) following a successful audition or during the first week of class. Once course permissions have been granted (before the Drop/Add Period ends) students should return to their SIS account to register in the appropriate MUEN course. The Drop/Add Period ends on the 2nd Friday of each semester.

Performances

All performances held in the Maltz Performing Arts Center as part of the Silver Hall Concert Series or in Harkness Chapel as part of the CWRU Music Concert Series are live-streamed for free concurrently with the posted concert time. All concerts occur in eastern time.

FAQs

Visit the Symphony Orchestra (strings) or Symphonic Winds (woodwinds/brass/percussion) pages for a list of FAQs about auditions, registration, instrument storage, performances, and more!