Chamber & Vocal Ensembles

About

Participants in our Classical Chamber & Vocal program are assigned to small ensembles with consideration given to instrumentation and playing levels. They receive dedicated instruction in chamber music in weekly rehearsals and are given the opportunity to perform at various community events and concerts.

Chamber Ensembles	Chamber choir (Vocal Fry)
Ages 12 and up	Ages 12 - 21
1 hour on Friday afternoon/evenings during term time	1.5 hours on Friday afternoon/evenings during term time

Chamber Ensembles

Chamber choir (Vocal Fry)

Ages 12 and up

Ages 12 - 21

1 hour on Friday afternoon/evenings

during term time

1.5 hours on Friday afternoon/evenings

during term time

Eligibility

It is a requirement of our funding that our participants are ACT residents. However, non-ACT residents can apply, understanding that placement preference is given to ACT residents.

Classical chamber participants are strongly encouraged to take individual lessons on their instrument while participating in the program. Please note that it is not a requirement that students wishing to apply for the Chamber Choir be tutored in private singing lessons.

All applicants, regardless of ability or previous experience, can be admitted to this program, however enrolment is subject to the availability of an appropriate ensemble.

How To Apply

The Streaming Interviews for entrance into the Semester 1 program are usually conducted in November/December of the previous year. However, we are happy to accept applications all year round. Applicants not placed for the Semester 1 program will be put on a waiting list and contacted for an interview should a place become available. We will often review our waiting list and aim to reorganise and shuffle ensembles as appropriate prior to the commencement of our Semester 2 program.

To apply, please fill out the following application form: Application to the Community Music Centre.

Streaming Interviews

Chamber Choir (Vocal Fry) Streaming Interview information

All new vocal applicants will attend a streaming interview in 2025. The date that these will be held is yet to be confirmed (though usually occurs in late January/early February).

Interviews are 15-minutes in length and applicants will be required to:

Sing 'Waltzing Matilda' (download the Waltzing Matilda score below)
Sing a simple selection of vocal exercises
Respond to listening tests and a short selection of theory questions

Chamber Ensembles Streaming Interview information

The in-person Streaming Interviews for entrance into the Semester 1 program were held at the end of last year. We now ask all new applicants to the chamber program to please submit a Video Submission as part of their application (see information below).

Online Chamber Streaming Video Submission

Please prepare an upload your video submission as an unlisted YouTube video link. Upload your video submission here: Video submission link.

Instructions on how to upload an unlisted YouTube link can be found here: unlisted YouTube instructional video

Videos must be titled with the applicants' full name and instrument, and in the recording the applicant will:

introduce themselves with their name and age
introduce and then play the scale they have chosen (details below)
introduce and then play the piece they have chosen to demonstrate their ability (please be sure to note the name and composer of the piece)
play the quick learn piece (details below)

Percussionists applying for the Chamber Ensembles should demonstrate rudiments/rhythm patterns in place of scales, and there is no quick learn piece.

If applicants are doing a streaming interview for more than one instrument, they will need to prepare a separate video for each instrument.

1 scale of applicant's choice

Strings: 3 different bowings - 1) hook stroke, 2) spiccato, 3) 4 notes slurred

Woodwind and Brass: played with 2 different articulations (e.g. tongued, slurred, 2 slurred 2 tongued, slurred in pairs)

Piano: scale in parallel and contrary motion

Guitar: 2 different articulations chosen by student

1 piece that best demonstrates applicants' instrumental ability

Solo or accompanied. If the piece is written with piano accompaniment, unaccompanied is fine.

Quick learn piece

Applicants should choose one of the short quick-learn pieces to present for their instrument. These will be made available on this web page (see below) and emailed to you on Friday 22 November.

Fees

Program	Fee Per Semester
Chamber Ensembles	$150
Chamber Choir	$90

Fees can be paid here through the ANU's OneStop Secure Payment Portal.

Fees can be waived for current pension or healthcare card holders or anyone experiencing financial difficulties. If you would like to waive the fees for this program, please email us at communitymusiccentre@anu.edu.au