Franklin & Marshall College

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is an ensemble of approximately 50 players, primarily made up of F&M students, as well as members of the community and outstanding high school musicians. The ensemble rehearses Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4:45 to 6:15. Ninety-five percent of the student members are not music majors. All of the members are dedicated to joyful rehearsing, and performing of great repertoire. The repertoire includes major works for wind ensemble/band as well as premieres of works commissioned specifically for the symphonic wind ensemble. Students may receive .5 credits for two semesters of participation. Membership is by audition.

The performance schedule for the fall of 2011 is as follows:
Saturday, September 24, 5:30 p.m. Homecoming/Family Weekend Open Rehearsals
Saturday, October 29, 8 p.m., Halloween Spectrum Concert
Friday, November 11, 8 p.m., It's a New Day Concert: Hazo, Rush; Grainger, Children's March; Higdon, Kelly's Field; Jacob, William Byrd Suite; Reinecke, Symphony No. 1 ("New Day Rising")
Saturday, December 3, 8 p.m. Music of December and Movie Music Night: Vaughan Williams, Greensleeves; Smith, Jingle Bells Forever, Williams, E.T. the Estra-Terrestial; Krogstad, Christmas at the Movies; Desplat, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1; Bass, Silverado; Anderson, Sleigh Ride

Auditions
There are auditions for all of the instrumental ensembles during the first week of the fall semester and by appointment at the beginning of the spring semester. These auditions are 10 minutes in length. For the audition performers are asked to prepare a piece that they feel comfortable with and to prepare major scales, up to three sharps and three flats, in as many octaves as they feel comfortable. Audition appointments can be made by contacting the instrumental conductor, Dr. Brian Norcross, at  or calling 717-291-4233.