Ensembles

Starting in the Fall of 2003 and taking the field in 2007 with the resurgence of UNCP football after a 56-year absence, the UNCP "Spirit of the Carolinas" Marching Band (SOTC) is the most visible of the UNCP bands, providing color and pageantry to athletic events and enrichment to university life. The band performs regularly at all UNCP home football games, away games when possible, parades and in exhibition at high school marching band competitions. The rehearsal schedule has few conflicts with other academic classes. In fact, members of the band enjoy having a break from daily study and classroom work while building leadership skills and lifelong friendships.

The SOTC holds its annual preseason band camp approximately one week prior to the fall term. Band camp is required of all members and consists of fundamentals training and show preparation. After the conclusion of camp, the band begins its regular rehearsal schedule: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:35-6:00 p.m. SOTC members are encouraged to enroll in MUS 1181 (University Marching Band) for university credit. In addition, the university pays for most expenses, including housing and meals during band camp and travel costs. All marching brass instruments (mellophone, baritone, sousaphone) are provided, and other instruments can be checked out by students if needed.

The band performs at all home football games, select away games and appears in exhibition at local high school marching band competitions. The SOTC also performs in campus events, such as Pembroke Day and the Homecoming parade. The football schedule can be found here.

Students receive stipends for successfully completing the season. The amounts vary depending on budget, years in the band and leadership.

Once you have been accepted to the university, please complete and submit the interest form to be added to the roster for the marching band season and invited to our Dropbox folder. There is no formal audition for winds (woodwinds/brass). Information, including band camp dates, will be sent in late spring and over the summer.

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The University Concert Band is open to any UNCP student and is the large core instrumental ensemble at UNCP, preparing and presenting music of all historical styles. While satisfying the ensemble requirement for the instrumental music major, the ensemble is made up of many majors in addition to music. The concert band acts as a creative outlet for UNCP students, regardless of major, who are interested in taking part in a large collegiate concert band ensemble. Some of the goals for this band over the next few years include concert exposure in the Southeast and the surrounding region; touring; the generation of high quality band recordings; and, by our performances, strengthening the reputation of UNCP as an outstanding institution featuring a dynamic band program.

The UNCP Concert Band is the premier instrumental ensemble at the university. The ensemble performs four concerts a year, as well as providing music for commencement ceremonies. The ensemble is made up of wind and percussion majors and non-majors throughout the university. Membership in the ensemble is available through audition. To find out more about participating in the ensemble contact Tim Altman, director of bands, at 910.521.6403, or by email at tim.altman@uncp.edu.

Recent Repertoire

• Legends of the Lumbee - James Sochinski - World Premiere
• River Spirits - Erik Ewazen - World Premiere
• Monument - Robert W. Smith - Southeastern Premiere
• The Hounds of Spring - Alfred Reed
• Amazing Grace - Frank Ticheli
• Festive Overture - Shostakovich, arr. Hunsberger
• Linden Lea - Ralph Vaughn-Williams
• Chester - William Schuman
• Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral - Richard Wagner
• Danse Bacchanale - Saint-Saens, arr. Bocook
• March from Symphonic Metamorphosis - Hindemith
• Be Thou My Vision - David Gillingham
• Concertino for Four Percussion and Wind Ensemble - David Gillingham

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The UNCP colorguard is part of the "Spirit of the Carolinas" Marching Band and has the same rehearsal schedule. The colorguard does contemporary flag and weapon work for the halftime show, and more traditional routines during pre-game.

New members and any members wishing to spin weapons (rifles, sabres, etc.) must have previous experience in high school colorguard and/or winterguard, and must audition for the staff.

2025 colorguard auditions will be held in late spring (date TBA).  Workshops will be held for anyone without colorguard experience or who would like a refresher on the basics.

• Dates TBA
• You may attend one or both workshops.

General guidelines for auditions:

• Those wishing to only spin flag may audition without having prior colorguard experience.
  • Prior colorguard/winterguard experience is required to be considered for the weapon line!
  • Prior dance training is helpful, but not necessary.
• Contact sotcband@uncp.edu for more details.
• Complete and submit the marching band interest form.
• Wear comfortable clothes for movement, equipment work and dance; wear gym shoes or dance shoes.
• Hair back, no excessive makeup or jewelry.
• Open to all UNCP students, regardless of prior experience.
• Equipment will be provided for the auditions.

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The SOTC drumline at UNC Pembroke is made up of music majors, as well as students from outside the music department who hold an interest in the world of marching percussion. The drumline performs on Yamaha marching percussion instruments. The drumline consists of snares, tenors, and basses; cymbals are utilized in some years, depending on need. The drumline rehearses and performs with the UNCP marching band Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:35-6 p.m. and occasionally performs separately from the marching band at campus events.

Auditions for the Fall 2025 drumline will take place on Wednesday, May 7 at 6 p.m. in Moore Hall.

If you cannot attend the in-person auditions but still wish to be part of the 2025 drumline, you may submit a video audition. Please follow these instructions:

• Contact Dr. Van Hassel at joseph.vanhassel@uncp.edu to receive the audition music and more information.
• Complete and submit the marching band interest form.
• At the beginning of your video, you should introduce yourself with the following information:
  • Name
  • High school
  • Major and year (if you are a current UNCP student)
• Make sure your entire body is visible in the video so we can see your posture
• We have openings for snare drum, tenors (quints), bass drum, and cymbals; at this time, we will not have a front ensemble.
• If you do not have access to the instrument for which you wish to audition, please let Dr. Van Hassel know.

After reviewing all of the videos, Dr. Van Hassel will contact you to let you know if you have been selected for the drumline and give you more information.

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Membership in the University Jazz Ensemble and combos is open to all UNCP students by audition. The groups feature study of technical, stylistic and aesthetic elements of jazz literature through rehearsal and public performances on and off the UNCP campus as well as at jazz festivals throughout the United States. Works studied range from the big-band era to more modern and progressive styles. The jazz ensembles are under the direction of Aaron Vandermeer.

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The University Orchestra meets twice a week and presents Fall and Spring concerts. The orchestra offers students at UNCP the opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra. 

Our string faculty members lead active performing careers, regularly appearing in recital and with symphony orchestras in North Carolina and beyond. Students in their studios will receive weekly private lessons, perform chamber music in small string ensembles.

For information, please feel free to contact the Music Department at 910.521.6230.

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UNC Pembroke has two percussion ensembles (Percussion Ensemble and Global Rhythm Ensemble) comprised of percussion majors, minors, and non-majors. Students who are not percussion majors or minors are eligible to audition for the ensemble. 

This ensemble comprises a major part of the percussionist’s performance experience. With very few exceptions the ensemble is devoted to performing literature written expressly for percussion, encompassing a wide spectrum of styles. In addition, music from various cultures (Afro-Cuban, Middle Eastern, Mexican marimba, African, etc.) will be included on percussion ensemble programs. 

The role of percussion in twentieth century music as a catalyst for acoustical experimentation, compositional theories, and instrumental experimentation and evolution is a fantastic historical perspective and one which still maintains its influential position in a multitude of current musical trends.

Under the direction of Dr. Joseph Van Hassel, the UNCP Percussion Ensemble has performed at the NCMEA Conference in Winston-Salem, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in San Antonio, Texas, and premiered works by Lindsey Jacob, Gene Koshinski, Michael Barnhart, Jennifer Bernard Merkowitz, Dan VanHassel, Joshua Busman, Jeremy Muller and David Macbride. The Percussion Ensemble often performs with visiting artists from around the country and UNCP faculty members.

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The UNCP Faculty Brass Quintet, founded in 2007, is one of the most active chamber ensembles in the region. Dedicated to bringing music for brass to the campus and across the region, the UNCP Faculty Brass Quintet has recently performed recitals at the NC Arts Museum in Raleigh, the NC School of the Arts, and at middle and high schools throughout North Carolina. Current members are Dr. Timothy Altman and Dr. Aaron Vandermeer on trumpet, Ms. Alex Williams on horn, Mr. Cameron Collar on trombone, and Dr. Joanna Ross Hersey on tuba. The group performs all styles of music from ragtime to Sousa, and Bach to Ellington, and is available for recitals and school lectures. For more information on booking the group, please contact Dr. Timothy Altman at tim.altman@uncp.edu.Back to Top

After marching season ends, the UNCP band gears up for basketball season. The UNCP Pep Band is open to all UNCP students, regardless of their participation in marching band. Sign-ups for pep band occur in November, and the band begins attending basketball games in January.

The band performs at all home men's and women's basketball games and supports the team(s) at the conference tournament in March as needed.  The goal of the band is to provide an exciting atmosphere for the players and fans of UNCP basketball.

The pep band rehearsal schedule is MWF 3:35-5:30 p.m., though it is flexible based on the basketball schedule and the needs of the ensemble. After the tournament(s) in March, the pep band does not meet except at the discretion of the director.

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Global Rhythm is the world music ensemble at UNCP. The group specializes in concerts featuring music from cultures around the world. The group's repertoire includes music for steel drum band, African drumming ensemble, Arabic hand drumming ensemble, Japanese Taiko drums, Mexican marimba ensemble, modern fusions of world music and more. This ensemble is open to students throughout the UNCP campus regardless of major, and is especially beneficial to students who might wish to use some of these techniques when they enter the field of education. This course is combined with the World Music History course in the fall, giving those students hands-on instruction in world music performance.

The Global Rhythm Ensemble is under the direction of Joseph Van Hassel.

Sample Repertoire:

• Taiko Night - Dan William Boothe
• Seven Days - Sting
• 3 Shona Songs - B. Michael Williams
• Drum Gahu - traditional African
• Hoo-Daiko - Robert Damm
• Akadinda Trio - Emmanuel Sejourne
• Londonderry Air - traditional
• Selected Mexican Marimba Pieces
• Piru Bole- John Bergamo
• Warthog - Austin Wrinkle
• Prokleti Koreni - Nebojsa Zivkovic
• Various works for Steel Band

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The University Chorale is the university’s non-audutioned choir open to all interested singers of all majors. Under the direction of Dr. José Rivera, the University Chorale presents several concerts each year, performing a wide range of choral repertoire ranging from renaissance to contemporary music. The University Chorale also performs choral works with local orchestras, UNCP Wind Ensemble and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Choral works performed by the Chorale include Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Paukenmesse, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Dvorak's Te Deum, Pergolesi's Magnificat, Faure’s Requiem, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass. The University Chorale meets at 11:15 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the choir room, located in the Music Annex. Interested singers may enroll without permission. For more information, contact Dr. José Rivera at 910.521.6290.

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Pembroke Singers is the select chamber choir at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and this choir has been representing the university at major functions under the direction of Dr. Jaeyoon Kim. In the past, Pembroke Singers has actively presented choral concerts in middle schools, high schools, and churches throughout the region. In addition, Pembroke Singers has performed at the North Carolina American Choral Directors Association State Conference three times (including October 2023), the North Carolina Music Educators State Conference, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Pembroke Singers has also performed international concert tours in St. Thomas, Puerto Rico and most recently was invited to perform at the University of Mexico’s first Intercollegiate Choral Festival in Mexico City. Pembroke Singers had their debut performance at Carnegie Hall in April of 2024.

For further information, call Dr. Jaeyoon Kim at 910.775.4152.

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The UNCP Vocal Jazz Ensemble is open by audition to students throughout the university community who have an interest in vocal jazz. The group performs with the UNCP Jazz Ensembles at on-campus concerts, as well as jazz festivals throughout the United States. The group studies vocal trends through the rehearsal and performance of pop, rock, progressive jazz and other modern forms of music. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble is under the direction of Mr. Daniel Bukin.

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UNC Pembroke is very proud of our instrumental and vocal chamber ensembles. Coached by the performance faculty, our ensembles rehearse weekly and present multiple performances per semester. Performing as a member of a chamber ensemble increases the student’s performance abilities by addressing technical facility, range, rhythm, intonation, and musicianship in a smaller setting. Placement is by audition each semester, and groups present concerts in our local community in retirement homes and local schools, in addition to performing at campus events. Some of our active chamber ensembles are Brass Quintet and Quartet, Tuba Euphonium Ensemble, Euphonium Choir, Tuba Choir, Clarinet Ensemble, Flute Choir, Guitar Ensemble, Saxophone Choir, Trumpet Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Trombone Choir, Woodwind Quintet, Horn Quartet, Global Rhythm Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Contemporary Ensemble, String Quartet, Piano Trio, and more! Participation in these ensembles assists with our mission of preparing students to work in the field of music as teachers and performers, with a rich understanding of the history and traditions of all musical styles. For more information, or to ask for a chamber ensemble to visit your school or event, please contact Dr. Joanna Hersey at joanna.hersey@uncp.edu.

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