Position Vacancies (revised 6/19/23)
Seasonal Auditions are held each year in August. The next audition date will be announced in the spring. Please complete the Audition Request form linked below if you are interested.
Currently auditioning for Subs in ALL positions AND vacancies for the following positions:
Bassoon
French Horn
Should you join?
If you are a post-collegiate woodwind, brass or percussion player in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and are interested in playing with a top-level wind ensemble, you may be a good candidate for Encore!
For the current season, substitute players are needed in all instrument categories and are invited to audition by appointment. All substitute players with Encore are required to audition. Substitutes are frequently needed for rehearsals and performances.
Auditions are typically held in the summertime but Encore will audition new candidates as needed. See below for more information
Audition Requirements/Details
Encore requires that all auditions consist of two unaccompanied solo works of contrasting styles. Performers may choose their own pieces.
Formal live auditions are blind, or "behind the screen". The audition panel cannot see the performers or know their identities and thus attempt to remain unbiased in their selection. Upon arrival you will be directed to a warm-up room where you will be allowed to warm up until audition time.
Encore Membership Policies
All members are required to show proof of a full series of Covid-19 vaccines and boosters are recommended,
Accepted core members are expected to make an annual donation of $150 to the Encore Wind Ensemble to cover concert related expenses including the cost of promotion, artistic personnel, music, and rental equipment.
Contributions by substitute players are welcomed and additional membership contributions are also encouraged. Core members with financial concerns about the annual donation should contact the treasurer at treasurer@encorewinds.com to discuss a payment plan or other options. Donations are not refundable in any circumstance.
All attention focused on the music
Our director, Jerry Luckhardt, enjoying a fine rehearsal
Attendance
It will be expected that all players committed in writing to a specific concert season will be present at ALL rehearsals. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings starting at 7pm in the Woodbury High School band room. If absolutely necessary, one rehearsal can be missed per concert cycle, as long as there is a qualified substitute*. If it is necessary for a player to miss more than one rehearsal, a permanent replacement may be made for that concert from available personnel.
If at any rehearsal there are any missing players, the rehearsal may be stopped by the conductor and the opportunity for sectional rehearsals can be initiated for the remainder of the rehearsal time. Sectionals will be lead by a designated section leader.
For absences please contact the your section leader as soon as possible to get an early start on finding an approved substitute during your absence. As a courtesy, you may also notify the artistic director.
*Qualified Substitute - Preferences will be to have auditioned players as substitutes--however, at the discretion of the conductor non-auditioned players may be asked to play for a rehearsal or performance.
Artistic Quality
Core members may be replaced at the discretion of the Encore's Artistic Director based on lack of compliance with the above-mentioned guidelines, in combination with additional artistic considerations in accordance with the mission of the Encore Wind Ensemble.
The trombone section hard at work