For Prospective Members

Hello,

Thank-You for expressing an interest in participating in our Central Kentucky Concert Band. For now 35 years, the CKCB has been considered the finest adult band in the Commonwealth and one of the finest ensembles of its nature in the southeastern United States.

These accolades have been earned because of our commitment to excellence in performance and our devotion to the importance of the adult music-maker.

The personnel of the CKCB, who are the obvious backbone of our extraordinarily successful enterprise, represent great breadth and variety. Teachers, preachers, lawyers, doctors, engineers, business people, home-makers, civil servants and working musicians come together weekly, united by a common interest – the love of music-making.

For new, prospective members …

- this is an adult band, as such, all members must be eighteen (18) years old or older

- we do not provide instruments for members [with the exception of necessary percussion]

- members are expected to attend all weekly rehearsals, dress rehearsals and concerts for a given season [and these dates are widely distributed approximately a year in advance] … it is understood that conflicts of a professional or personal nature may arise and these will be handled on an individual basis – absence from a dress rehearsal requires a written statement to be provided for the Board and Music Director & Conductor

Procedure

- annually, we generally have three “open” rehearsals as we begin a new performance season – this is a time when we start sight-reading the new play list, returning members re-group and it is a great time for prospective members to “sit-in” and see what we are about

- subsequent to the open rehearsals – we have our annual Audition-Diagnostic sequence [sometimes for all members, sometimes just for new prospective members], these are comprised of …

01. prospective members are asked to play scales [and I will disseminate prior to the A-D sequence the scales that shall be asked]

02. prospective members are asked to play selected excerpts [and I will disseminate prior to the A-D sequence specific excerpts for each instrument – chosen from the current play list]

03. the Auditions-Diagnostics are heard by Peter LaRue [Music Director & Conductor] and Les Anderson [Assistant Conductor]

04. the goal of the A-D sequence is three-fold; A. establish whether or not the basic “fit” is appropriate, B. assess the overall playing ability, C. determine where in a section a new player might be most-appropriately placed [and this has a lot to do with tone quality, general technique and overall musicianship]

- it is highly suggested that any prospective member take a few moments and peruse several aspects of this web [www.ckcb.org] as on it you may see past plays lists, listing of personnel, past performances, et al – plus a veritable plethora of other information regarding the Central Kentucky Concert Band

- if you would like to be added to the e-distribution list by which all band rehearsal plans, general information and communiqués are sent – please contact Peter LaRue at plarue@georgetowncollege.edu

Thank-You