RMIT Music

RMIT Music
Background information
Also known as ROCS, RSO
Origin Melbourne, Australia
Genres Orchestral, Choral, Classical, Jazz, Popular
Occupation(s) Orchestra, Choir, Concert Band, Stage Band
Instruments ca. 65 Instrumental and ca. 15 Vocal
Years active 1999-present
Associated acts RMIT Link Arts, AICSA
Website rmitmusic.com.au
Members President
David Garrick
Vice President
Lauren Ritchie
Musical Director
Trent Howard

RMIT Music is the collective representing all student-run musical groups at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia[1]

RMIT Music was created in 2004 following the merger of the Concert Band Collective, Stage Band Collective and the RMIT Occasional Choral Society and is the largest collective within RMIT Link Arts and consists of nine bands including a Choir and an Orchestra.[2] RMIT Music is located in the "Music Room", building 57, level 4, room 1 at the RMIT City campus.[3] RMIT University does not offer a music instrument degree, so everyone in the RMIT community is welcome to join.

RMIT Music's Bands

RMIT Symphonic Orchestra

The RMIT Symphonic Orchestra (RSO) was founded in Semester 2 of 2008[4] by the RMIT Music Collective Committee. It exists only as a small 25 member orchestra however is expected to grow larger over time. The RSO is made up of students from all colleges of RMIT and auditions are usually not required to join. Rehearsals are on Tuesday Evenings during the University Semester. The RSO had its Premiere performance at the 2008 RMIT Music End of Year Showcase performing the Tatarian Dances music suite.[5]

RMIT Occasional Choral Society

The RMIT Occasional Choral Society (ROCS) was founded in 1999 by RMIT Music's sole Life Member, Sandra Uitdenbogerd, and is the longest-running of the RMIT Music collectives. ROCS is RMIT's student-run choir and is strongly affiliated with other Australian university choral societies as a full member of AICSA.[6] From its inception, ROCS has maintained a tradition of performing and commissioning new choral works, often composed by members of the choir, and in 2007 ROCS sponsored a composition competition open to university choristers throughout Australia.[7]

Now in its tenth full year, ROCS is no longer 'occasional', and rehearsals occur throughout the year, mainly on Thursday evenings. ROCS usually performs two or three major concerts a year, in addition to participation with the other RMIT Music collectives in the Showcase concerts, and has frequently collaborated with other choirs and orchestras. ROCS' musical director and chief conductor is Philip Legge,[8] who since 2006 has programmed major works by Monteverdi, Purcell, Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Orff and Stravinsky.

ROCS is non-auditioned and all you need to join is a love of music, a willingness to learn, and the dedication to attend a regular rehearsal schedule.[9] ROCS is a strongly social choir, and choir members are active participants in the yearly Intervarsity Choral Festivals, held in turn in each of Australia's major capital cities (excepting Darwin). With the Melbourne and Monash University choirs, ROCS jointly hosted the most recent festival held in Melbourne, in 2005.

RMIT Concert Band

The RMIT Concert Band was the first non-choral band formed as part of RMIT Union Arts and is stronger than ever today. The Concert Band is a non-auditioned band that rehearses on Monday Evenings during the University semester. The RMIT Concert Band hosts the annual RMIT Music Regional Tours, where bands travel to regional Victoria and perform in the local community. The Concert Band has visited the Mornington Peninsula, Woodend, Ballarat, Moe and Orbost.[10] The RMIT Concert Band also performs yearly at the Carols By Candlelight in Moe with the Latrobe Community Concert Band. The Concert Band is Conducted by Trent Howard.[11]

RMIT Stage Band

The RMIT Stage Band performs at all sorts of events and functions. The Stage Band is unconducted and unauditioned with rehearsals on Wednesday Evenings. The Stage Band performs Jazz plus anything else, as music selection is chosen by the band's members.[12]

RMIT String Ensemble

The String Ensemble is made up of string performers who may or may not also be members of the RMIT Symphonic Orchestra. The Ensemble was formed in 2005 as a quartet, before becoming a Chamber Ensemble to a full String Ensemble as it is today.[13]

Small Ensembles

RMIT Music allows musicians to form their own small ensembles. Currently there is a Flute Ensemble, a Recorder Ensemble and a Cello Ensemble.

The Gap Fillers Flute Ensemble was created in 2007 to fill a gap in the program of the 2007 RMIT Music End of Year Showcase concert,[14] thus they became known as "The Gap Fillers". In Semester Two, 2008 the Gap Fillers started rehearsing weekly, purchasing music and is now a permanent group within RMIT Music, with regular rehearsals and concerts.

The Recorder Consort is a recently created RMIT Music band, started in Semester Two, 2008 this group is for people who play the recorders of all sizes. The band has over ten members and rehearses throughout the Summer holidays.[15]

The Secret Cello Society Ensemble is the newest RMIT Music band, started in Semester One, 2009 this group is for people who play the Cello.

Other Bands

In 2008 RMIT Music ran a program for students to form their own bands outside the traditional "Orchestral-Choral-Jazz" formats. Three bands ran in 2008.[16] The two major groups are Liquid Ignition & Burning Eclipse. Liquid Ignition is a 10 piece Funk Fusion Cover band and Burning Eclipse is a 4 piece Symphonic Metal band.

Performances

RMIT Music has many performances every year. There are usually two 'Showcase Concerts',[17] two Choral Concerts, a Picnic Day, multiple performances during the Regional Tour, the Moe Carols by Candelight and many more at RMIT and elsewhere.

Life Members

The first and only person to have been granted Life Membership of RMIT Music as of April 2009, is Sandra Uitdenbogerd, in recognition of her role as the founder of the RMIT Occasional Choral Society, and her continuing association with most aspects of the management of the RMIT collectives.

See also

References

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