FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT

Information for Incoming Students 2021 - 2022

A Message from our Director of Bands, Mr. Joshua James 

Welcome to the University of Detroit Jesuit Fine and Performing Arts Department. My name is Joshua James, department chair and director of bands. Below are details related to the following MUSIC ENSEMBLE CLASSES for incoming students for the 2021 - 22 academic year:

  • Cub Choir
  • Varsity Singers
  • String Orchestra
  • Concert Band
  • Symphony (Marching) Band
  • Jazz Band (U of D Jesuit Orchestra)

INCOMING ACADEMY STUDENTS (7-8)

For ALL incoming ACADEMY students, the following music classes are open for you to register:

  • Cub Choir
  • Concert Band
  • String Orchestra*

CUB CHOIR

Any student with any interest in developing or continuing their vocal music enrichment is encouraged to register for CUB CHOIR. This ensemble presents several concerts annually, and prepares our Academy students for the Varsity Singers program at the High. Students involved in the Cub Choir also work toward participating in our annual Spring Musical. No experience is necessary, and no audition is required.

CONCERT BAND

Any student interested in continuing their instrumental music education on a band instrument is encouraged to register for CONCERT BAND. This ensemble presents several concerts annually, and prepares our Academy students for the Symphony Band at the High. CONCERT BAND is open to all interested, incoming Academy students who have at least one year of prior musical experience in a school band or private lesson setting on any of the following instruments:

  • Flute/Piccolo
  • Oboe
  • Bassoon
  • Clarinet/Bass Cl.
  • Saxophone (any)
  • Percussion
  • F Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Baritone/Euph.
  • Tuba

No audition is required for participation in this musical ensemble. Each student must provide and maintain his own instrument, however. (Suggested instrument rental options from music stores can be provided upon request.) For larger instruments, e.g., Tuba, Bass Clarinet, Bari Sax, Percussion, etc., a school instrument will be provided for use in school to avoid the necessity of transporting back and forth between home and campus.

N.B. – for students with no prior musical experience interested in learning how to play the various “band” instruments, with the hopes of participating in CONCERT BAND in the fall, reach out to me directly to discuss a summer tutoring program to begin the process.

*STRING ORCHESTRA

Any student interested in continuing their instrumental music education on a string instrument, i.e., Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass, is encouraged to register for

STRING ORCHESTRA. This ensemble presents several concerts annually, and works in collaboration with the Symphony Band to present full orchestral works to the greater Cub Community. STRING ORCHESTRA is open to all interested, incoming Academy students who have at least two years of prior musical experience in a school strings or private lesson program. (Two years in a Suzuki method program would count.)

An audition is required, but for chair placement purposes only. (Please direct all audition inquires directly to Mr. Patrick Prouty, the String orchestra director: Patrick.Prouty@uofdjesuit.org.) Each student must provide and maintain his own instrument. (Suggested instrument rental options from music stores can be provided upon request.) For larger instruments, e.g., Double Bass and Cello, a school instrument will be provided for use in school to avoid the necessity of transporting back and forth between home and campus.

N.B. – for students with no prior musical experience interested in learning how to play the various “string” instruments, with the hopes of participating in STRING ORCHESTRA in the fall, reach out directly to Patrick Prouty (Patrick.Prouty@uofdjesuit.org) to discuss a summer tutoring program to begin the process.

 

INCOMING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (9-12)

For ALL incoming HIGH SCHOOL students, the following music classes are open for you to register:

  • Varsity Singers
  • Symphony Band
  • Jazz Band*

VARSITY SINGERS

Any student with any interest in developing or continuing their vocal music enrichment is encouraged to register for VARSITY SINGERS. This ensemble presents several concerts annually, and participates in numerous off-campus, including annual and semi-annual tours.  Students involved in the Varsity Signers also work toward participating in our annual Spring Musical. No experience is necessary, and no audition is required.

SYMPHONY BAND

Any student interested in continuing their instrumental music education on a band instrument is encouraged to register for SYMPHONY. This ensemble presents several concerts annually, and participates in numerous off-campus, including annual and semi-annual tours.  This ensemble also functions as the school’s Marching Band during the fall athletic season. SYMPHONY BAND is open to all interested, incoming High School (9-12) students who have at least two years of prior musical experience in a school band or private lesson setting on any of the following instruments:

  • Flute/Piccolo
  • Oboe
  • Bassoon
  • Clarinet/Bass Cl.
  • Saxophone (any)
  • Percussion
  • F Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Baritone/Euph.
  • Tuba

An audition is required, but for chair placement purposes only. (Please direct all audition inquires directly to me: Joshua.james@uofdjesuit.org.)

Further, each student registering for Symphony Band must complete the following survey by July 1 in order to be written into the Fall Marching Show

Symphony Band Survey

Each student must provide and maintain his own instrument. (Suggested instrument rental options from music stores can be provided upon request.) For larger instruments, e.g., Tuba, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Bari Sax, Percussion, etc., a school instrument will be provided for use in school to avoid the necessity of transporting back and forth between home and campus.

All students registering for Symphony Band must participate in our annual Summer Marching Band Camp on campus. The dates for the camp are Saturday, July 31 – Thursday, August 5. The fee for this camp is $175. Details for camp registration and the daily schedule will be disseminated the first full week in July.

N.B. – for students with no prior musical experience interested in learning how to play the various “band” instruments, with the hopes of participating in SYMPHONY in the fall, reach out to me directly to discuss registering for CONCERT BAND.

STRING ORCHESTRA

Any student interested in continuing their instrumental music education on a string instrument, i.e., Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass, is encouraged to register for STRING ORCHESTRA. This ensemble presents several concerts annually, and works in collaboration with the Symphony Band to present full orchestral works to the greater Cub Community. STRING ORCHESTRA is open to all interested, incoming Academy students who have at least two years of prior musical experience in a school strings or private lesson program. (Two years in a Suzuki method program would count.)

An audition is required, but for chair placement purposes only. (Please direct all audition inquires directly to Patrick Prouty, the String orchestra director: Patrick.Prouty@uofdjesuit.org.) Each student must provide and maintain his own instrument. (Suggested instrument rental options from music stores can be provided upon request.) For larger instruments, e.g., Double Bass and Cello, a school instrument will be provided for use in school to avoid the necessity of transporting back and forth between home and campus.

 

N.B. – for students with no prior musical experience interested in learning how to play the various “string” instruments, with the hopes of participating in STRING ORCHESTRA in the fall, reach out directly to Patrick Prouty (Patrick.Prouty@uofdjesuit.org) to discuss a summer tutoring program to begin the process.

 

JAZZ BAND / U of D JAZZ ORCHESTRA (UDJO)

The UDJO is the U of D Jesuit premiere performing ensemble, and is usually reserved for students with at least two years of musical experience at U of D Jesuit. However, if you have prior experience in a jazz band/jazz ensemble setting, you may reach out directly to me to schedule a video audition: Joshua.james@uofdjesuit.org.

If further questions remain, please reach out to me directly. I look forward to meeting you over the summer, and to the beginning of what promises to be an exciting, music-filled school year.

 

Joshua James

Chair, Department of Fine and Performing Arts

Director of Bands
University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy 
Direct: 313-927-2348 
Main: 313-862-5400
Joshua.James@UofDJesuit.org