Welcome to the prospective students site for the University of Houston Band Department. We know you have a lot of choices when it comes to choosing a university and we are excited you are looking into the University of Houston. Regardless of major, there is a place for you in one of our many ensemble including the Spirit of Houston Marching Band, our concert bands, jazz bands, and Cougar Brass Basketball Band.
The Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band is made up of over 300 members dedicated to promoting the spirit of the University through its musical performance and support of the Cougar football team. Membership is open to all students with previous band experience.
The Spirit of Houston performs at all home games and performs out of state at least once a year.
Band Grants are available to EVERY member that participates in the Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band. Memebers that attend all events and practice receive band grants from the University of Houston Band.
The Spirit of Houston Rehearses:Monday 6-9 pm: Brass/Percussion
Wednesday 6-9 pm: Woodwinds/Percussion
Friday 6-9 pm: Full Band
The University of Houston Band Department has four performing concert bands open to all majors. The top 3 ensembles audition at beginning of each semester. For audition information, check http://www.uhbands.com before the start of school.
Wind Ensemble: Fall and Spring MWF 2-4 pm
The Wind Ensemble is the University of Houston's premier performing organization. The ensemble has gained a national reputation through performances at the conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association (1988, 1993, 1997, and 2002, and 2006), College Band Directors National Association, the Meyerson Symphony Hall Series in Dallas, and numerous performances in the Houston metropolitan area.
The Wind Ensemble has recorded twelve compact discs, including four recorded after being selected by the International Percy Grainger Society to record Grainger's works in a four-volume series. One of their recordings was chosen a compact disc of the year by Sterophile Magazine, and two others were nominated for Grammy awards: volume IV of the Grainger series, and their recording of Gustav Holsts's The Planets—the first college wind ensemble recording to be honored with a Grammy nomination. The 56-member organization performs at least four concerts during the academic year, each exploring the wide diversity of wind-ensemble literature—from the canonic wind repertoire to exciting new and unexplored chamber works written within the last decade.
Symphonic Wind: Fall and Spring MWF 2-4 pm
The University's second concert band is the Symphonic Winds. Previously known as
Wind Ensemble II, the Symphonic Winds is dedicated to performing the highest level of
literature possible and performs concerts throughout the year. The Symphonic Winds
meets in the fall and the spring semesters.Symphonic Band: Fall and Spring MWF 4-5:30 pm
The Symphonic Band caters to all students of all majors and classifications, including
many music majors. The Symphonic Band rehearses and performs new compositions for
all levels of concert band and new arrangements of standard marches. The band's goal is
to introduce students to new music and offer music education students the opportunity to
work with their peers. The Symphonic band currently meets during the fall and spring semesters.
Concert Band: Spring Semester Only
The Concert Band is available only to non-majors during the spring semester. The ensemble provides an opportunity to any student interested in playing an instrument in an ensemble setting. Many of the members are also members of the Cougar Marching Band who wish to play their instruments in the fall. The ensemble is open to any student in any major. No audition is required.
The University of Houston Band Department has two performing jazz bands open to all majors. Both ensembles are auditioned at the beginning of every semester. For audition information, check http://www.uhbands.com before the start of school.
One of the premier bands of its kind in the United States, Cougar Brass is the University's musical ambassador. The band performs at every men and women's basketball home games at Hofheinz Pavilion and at dozens of University of Houston events annually. Membership in Cougar Brass is by audition only in October of each school year. The band performs a variety of pop and traditional music, and travels annually to Conference USA and the NCAA basketball tournaments.
