Ensembles
Sign up to your conservatoire ensemble projects on this page!
Overview & Contact
Find out what we do and how you can reach us.
About Us
Throughout the course of the year, any student can participate in extracurricular ensemble projects. These happen outside of your timetabled hours and are open to all courses. It is a great opportunity to engage in music outside of your course, or further expand your learning on your primary study. You will meet so many new people sharing a common interest, and most importantly, all the projects are designed to be enjoyed!
Read below for the projects we have available for 25/26, and click on the various links to sign up to each ensemble.
Contact Information
You can reach us via email at g.bush@lcm.ac.uk or visit us in the Library. We’re generally available: Monday – Friday, 9am – 4:30pm. However this may vary – please be patient when awaiting a response!
Orchestra
Find out about our Orchestra, and how you can get involved!
This year we have 4 Orchestral Projects, 1 large project and 1 smaller project in each of semester 1 and 2. Each of them equally exciting!
Semester 1
Semester 1 will involve our usual Side-By-Side concert with the Orchestra of Opera North, playing work by Dvorak, Coleridge-Taylor and Holst.
We will finish semester one with an enrichment week project, performing a screening of ‘The Snowman and The Snowdog’ at Broderick Hall in Leeds City Museum.
Semester 2
In Semester 2, we will be once again working with Manchester Camerata and Orchestras Live on a large scale collaborative concert, led by Pete Letanka.
We will also be running a string orchestra project in Semester 2, performing Ola Djelo’s ‘Sunrise Mass’ with Leeds Philharmonic Chorus.
Alongside these 4 projects we will also be doing a ‘Film Rewind’ Day, performing and recording original work by Film Music Students, accompanying short films. These are usually really fun recording days, and an opportunity to bring excellent student work to life.
Auditions
Auditions for Orchestra will take place on 30th September and 2nd October. By auditioning you will be eligible to play in all 4 projects – anyone interested in playing for the orchestra must audition, even if you were a part of either of last year’s projects.
Sign up for an Orchestra Audition using our sign up form. You can also use this form to sign up for Wind Orchestra.
LC Pop Choir
Find out about our Pop Choir, and how you can get involved!
The LC Pop Choir is a dynamic choral group that performs unique arrangements of well-known rock, pop, and gospel songs. Last year marked our 10-year anniversary, which we celebrated with a packed schedule of events, including an appearance at The Royal Albert Hall as finalists in the ‘How Sweet The Sound’ competition, and involvement in Britain’s Got Talent 2025.
We welcome new members from all voice types across the Conservatoire. For the audition, candidates should prepare a 90-second piece that best showcases their voice, using a range of dynamics, techniques, and vocal textures. If you were a member of the choir last year, you are not required to audition again. Auditions will take place on Thursday 25th September. Sign up for an LC Pop Choir Audition using our form.
Contemporary Jazz Orchestra
Find out about our Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and how you can get involved!
Our Contemporary Jazz Orchestra (CJO) have 2 exciting projects lined up for the year. Semester one will be focusing on traditional Brazilian Music, led by Gustavo Andrade, leader of ‘Gustavo and the Brasukas’. Alongside playing your instrument, prepare to sing, dance, and get on some percussion! There will also be opportunity for any singers to learn songs – we particularly welcome any Portuguese speakers to join us.
In Semester 2 we will working with the Orchestra Project, alongside Manchester Camerata and Orchestras Live on a large scale collaborative concert, led by Pete Letanka.
Auditions for CJO this year are on Monday 29th September, and by auditioning you will be eligible to play in both projects. Sign up for a CJO Audition using the sign up form.
Wind Orchestra
Find out about our Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and how you can get involved!
Wind Orchestra is open to all wind players and percussionists. We play a wide and diverse range of repertoire, aiming to represent many composers on the project.
Wind Orchestra takes place in Semester 2 and will be performed at Broderick Hall, Leeds City Museum this year. For the last 2 years our Wind Orchestra has been conducted by Shaun Matthew but this year we will be announcing a different conductor for the project – please keep an eye out for this!
Unlike the orchestra, if you audition for Wind Orchestra, you are guaranteed a place in it. We aim to include as many as we can on the project, regardless of instrument. Use our form to sign up for a Wind Orchestra Audition (you can also use think link to sign up for Orchestra).
Pit Band
Find out about our Pit Band, and how you can get involved!
We have 3 shows requiring Pit Bands this year, with orchestral and rhythm section requirements. The shows are:
- A Man of No Importance (March)
- Into the Woods (March)
- My Fair Lady (June)
You can be considered for Pit Band if you are doing an Orchestral Audition – if you are not an orchestral player, we will reach out to you and ask for a video submission. To register interest for Pit Band, please fill out the form.
Folk Ensemble
Find out about our Pit Band, and how you can get involved!
Folk Ensemble is the only non-auditioned ensemble at the Conservatoire, and is designed for folk and non-folk students to approach and develop their skills in a genre they may or may not be familiar to. These sessions will take place on an early evening in order for them to be accessible to all. The ensemble will work towards a performance at ‘Crossroads’, a termly Folk Showcase Concert.
As mentioned, auditions are not required, but please still sign up using the form to register your interest.