Our Ensembles
At Cosmo, we believe in the power of music to bring people together.
Learn more about our ensembles – maybe there’s a place in one for you!
Concert Band
- The CMS bands are traditional concert bands. These ensembles are made of woodwinds, brass, and percussion, generally with multiple players per part. CMS Bands perform multiple times throughout the year, including at the Finale performance at the Winspear Centre for Music. Repertoire for the CMS Bands ranges from masterworks by Holst, Grainger, Vaughan Williams, Cable, Calvert, Ticheli, Mackey, and Maslanka, to pops and soundtracks, marches and dances. The wind band genre is the epitome of sound variety and texture, and has become a staple in the world of community ensemble music making.
- CMS is home to the only multi-year beginner band program in Canada. This program is designed for adults who have never played a wind or percussion instrument, or have forgotten how to play over the years. In Year 1, members receive instrument specific instruction, theory and literacy training, and learn to play together in an ensemble. Year 2 continues the interpersonal and musical skill development of the players and prepares them to handle the challenges of the Novice band.
- The CMS Band Program also includes the Summer Band, Tour Band, and
special small ensembles.
- CMS features three regular concert bands: advanced, intermediate and novice. Each ensemble rehearses once per week and is lead by professional conductors.
- Monday (Advanced) 7:30-10pm
- Tuesday (Intermediate) 7:00-9:30pm
- Wednesday (Novice) 7:00-9:30pm
Chorus
- This large vocal ensemble performs a variety of repertoire from classical to
sacred, Broadway, pops, and sea shanties. Voicing for this style of ensemble
range from bass to soprano, and feature multiple singers per part. The CMS
Chorus performs both a capella (without accompaniment), and with
accompaniment. Accompaniments include piano, organ, strings, and band.
The CMS Chorus performs at least four times over the season, including at
the Finale performance at the Winspear Centre for Music. It also performs
at special community events for Remembrance Day and Christmas.
- Rehearsals are Mondays from 7:30-10pm
Jazz Band
Cosmopolitan Music Society’s Jazz program features two ensembles:
- The Jazz Orchestra ensemble is a high-level, auditioned group, playing at a grade 4+
level. Instrumentation is restricted to saxophones, trombones, trumpets, guitar,
bass, piano, and drums. Specialty doubling, such as flute, clarinet, and flugelhorn, is
often required. Repertoire focuses on modern, contemporary, progressive jazz. A
high level of technical, rhythmic, and musical skills, including extended ranges and
techniques is required. This band performs at least three times through the season,
including the finale at the Winspear Cnentre for Music. - The Jazz Big Band ensemble draws on the classics and standards of the Swing era.
This ensemble is open to intermediate and above levels players on all wind
instruments, guitar, bass, piano, and drums. CMS Big Band rehearsals include a
history and theory component, as well as dedicated time for improvisation using
standard blues and song forms. This band performs four times through the season
including the finale at the Winspear Centre for Music.
- CMS Jazz Orchestra rehearses Tuesdays from 7:00-9:30 PM
- CMS Big Band rehearses Thursdays from 7:00-9:30 PM.
Handbells
- The CMS Handbell program is the newest offering of the Cosmopolitan Music Society and is one of the only community handbell groups not associated with churches or schools.
- English handbells are a unique ensemble wherein members ring pitched bells made of bronze, creating and ethereal and captivating sound. Each person is responsible for one or two notes of a scale and plays them as part of the complete piece. Repertoire includes classical and popular music transcriptions, and original compositions that feature a wide variety of ringing and sound production techniques.
- This style of music making requires excellent rhythmic and literacy skills, and attention to the other members of the choir. It hones and enhances interpersonal communication and teamwork skills.
- The CMS Handbell program includes choirs for beginners and experienced ringers. It performs multiple times during the season including the finale at the Winspear Centre for Music