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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 Bands

  • 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.
 

Rehearsal Times

  • 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

The Cosmopolitan Chorus is a large, non-auditioned, and inclusive mixed-voice adult choir made up of singers of all ages and levels of skill and experience. The ensemble is divided into sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses and features multiple singers per part. The Chorus performs a wide range of repertoire, from Renaissance to Romantic, Baroque to Broadway, Sea Shanties to Spirituals, and popular music of many eras. 
 
One unique aspect of singing with CMS is the fantastic opportunity to collaborate with the concert bands at many of our concerts. This allows for the performance of grander works, be it opera choruses, large-scale pieces like Carmina Burana, or music from Star Wars. The Chorus also performs on its own, both a cappella (with no added instruments) and with accompaniment from piano, organ, and/or rhythm section. Choristers can typically expect performances in November (Remembrance), December (Christmas), April (Choral feature), and June (Winspear Centre performance with other ensembles). Weekly rehearsals include regular time with a split ensemble (Sopranos and Altos in one room, Tenors and Basses in another) to accelerate part learning and to keep everyone more consistently engaged. The CMS choral program is accessible to new and advanced choristers alike and is known for its positive and uplifting qualities.  

Rehearsal Times

  • The CMS Chorus rehearses Mondays from 7:30-10:30 PM

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 Centre 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.

Rehearsal Times

  • 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

Rehearsal Times

  • CMS Reverberations Handbells rehearse Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 PM
  • CMS Overtones Handbells rehearse Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM