Ensemble participation is a central part of daily activity at Cannon Music Camp.  All ensembles are conducted by highly qualified professionals who work to achieve the highest standards of group musicianship.

Chamber Singers is an auditioned group of 16-24 singers that performs a variety of choral literature from all stylistic periods.  This group performs at least twice during the camp session.  Auditions are held at the beginning of camp and are open to all campers.  The audition consists of vocalization (range testing), tonal memory, and sight singing.

Concert Choir is a non-auditioned group of 100+ singers that performs once during the camp session and is open to all campers.  The Concert Choir performs a wide range of selections representing both classical and popular styles.

Flute Choir is open to all flute "majors," plus any other flute players wishing to participate.  This ensemble performs literature that is diverse in style and period.  This ensemble is quite likely to enlist musicians of other disciplines (string, keyboard, vocal) in order to compliment its repertoire.  The Flute Choir performs once during the camp session.

Guitar Ensemble is open to all guitar "majors" and utilizes guitars for all of the principle parts, with "guest appearances" by other instruments from the orchestra.  The Guitar Ensemble performs once during the camp session.

Jazz Ensembles represent a significant part of the wind curriculum. There are two different ensembles and each performs once during the camp session.  There is no separate audition for these groups.  Any instrumentalist wishing to participate should indicate their interest during their large ensemble placement audition.

Jazz Vocal Ensemble is an auditioned group of 16-20 singers and a rhythm section (piano, bass, drums).  This ensemble is devoted to performing a variety of traditional and contemporary jazz literature.  This includes everything from lush ballads, swing tunes and the blues, to Latin, pop and fusion pieces.  In addition to experiencing ensemble singing in styles representing groups such as the Manhattan Transfer, Take 6, and Singers Unlimited, these students will have the opportunity to develop their musicianship through the intense exploration of jazz melodies, harmonies, rhythm and improvisation. This ensemble performs twice during the camp session.  Click here for more detailed information about the ensemble placement audition.

Percussion Ensemble is comprised of all percussion "majors," plus any other percussion players wishing to participate.  Past performances of this ensemble have featured literature representing a variety of genres, including: "classic" concert percussion by composers such as Varese, Cage, Harrison, Cowell, and Chavez; contemporary concert percussion which have included premieres of works; fusion pieces utilizing a rhythm section, percussion, and mallets; and mid-East performance on middle-Eastern Rigs, North African Tars, and Irish Bodhrans.  This ensemble performs once during the camp session.

Symphonic Band is for the wind and percussion students who may not be placed in either the Wind Ensemble or Symphony Orchestra, or who may be (for instrumentation purposes) assigned to this ensemble.  This ensemble performs standard repertoire representative of graded literature on the "Grades 3-6" listings.  Click here for more detailed information about the ensemble placement audition.

Symphony Orchestra performs twice during the camp session, with the latter concert usually being a combined, "side-by-side" performance with the North Carolina Symphony.  This ensemble performs standard repertoire and often has the opportunity to accompany guest artists in performance.  Click here for more detailed information about the ensemble placement audition.

String Chamber Ensembles are a significant part of all string players experience at camp.  Each string student is placed into a trio or quartet for small ensemble exposure to both chamber literature and performance.  These ensembles meet a minimum of twice weekly and are coached by the CMC string faculty.

String Orchestra performs once during the camp session.  Performing repertoire without the symphonic compliment of winds/percussion, this ensemble focuses on the continued development of ensemble playing and string sonorities. Click here for more detailed information about the ensemble placement audition.

Wind Ensemble is made up of essentially "one-on-a-part" instrumentation and performs upper level standard repertoire.  The Wind Ensemble has also accompanied numerous guest artists as a part of the camp season.  Click here for more detailed information about the ensemble placement audition.

Women's Choir is a non-auditioned group of soprano and alto voices that perform music written specifically for treble voices.  This ensemble performs once during the camp session.