This is our vision to come alive – delivering high-impact experiences that connect our community to music.
Covering a wide range of themes and genres, shows each year are decided upon by SPG1 leadership, UMC administrative staff, and community input. We work to design performances that span a range of styles, allowing our students to immerse themselves in musical experiences that keeps them learning, even when they’re on the big stage.
The results have helped the Uptown Music Collective build a reputation of exceptional caliber. One that we’re proud of and owe to the work of the motivated students who give themselves to their music.
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Come see us rock –
Our Current Performance Season started in the Fall Semester of 2021 and ends in May of 2022!
Information to audition for next year’s performance season is below!
>Click Here to look through our performance timeline!<
Our success is evident in our long-standing history of stellar performances.
For students, this is where it gets real.
SPG1 works hard. They put in long hours – not just at the Collective, but at home too. They live and breathe music.
And the result is show-stopping.
Putting on four major performances throughout the year, SPG1 is the reward for excellence and hard work. The most skilled and driven musicians are given the opportunity to work together as they direct and produce these high-impact musical experiences for our community.
It’s challenging and high-stress. Success depends upon student leadership and their ability to create, plan, organize, learn, rehearse, and carry out professional-level performance.
It’s also the reward for their hard work, and together, they become family. Beyond the hard parts, they come together to shine.
Click Here to meet the members of this year’s SPG1!
so how do you get in?
SPG1 is a highly select group of the most skilled and motivated students in the Collective. Members are chosen each year through a competitive audition process held in late August or early September.
The group is composed of the 13 vocalists, 9 guitarists, 4 bassists, and 4 drummers who score the highest on a complex evaluation matrix covering tone, expression, technical ability, musicality, and more. With your private lesson instructor, you will choose an audition piece to showcase the best of your abilities. The audition panel will listen to your piece, ask you to perform a few things spontaneously, and then ask you a few questions.
In order to qualify to audition, students must meet the following requirements:
• Be intermediate or above.
• Have the recommendation of their private lesson teacher.
• Have performed in at least three Student Showcases.
• Have taken part in the Student Showcase Backup Bands.
• Have Participated in the Tech Monkey Program for at least one year.
Want to know more?
Click – SPG1 Audition Criteria
What if you don’t make it?
Rejection is a hard truth of the music industry, and this is a highly competitive program. Not everyone makes the cut.
If you don’t, it’s an important life moment – one that we include in our pursuit of developing the whole musician. You have the ability to choose how you respond.
So look forward! Take advantage of other performance opportunities through the Community Performance Program and Student Showcases, participate backstage with the TechMonkey crew, and continue to work hard over the next year to further develop your skills.
The harder you work, the bigger the reward.
