The Commercial Music Ensembles at Ohio State are open to all Ohio State students, regardless of major.  
 

Gospel Choir and Ohio Show Band are offered Autumn and Spring semesters.
 

Auditions for Show Band are held prior to Autumn semester. Instructions and registration for vocalists and instrumentalists are available below. 

For Spring semester, please email Shawn Wallace, director, at wallace.376@osu.edu.

Gospel Choir

Course Details

MUSIC 2208.16/7208.16
Class time: T/R • 5:20–6:15 p.m.

Please consult Class Search to confirm course meeting times and locations.

A non-auditioned group for students of all majors who enjoy or are curious about singing gospel music. 

Singers develop skills within the framework of a strong aural tradition and explore techniques of improvisation as well. The group rehearses a wide variety of gospel literature and performs for the community at least once per semester.

• There is no need to be an advanced singer to be a member. If you are an instrumentalist (piano, bass, guitar, drums, etc.) consider joining as a member of the combo that accompanies the choir. 
   
• Music majors may participate in this group for Small Ensemble credit only, and music education majors are especially encouraged to do so.

There is no audition for the Gospel Choir. Add the course to your schedule and attend class.

Questions? Email Milton V. Ruffin, director, at ruffin.2@osu.edu.

Ohio Show Band

Course Details

MUSIC 2210 
Class time: M/W • 6:30–8:30 p.m.

The Ohio State Show Band is a contemporary music ensemble that performs tour-quality shows with musical styles from R&B, gospel, and pop to neo-soul, contemporary Christian and fusion, while incorporating vocalists, automated lighting, production sequences, dance, video sync and the latest computer-based production software. 

The Ohio Show Band will present their autumn concert on Sunday, November 1. They will perform the music of Earth, Wind & Fire and DeBarge.

Audition details for autumn semester are below. One member of the class/ensemble will also serve as Production Assistant.

• 4–6 singers
• Trumpet
• Alto Sax
• Tenor Sax
• Trombone
• Guitar (lead)
• Guitar (rhythm)
• Keyboard
• Bass
• Drums
   

Auditions for Singers (Video submission only)

The following steps are required.

Step 1 — Complete and submit the following Vocalist video audition registration form. 

Vocalist Video Audition Registration

Step 2 — Prepare a video of you singing two (2) songs in a style of your choice with a backing track. The video can be recorded with your phone in any comfortable location. Be sure that the sound and video are clear. The submission can also be of you singing a solo in a previously recorded concert.

Step 3 — Upload your video to YouTube. Email as an unlisted YouTube link to Professor Shawn Wallace at wallace.376@osu.edu.

A mandatory meeting for vocalists who submitted an audition video will be held via Zoom during the first week of school (date/time TBA). 
 

Auditions for Instrumentalists (In-Person)

Auditions will be held Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 2–5 p.m. in Timashev N208.

The following steps are required.

Step 1 — Complete and submit the following Instrumentalist in-person audition registration form, prior to audition date. 

Instrumentalist In-Person Audition Registration

Step 2 — As instructed in your confirmation email from the registration form, select an audition time in SignUpGenius.

Step 3 — Be prepared as follows for your instrument(s): 

Horns — Trumpet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trombone

• Full-range chromatic scale, ascending and descending
• F Major scale and D Major scale, 2 octaves ascending and descending
• You will be asked to sight read 
• Prepared pieces, to be performed with a metronome
  • "Sir Duke" and "Caught Up in the Rapture" music for each instrument is provided in Audition Music for Horns (Autumn), below.

Rhythm Section — Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums

• Rhythm players (except drummers) will improvise over a blues progression in a key of their choice. This will be performed with a backing track.
• Rhythm players will also be evaluated on the ability to read rhythms and chords.
• Drummers will demonstrate the ability to play with a click track with headphones.

Questions? Email Shawn Wallace, director, at wallace.376@osu.edu.