Auditions for 2008-2009 Columbia University Bluegrass Ensemble, "Lion in the Grass"

"Lion in the Grass," Columbia's bluegrass ensemble was founded at Columbia in 2004, and has achieved a strong reputation on campus and in the community. Lion in the Grass plays at many campus functions throughout the year, and at neighborhood venues as well.

Toby King is the band's director, and can be reached at: jk560@columbia.edu.  Auditions will be held Friday, September 5th, at 4:00 PM, in Dodge 112. (Enter Dodge from College Walk, not from the main entrance on the third floor).

Bluegrass music is a twentieth-century amalgam of popular and traditional music styles that coalesced in the 1940's in the American southeast, emphasizing vocal performance and instrumental improvisation. This ensemble will highlight through performance many of the influences and traditions that bluegrass comprises, including ballads, breakdowns, "brother duets," gospel quartets, Irish-style medleys, "modal" instrumentals, "old-time" country, popular song, and rhythm and blues, among many possible others. Though experienced players will have plenty of opportunities to improvise, participants need not have played bluegrass before. The ensemble should include fiddle, five-string banjo, steel string acoustic guitar, mandolin, resophonic guitar (Dobro), and upright (double) bass.