Well to start with, we're NOT ONLY FOR ENGINEERS!

The Melbourne University Engineering Music Society was founded in 1991 for the sole purpose of giving musically-minded students the opportunity to play in a relaxed, casual and sociable environment. Whilst affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering, the society is in no way limited to engineering students - we have members from all faculties, staff, students from other universities, high school students, and even people who have absolutely nothing to do with the uni.

The club currently supports an orchestra, concert band, two stage bands, a jazz choir. We hold spectacular public concerts at the end of each semester, and also play at several university and industry functions throughout the year. All ensembles rehearse weekly, usually for a couple of hours in the evening (from 5:45pm). We also hold a rehearsal camp over a weekend every semester.

Being a student-run club, we get to make all (or most of) the decisions. This means we end up playing all sorts of music - from classical symphonies to movie soundtracks to silly little fun pieces. If you have any suggestions or requests, speak up!

Apart from music, the club has a strong social aspect to it. There are trips to the pub after every rehearsal, "beer and freddos" nights, BBQs, not to mention numerous cycling expeditions, hikes, ski trips and brewery or winery tours, and of course, there's camp. Don't go thinking we rehearse all the time! Camp is a great way to get to know everyone else in the society, and with such a huge mix of people, you're bound to find someone you like.

What we do

EMS consists of:

• An orchestra
• A concert band
• Two stage bands
• A jazz choir
• A string quartet
• A jazz combo
• A cello octet

and has a membership of over 200 students, staff, and members of the general public.

Each semester culminates in an orchestral/concert band concert and a stage bands gig. The concert is often (but not always) held at Wilson Hall, and EMS stage bands have played at venues from pubs and bars in Brunswick to the Bennetts Lane jazz club in the city. Ensembles of the club also participate in other events such as the McLennon Oration, Melbourne University Discovery Day, Engineering Dean's Honours, Orientation Week, Big Band night at QPO and The 150th Anniversary of the University.

History

The Melbourne University Engineering Music Society (EMS) was formed in late 1991 by four intrepid engineering students: Astria Price, Patrick Quin, Bruce Clapperton and Lucia Santoso.

Known then as the Melbourne University Engineering Orchestra (MEO), the first rehearsal was in March 1992 in the Laboratory at Queen's College.

Under the knowledgeable, patient, and keen guidance of our inaugural conductor James Gunning, the orchestra grew and has become the biggest student instrumental group on campus outside of the Music Faculty. Guided by the vision of our founders, EMS also became known as a friendly and fun social club, open to students of all faculties and levels of musicianship.

With strong support from the Engineering Faculty, EMS forged ahead and was involved in many memorable events. These include peformances at the McLennan Oration, a recital in Parliament House for the opening of the 1994 IEAust National Engineering Convention, radio broadcasts of our Symphonic Band's performance by Plenty Valley FM and a performance at the 150th anniversary of Melbourne University.

Under the superb conductorship and enthusiatic guidance of Michelle Stanic (1996-7) and in 1998 Sue Cook, EMS flourished musically and reached a higher standard of performance. With a dedicated committee working hard behind the scenes, EMS continued to grow, enriching the lives of everyone involved with the society, and fulfilling the needs of the student community to express itself musically.

1999 saw the introduction of a new conductor but certainly not a new face. Leila Marimuthu was an active committee and orchestra member of the EMS since her first year at the University in 1996.

In semester 1 2000, a very skilled and inspiring conductor by the name of Willem Van der Vis led a new, larger EMS into a successful concert performing Carmen Suite No. 2 (Bizet), Don Giovanni Overture (Mozart) and Suite in Eb (Holst), among others. Semester two saw the introduction of a new conductor, Tony Brookes, who is still our orchestra conductor to this day. Another successful concert was held on October 21st with the newly-formed Stage Band.

Early and dedicated organisation enabled EMS to perform in the O-week "wecome back" activities of 2001. The stage band played a wonderful set of classics (Summertime) and not-so-classics (Sesame St), much to the delight of the crowds that gathered to listen - and dance! Although throughout the semester the orchestra was in a "void" as to rehearsal space, we established a constant room and pulled off yet another fantastic concert on May 19th 2001. In addition, thanks to dedicated rehearsing and another widely successful camp in 2nd semester, not to mention the fantastic work done by the EMS publicity officers and committee, we were able to hire out the prestigious Melba Hall for our concert, and attracted over 250 audience members.

2002 saw EMS purchase more instruments. In addition to 4 timpani, EMS now owns a drum kit, a bass amp, and various other percussion equipment. While Tony Brookes continued taking the orchestra, music student Adam Arnold (who often depped for Stage Band in the past) started conducting the Concert and Stage Bands. EMS sold out its semester 1 concert for the first time in history, filling up Melba Hall (329 people plus almost 100 performers).

After selling out Melba hall the concerts moved to the prestigious St Paul's Cathedral in 2003. Long time leader of the orchestra Jo Olechnowicz wowed audiences with the violin solo of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade ably supported by the fantastic Finnish exchange student Tuomas Jãrvernsivu. The concert band enjoyed performing the theme of their favorite beer through the movie classic The Magnificent Seven, and a new conductor Sam Parry led the Stage Band.

EMS was bursting at the seams at this point and two concerts were required each semester to fit it all in. Jazz choir and the Handbell Ensemble were two new additions to the club. Fine weather inspired the committee to take the club down to the beach for the first semester camp, leading to some less than capacity sectionals in the afternoon.

2005 saw a 30-piece stage band in semester one, leading to the formation of a second band in semester two. In October the society performed a Classical Spectacular, with combined Orchestra and Concert Band playing the 1812 overture, making more than 100 players on stage. Four days later the two stage bands and jazz combo were showcased at the Big Band Blowout at Bridie O'Reilly's in Brunswick.

Going into 2006 EMS is bigger than ever, with over 200 members and six large ensembles. Still run by a passionate volunteer committee, EMS continues to perform at many University events, such as Discovery Day, Orientation Week, Engineering Deans Honours and as part of MudFest. New members are always needed and welcome. For more info, check out the rest of the site