UWA Bands

We currently offer four ensembles.

The UWA Wind Ensemble is made up of woodwinds, brass, and percussion and meets during the fall and spring semesters.

The West Alabama Marching Band (WAMB) performs at all UWA home football games, and travels as a full band to one away game per year. There are additional opportunities for a smaller group to travel to other away games. This ensemble is made up of woodwinds, brass, battery percussion, front ensemble, and auxiliaries (majorettes, color guard).

Side Court Pep Band performs at all UWA men’s and women’s home basketball games. The group may also travel for tournament appearances. In March 2023, Side Court traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Men’s NCAA D2 Basketball Tournament!

LU Jazz Band is a standard big band style jazz ensemble made up of saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and rhythm section. This ensemble meets in the spring semester and performs jazz standards as well as contemporary repertoire.

The baseline scholarship for each member of the UWA Band Program (auxiliary included) is $1,500.00.

Members of the UWA Band Program will receive higher awards by:

• Audition quality
• All-State selection
• Participating in other ensembles (wind ensemble, jazz band, Side Court Pep Band)
• Being selected for the leadership team

Sure! All members of the UWA Band Program receive a band scholarship. As we mentioned previously, those vary depending on a number of factors. This fall, we had incoming freshman band scholarships ranging from $1500 per year (only participating in one ensemble) to $4000 per year (participating in all ensembles). We also have some upperclassmen receiving $5000 in band scholarship money per year.

Many of our band students also receive academic scholarships based on their high school/community college GPA or standardized test scores. Additionally, a number of our students receive Trustee Leadership Awards for their involvement in their school or community. You can find more information about those and other scholarships here.

Below are a few examples of scholarship packages. Keep in mind that many of our students  also receive Pell Grants (62% of UWA students over the past 6 years) and private scholarship awards from outside UWA. Those help to grow your total scholarship/award package!

Example 1

28 ACT – $5000 per year academic scholarship

SGA Officer – $2500 per year Trustee Leadership Award

Excellent audition and participation in WAMB, UWA Wind Ensemble, and Side Court Pep Band – $4000 per year UWA Bands Scholarship

Total award per year from UWA scholarships – $11,500 (over half of the total cost per year for a freshman to attend UWA, including housing and meals!)

Example 2

3.48 High School GPA – $3000 per year academic scholarship

Club President – $2500 Trustee Leadership Award

Average audition and participation in WAMB only – $1500-$2000 per year UWA Bands Scholarship

Total award per year from UWA Scholarships – $7000-$7500

Example 3

3.76 GPA – $4000 per year academic scholarship

Qualified for Trustee Leadership Scholarship – $2500

Excellent audition for color guard – $2000 per year UWA Bands scholarship

Total award per year from UWA Scholarships – $8500

These are examples of scholarship packages for some of our current band students. If you qualify for and receive Pell Grant money, it will add to your total award package. Academic and other scholarships must be applied for, and band scholarships are received through an audition. Band scholarships can increase each year as the student improves their ability.

Indoor rehearsals are currently located in the Student Union Building. Outdoor rehearsals are currently located on the intramural football fields.

Requirements for wind instruments are as follows:

• Video or in-person audition
• Three major scales of your choice
• Chromatic scale from your lowest comfortable to your highest comfortable range
• A 60-90 second solo or etude that you have prepared (one can be provided upon request)

Requirements for percussion are as follows:

• Percussion auditions depend on the ensembles in which you would like to perform
  • Drumline audition clinics and camps occur on campus in the spring/summer to determine WAMB Battery and Front Ensemble personnel
  • Wind ensemble percussion placement requires an in-person audition on snare/timpani/mallet etudes prepared in advance by the student
  • Jazz Band/Pep Band drum set placement requires an in-person audition on drum set

Being a part of the UWA Band Program doesn’t cost anything!

• No participation/rental fees
• High quality equipment available (instruments, mutes, etc.)
• WAMB/Side Court uniforms provided (auxiliaries included)
• Additional gear provided to ALL WAMB members:
  • WAMB dri-fit shirts, shorts/skorts, backpacks, caps.