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Your love of music isn’t necessarily contingent upon your dedication to making it your full-time gig. Just ask first year mechanical engineering student Audrey Viland.

“Music has been a part of my life since elementary school. I thought for a while I might be a music major, and even though I made a different choice, I still love it.” she says.  

“It’s what I do for a creative outlet,” says Nick Katsiotis, also a musician who’s not taking the professional music route. “This way, I can study chemistry and still do something that I have always loved.”

For both Katsiotis and Viland—and any non-music major on the University of Colorado Boulder campus—there is a musical option that fits their schedules and fills a void. The Campus Band and Campus Orchestra are open to musicians of all majors—and no audition is required.

All Assistant Director of Bands Matthew Dockendorf and orchestra conductors Rafael Rodriguez and Christopher Tan ask is that you know how to play your instrument and read music. “It’s really great if you haven’t played in a while, but you have a love of playing music and want to be pushed technically,” says Dockendorf. “Ninety percent of the groups’ members are non-majors.”

Viland, an oboist from Colorado Springs, says music has always been in her blood. Both of her parents play alto saxophone. “They grew up in the 70s, so we always had all the best music playing in the house.”

Katsiotis, too, comes from a musical background: his family in St. Paul, Minnesota, owns Ekroth Music store. “Everyone in the family plays. My grandparents are musicians, my cousin is a jazz artist. That’s how I got involved in the first place,” he says.  

And though neither of them decided to major in music at CU-Boulder, both make the time for a hobby that became a passion. “I switch my mindset all the time,” says Katsiotis. “I’m a captain on the swim team, I study chemistry, I play trumpet in the Campus Band. I love it.”

Viland says it’s not only the opportunity to play music, but the chance to meet new friends that attracted her to the band. “I gravitate toward musicians. I was in honor bands in Colorado and played through high school, and I realized that musicians were the people I loved to spent time with.

“Most of the friends I’ve made here—whether it’s through band or not—have music in their backgrounds. That’s the common thread.”

Senior Katsiotis cautions other non-music majors not to be scared off by the prospect of long practice hours and playing second fiddle to more experienced musicians. “You learn from the music majors who are in the band and orchestra,” he says. “Everyone who’s in these groups cares and wants to be there, especially the directors. I’ve learned so much about different composers and how to play with emotion from Dr. Dockendorf.”

He’s also joined the music fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. “It’s a chance to get to know the other musicians on campus, and I couldn’t have done that if it weren’t for the band.”

“If something’s really important to you, you should find a way to hold onto it,” says Viland. “I’ll probably always look for a band to join, because I can still have music in my life—even if it’s not my career.”

The Campus Band and Campus Orchestra count for one credit per semester. A limited number of instruments are available to rent. The groups play three concerts per year, with one in Macky Auditorium. Their next performance is Monday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m., Grusin Hall.

Learn more about the Campus Band; learn more about the Campus Orchestra.