Ottawa Gatineau Messiah Newsletter Musical Groups Musical Chairs Activities Committee

Musical Chairs

Remember the party game in which you move around a circle of one fewer chairs than players until the music stops, and one of the players is left standing? Our Musical Chairs works the other way around -- it is an opportunity to find a musical chair.

To facilitate your musical matchmaking, our directory lists those CAMMAC Ottawa-Gatineau Region members who are interested in making music with other like-minded people. Whether you are an instrumentalist or a vocalist, whether you are interested in an on-going musical relationship or just a "one-night stand" to read through some particular repertoire, our Musical Chairs is for you.

The directory is circulated only to those people who have signed up to be on the list. Anyone on the list is entitled to contact any one else on it to assemble a group suitable for the music they have in mind. The list indicates each person's contact information, instrument(s) and/or voice, musical interests, and estimated playing and reading abilities.

Once you have joined you will receive the current Musical Chairs list, and you can start contacting people to put together your informal music-making sessions!

Your involvement is a matter of personal choice. You can be very involved and organize frequent gatherings, you can organize occasional reading sessions, or you can wait for someone to contact you.

Here are some examples of musical connections that could be set up:

vocal group to sing jazz, or madrigals, or folk songs; or vocal duet; or vocal trio or quartet to read choral music for SSA, SAT, SATB, etc.
piano 4-hands
vocal or instrumental solos with piano accompaniment
piano trio, quartet, quintet with strings
string or wind duets, trios, quartets, etc.
trios for voice, string or wind instrument, and piano; or trio sonatas with keyboard and strings and/or winds; or mixed instrumental chamber ensembles

Join the List!

If you are a CAMMAC member, please click here to sign up.
If you have questions, contact Richard at chaisesmusottawamuschairs@gmail.com.

"Vacant Chairs"

These are the types of people on the list who are looking for musical partners. For more information, contact Richard at chaisesmusottawamuschairs@gmail.com.

- Intermediate and advanced piano accompanists.
- Intermediate trombone and recorder are looking for ensembles.
- Advanced trumpet, oboe, flutes, and clarinets are looking for ensembles.
- Advanced and intermediate strings are looking for string quartets and chamber music ensembles.
- Beginner, intermediate and advanced viola da gamba players are looking for early music ensembles.
- Intermediate and advanced saxophones are looking for jazz ensembles.

Tip

If you want to put together a group of musicians to play with but have little or no music for that combination, you can take advantage of the extensive sheet music collections at the University of Ottawa and at Carleton University.
The University of Ottawa library catalogue is here.
The Carleton University library catalogue is here.
In each catalogue you can limit the results of your search to musical scores only.

Alumni have full borrowing privileges at their respective university library.
If you are a cardholder at the Ottawa Public Library, you can get a free "SmartLibrary" card at any OPL branch which will allow you to borrow material from either University library.
Other members of the general public cannot borrow music from the University libraries, but can photocopy material for personal use.

You may also wish to take advantage of the CAMMAC Library.