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WHO IS IT FOR?
GUHO is an orchestra for anyone studying in Ghent who has achieved the higher degree at music school or has an equivalent level of musical ability through experience. If you want to become a member, it goes without saying that you must demonstrate a sense of responsibility and actively participate in the orchestra. This means attending rehearsals and our rehearsal weekend (which is awesome, by the way)!
WHERE AND WHEN?
GUHO rehearsals take place every Monday during the academic semester from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Trechterzaal, on the top floor of Studentenhuis de Therminal (Hoveniersberg 24, 9000 Ghent).
On Monday 9 February 2026 from 20:00 to 22:30, we are organising an introductory rehearsal, so you can see what a rehearsal with us looks like. At this rehearsal we will not be accepting any new (alto) oboes, flutes, French horns, trumpets or trombones. This is because won't be holding auditions for these instruments in order to maintain the balance within the orchestra.
As GUHO is a university student association, we follow the academic calendar of Ghent University. This means that we do not rehearse during university exam periods and holidays. We give at least two concerts each year: at the beginning of December and at the beginning of May.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
If you've made it this far, great! The GUHO can't wait to welcome you to the orchestra. In order to maintain the quality of our orchestra, the GUHO holds a short, mandatory selection procedure. This will take place on Monday 9 February 2026 and Wednesday 11 February 2026.
Please note: in order to maintain the balance in the orchestra, we will unfortunately not be holding auditions for (alto) oboe, flutes, French horns, trumpet and trombone for the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year.
What can you expect?
- An introductory interview: during this short chat, we want to get to know you better. We will inquire about your motivation and experience on the one hand and your expectations of the GUHO on the other.
- An audition: you will play a piece of your choice and we will also give you a part of an orchestral piece. You will perform both pieces for a jury. The most important thing is that you show that you are not afraid of playing.
Every musician in the GUHO knows that an audition like this can be stressful. That is certainly not our intention! The auditions are primarily a tool to put together our orchestra and ensure musical balance. Your audition and the preliminary interview will be conducted by Dimitri, our conductor, and several musicians from the GUHO – students just like you!
This semester, we are particularly looking for clarinet and bass tuba players. Unfortunately, we will not be holding auditions for (alto) oboe, flutes, French horns, trumpet and trombone this semester. We will, however, be holding auditions for all other instruments that belong to a wind orchestra.
What many people don't know is that some string instruments also belong in a wind orchestra. That's why we are also looking for double bass, piano or harp this semester!
For large instruments such as bass tuba, double bass, etc., it is difficult to transport these instruments to and from rehearsals every week. However, solutions exist! Are you hesitating to register because of this problem? Contact us and we will certainly be willing to help you find solutions to any logistical obstacles.
Shortly after the audition, we will decide whether you can officially join GUHO for rehearsals. This decision will be based on your motivation and commitment during the rehearsal and the audition itself.
I'M INTERESTED! WHAT NOW?
Great! First, fill in our registration form. You can find it at the bottom of this page or here in a new tab. We will then contact you at the email address you provided and let you know when your introductory interview and audition will take place. Be sure to check your spam folder for this email!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The introductory rehearsal will take place on 9 February 2026. For this introductory rehearsal, we will not be accepting any new (alto) oboes, flutes, French horns, trumpets or trombones. This is because we won't be holding auditions for these instruments in order to maintain the balance within the orchestra. In order to get an idea of the number of musicians, so that we can provide the necessary scores, we ask you to register via the registration form. You can also use the same form to register for the audition. You will receive more information, the date and time of your audition later by email after your registration. Be sure to check your spam folder.
FAQ
First, you will be welcomed at the entrance by the committee. When it is your turn, you will go to a separate room where the conductor and two musicians will welcome you. You will get to know each other, you will be offered some water, a chair, etc. Then we will move on to a short interview where we will ask you a few questions. Most of these are informative, similar to the registration form. We will then inquire about your expectations of the GUHO and share our expectations. We can talk about how you found out about us, your motivation, your experience, your attendance at rehearsals, etc. We are certainly not there to ask you difficult questions or embarrass you; on the contrary, we will do everything we can to put you at ease.
This is followed by you playing a piece of your choice and an orchestral excerpt. Are you feeling really stressed? Feel free to let us know, we will take this into account! You will not receive any comments on your playing and we will end the interview with a thank you. The whole process takes no more than 15 minutes.
As a student orchestra, we fully understand that students can sometimes have very busy schedules and that you may be concerned about, for example, not having enough time for your studies. However, we believe it is important to form an active group so that we can prepare for the concert in the best possible way. It is also always more enjoyable when as many people as possible are present. The important thing is that you do your best to attend, but if you have to go somewhere else, are ill or have a big exam tomorrow, that's certainly no disaster! If you can't attend, please notify our secretary by email. We work with a maximum number of rehearsals that you are allowed to miss, but this limit is only reached by some musicians in exceptional circumstances.
Not at all! It may be confusing that our name includes the word “university”, but anyone who is pursuing higher education at a university or college in Ghent is welcome to join us.
That is not necessary. You must have achieved at least the higher grade (≥4.1) or have an equivalent level through experience.
Definitely! We will be holding auditions again. This is ideal if you are still unsure whether your studies will be too demanding, if you are still on Erasmus for another semester, or if you are not reading this page at the start of the academic year.
Send us an email at info@guho.be and we will see if we can do anything to help!
You are completely free to choose your piece, so it doesn't really matter. Ideally, you should choose something you are comfortable with and that allows you to demonstrate your various skills (technique, sound, etc.). About a week before the audition, you will also receive the score of a compulsory orchestral excerpt. Since the entire interview and audition lasts less than 15 minutes, it is best to choose a piece of music that is not too long.
You will receive the orchestral excerpt in advance so that you can practise it.
It is not mandatory to attend both open rehearsals. However, it is recommended that you attend as many rehearsals as possible. If you are unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control, please send an email to info@guho.be.
We are also looking for a bass tuba, double bass, piano or harp. It is difficult to transport these large instruments to and from rehearsals every week. However, solutions exist! Are you hesitating to register because of this problem? Contact us and we will be happy to help you find solutions to any logistical obstacles.
MORE QUESTIONS
Please don't hesitate to send us an email with your questions. We won't bite ;) You can reach us at info@guho.be.
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