Only UNSW students, staff and alumni are ordinarily accepted as players in the Orchestra and the Wind Band. Exception is made if there are not enough players coming forward from the University community to fill a section.

The two ensembles have the biggest intake of new players at the beginning of First Session each year. The Orchestra accepts new players also at the beginning of Second Session, because some students graduate at the end of First Session and choose to leave the Orchestra.

Before joining either ensemble, a player must first have joined the University’s student activities and services association called Arc@UNSW.

There are two levels of membership of Arc:
(i) Full membership in 2009 costs $149 per calendar year, and entitles the member to participate in whatever student clubs he/she wishes. Some Arc services are, moreover, available only to full members. (Study Abroad / Exchange students here for only one semester pay only $99.)
(ii) Associate membership currently costs $40 per calendar year, and entitles the member to join one student club only. If you want to join only the club that runs the Orchestra and Wind Band, you will join the Society of Orchestra and Pipers (SOAP).

Payment of Arc membership fees is accepted during business hours at the Arc office in the Blockhouse, which is located adjacent to the Roundhouse near Anzac Parade.

After showing evidence of their Arc membership, players may join one (or perhaps both) of the two instrumental ensembles.

Players in each ensemble pay an annual fee to participate in that ensemble. In 2009 this fee is $50. There is no additional charge for joining the second ensemble.

Payment is made to a designated person at the start of the ensemble’s rehearsal time, during the early weeks of any Session. A receipt is issued for all payments.

To join the Orchestra please visit the Join the Orchestra page.

To join the Wind Band, please visit the Join the Wind Band page.

For preliminary inquiries about joining either ensemble, see the Contact Us page.