23 Community bands, orchestras and choirs in the Charlotte area — learn how you can participate

The Charlotte area is home to a large number of community bands, orchestras and choirs. The membership varies. Some are made up of professional or almost-professional musicians, and some are open to anyone with an interest in performing.

Whether you’ve performed professionally and are looking for a new music community, or you haven’t picked up the clarinet since you were in high school, there is a group for you.

We’ve gathered up all the information we can about all the groups we could find. And we can add more groups to this list, so if there’s one you’d like to see added, just email info@charlotteonthecheap.com with all the details, including a link, and we’ll add it, time permitting. This is always work in progress!

The organizations’ websites and Facebook pages are a good way to find out about their upcoming concerts.

Community Bands

Charlotte Concert Band
How to join: General auditions are held in August of each year, if there are openings. Performers need to have above-average playing skills, especially sight-reading.
Rehearsals: Weekly at Prichard Memorial Baptist Church
Contact: Contact page
Cost: $80 per year
More: The season runs from mid-August through mid-May, with a summer band season mid-May through July. Also, Charlotte Jazz Band is made up of members of Charlotte Concert Band and is available for charity fundraisers, corporate events, community festivals and private parties.
Facebook account

Piedmont Prime Time Community Band
How to join: Performers need to be able to read music, attend rehearsals, and play one of these instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba, percussion or timpani. If you’re interested in joining, please fill out this form.
Rehearsals: Weekly in the Concord High School band room
Contact: Email president@primetimeband.org
Cost: $25 per semester
Facebook page

Charlotte Pride Band
How to join: Musicians of all levels are welcome. No auditions are required. Charlotte Pride Band promotes the value and respect of LGBTQIA+ people in the Charlotte metropolitan area.
Rehearsals: Contact Charlotte Pride Band for info
Contact: Email charlotteprideband@gmail.com
Cost: Contact Charlotte Pride Band for info
Facebook page

Matthews Concert Band
How to join: Openings are not very frequent, but please fill out this contact form.
Rehearsals: Weekly at Matthews Community Center
Contact: Contact page
Cost: $40 a year
Facebook page

Queen City Juvenile Pipes & Drums
How to join: Contact info, below
Rehearsals: Thursday nights at East Charlotte Presbyterian Church
Contact: Email queencityjpd@gmail.com or call Andrea at (831) 206-0468
Cost: $20/month
Members learn bagpipes, Scottish style snare drumming, tenor drumming and bass drumming. Members must be between the ages of 8 and 18. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced players are all welcome.

Community Orchestras

Charlotte Civic Orchestra
How to join: There are occasionally openings, and you’ll see them listed here. Players must be at least 18 years old. If you have completed university or college study on your instrument, you won’t be required to audition, but otherwise, you’ll be asked to perform two contrasting solo works
Rehearsals: Contact Charlotte Civic Orchestra for info
Contact: auditions@charlottecivicorchestra.org
Cost: Contact Charlotte Civic Orchestra for info
More: Charlotte Civic Orchestra is a 75-piece full symphony orchestra made up of local musicians, including professionals, semi-professionals and hobbyists.
Facebook account

Queen City Community Orchestra
How to join: Violinists, violists, cellists and bassists are welcome. There are no auditions. Musicians of all skill levels are welcome. Please fill out this form.
Rehearsals: The group rehearses weekly on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the Hance Fine Arts Center at the Charlotte Country Day School. The first rehearsal for their fall concert is September 11, 2023. Anyone can join in the first few weeks of rehearsals.
Contact: Reach out by email to brookskenni16@gmail.com or message them on Facebook (link below)
Cost: As a non-profit, the group relies on member dues and donations for their music budget. Dues are $25 per semester, but please contact them if you have any concerns.
More: Their fall concert is December 3, 2023. Don’t be nervous — reach out to join them!
Facebook page

Stateline Community Orchestra
How to join: Contact the orchestra at the email address below
Rehearsals: Tuesdays at Pineville United Methodist Church
Contact: statelineorchestra@gmail.com
Cost: None
Facebook page
More: Stateline Community Orchestra is a new orchestra in the South Charlotte and York/Lancaster County areas. They would love to connect with adult amateur musicians, local music teachers, former high school orchestra members who haven’t played in a while, and high school musicians who can fit a recurring rehearsal into their schedule. If you are a musician who would like to be a part of an organized group, please get in touch with Stateline Community Orchestra. They are looking for most instruments, and are not currently requiring auditions.

The Lake Norman Orchestra
How to join: Musicians interested in playing strings, woodwinds, brass or percussion are invited to visit a rehearsal and talk to members and directors. You can also email or message the Facebook page.
Rehearsals: Weekly at Peninsula Baptist Church in Mooresville
Contact: lknorchestra@gmail.com
Cost: None
More: The Lake Norman Orchestra is a 501.c.3 organization and has members from all over the central Carolinas. They play a variety of music, from classical pieces to themes from popular TV shows and films to Broadway songs. There are 25 members in the orchestra and they’re seeking new members, especially violinists, violists, cellists and string bassists. Within the full orchestra there is also a string quintet.
Facebook account

Lake Norman Philharmonic (“lkn PHIL”)
How to join: Submit this form. Membership is open to community musicians provided they have the sincere desire to learn and play together.
Rehearsals: Rehearses weekly at Langtree Charter Academy Upper Campus, 185 W. Waterlynn Road, Mooresville, NC.
Contact: Use this contact form or email lknphilharmonic@gmail.com.
Cost: Please contact the orchestra for information.
More: The Lake Norman Philharmonic (“lkn PHIL”) is a nonprofit, all-volunteer music organization inspired by the concept that music is for everyone. It’s conducted by Maestro Eduardo Cedeño.

Gaston String Orchestra
How to join: Contact the orchestra at the email or Facebook page below.
Rehearsals: Thursdays at First United Methodist in Belmont
Contact: Email gastonstringorchestra@gmail.com or find the orchestra on Facebook.
Cost: Free to join
More: The Gaston String Orchestra is a volunteer based chamber orchestra in the Gastonia area of North Carolina. The group has a long history of performing string orchestra works and symphony orchestra works with the Gaston Symphonic Band. The GSO regularly performs 3-4 concerts annually and our repertoire includes everything from classical string orchestra works to movie, pop, and broadway tunes. Any string player who can read music is invited to join.

Your Neighborhood Orchestra
How to join: If you’re a professional musician looking for an exciting group to join, please get in touch with Your Neighborhood Orchestra and learn about what they’re up to.
Rehearsals: Contact Your Neighborhood Orchestra for info
Contact: Contact page or email info@charlottenewmusic.org
Cost: Contact Your Neighborhood Orchestra for info
More: Your Neighborhood Orchestra is a group of professional-level musicians. They play innovative, new, original classical music, often in collaboration with hip hop artists or other musicians outside of the classical world.
Facebook account

Community Choirs

Charlotte Master Chorale
How to join: Members must be at least 18 years old and must have graduated from High school at the time of the audition. Auditions are held twice a year, and must be scheduled and confirmed in advance. Find info here.
Rehearsals: Weekly at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 E. Morehead, Charlotte.
Contact: Contact form
Cost: $75 a year
More: Charlotte Master Chorale has existed, under different names, since 1951. It is the resident chorus of the Charlotte Symphony. It’s made up of approximately 130 volunteer singers, many of whom hold graduate degrees in music. Chamber Singers is a smaller ensemble of voices from the main chorus, selected through a competitive audition process.
Facebook account

Carolina Voices
How to join: Members must be at least 16 years old. Auditions are held twice a year. Find info here.
Rehearsals: Weekly at Myers Park Baptist Church
Contact: Contact form
Cost: $75 a season
More: Carolina Voices includes three vocal groups: MainStage, Carolina Voices’ largest ensemble. Their signature event is The Singing Christmas Tree. Festival Singers is Carolina Voices’ chamber choir. Their repertoire includes classical choral and contemporary work, as well as spirituals, folk and traditional hymns. Impromptu is a small ensemble that performs extensively in the community.
Facebook account

Gold Standard Chorus
How to join: Just join the group at one of their Monday evening rehearsals.
Rehearsals: Mondays at Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC.
Contact: Contact form
Cost: Contact Gold Standard Chorus for info
More: The Gold Standard Chorus is the Charlotte chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Charlotte chapter was formed in 1950. You don’t need to audition or be able to read music.
Facebook account

One Voice Chorus
How to join: Singers from all walks of life are welcome. No auditions are required. More info here.
Rehearsals: Weekly at Park Road Baptist Church, 3900 Park Road, Charlotte.
Contact: Email info@onevoicechorus.com or use this contact form.
Cost: Contact One Voice Chorus for info
More: One Voice brings lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and LGBT-affirming people together to join in song. This is a group of over 70 singers, support members and paid musical staff.
Facebook account

The African Community Choir
How to join: Fill out this form. You will need to audition before the recruitment team before attending rehearsals, in order to let the directors know how to work with you.
Rehearsals: Contact African Community Choir for info
Contact: Contact form or info@theafricanchoir.org
Cost: Contact African Community Choir for info
More: The goal of the group is to spread the gospel, and members must be believers. You do not have to be of African descent to join. Both singers and instrumentalists are welcome.
Facebook account

North Mecklenburg Community Chorus
How to join: Everyone is welcome to join. No audition is required.
Rehearsals: Contact North Mecklenburg Community Chorus for info
Contact: Contact form or email info@nmccsings.org
Cost: Contact North Mecklenburg Community Chorus for info
More: This singing group was established in 2010. It’s a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that encourages community participation and outreach through choral performances.
Facebook account

Piedmont Choral Society
How to join: Information on auditions here
Rehearsals: Weekly at Calvary Lutheran Church, 950 Bradley Street NE, Concord, NC
Contact: Contact form on website, or email Kay Yates at pcsconcordnc@gmail.com or call 704-699-6053
Cost: Contact the Piedmont Choral Society for info
More: The Piedmont Choral Society performs both sacred and choral masterworks. There are, on average, 50 members, and the season normally runs from September to June.
Facebook account

Community Singers of Lake Norman
How to join: Register here. Auditions are not required.
Rehearsals: Weekly at Bethel Church, 19920 Bethel Church Road, Cornelius, NC
Contact: Email charles@lakenormansings.com
Cost: $80 per year
More: Community Singers of Lake Norman began in 2017, with the goal of forming a singing group that would be open to all who enjoy singing. The group has approximately 60 members.
Facebook account

Women’s Chorus of Charlotte
How to join: Schedule an audition
Rehearsals: Tuesdays at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 1510 E 7th Street, Charlotte
Contact: auditions@GMCCharlotte.org
Cost: $100 a year

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte
How to join: Join the group at an open rehearsal. After that, you just need to do a quick voice placement to identify if you’re a Tenor, Baritone or Bass. Auditions are not required. Learn more about how to get started.
Rehearsals: Contact the Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte for info
Contact: Contact form, or email info@GMCCharlotte.org
Cost: Contact the Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte for info
More: The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte’s mission is to create a society which values and respects its LGBTQ+ members, through artistic achievement, education and engagement. People of all sexual orientations and genders are welcome, as long as they sing tenor, baritone or bass and support the mission of the organization.
Facebook account

The Charlotte Singers
How to join: No auditions required. Contact the director at the email below.
Rehearsals: Weekly on Sundays at Providence Presbyterian Church, 10140 Providence Church Lane, Charlotte.
Contact: Contact director Helen McCorkle Finch at hmfmusic@carolina.rr.com
Cost: $40 per semester (fall and spring.)
More: The group of 70 singers performs four free concerts a year. Find the group on Instagram at @TheCharlotteSingers.