Music Auditions and Scholarships

There are three parts to brass auditions as listed below. Auditions usually take place in Jameson Recital Hall and students will be provided with a rehearsal space prior to their audition.

• Prepared Repertoire - Select two pieces demonstrating contrasting styles of playing, i.e., lyrical and technical. Selected pieces can be solos, etudes, or major orchestral/band excerpts.
• Scales - Be prepared to play all major scales and a chromatic scale. No specific rhythm, tempo, articulation or number of octaves is required.
• Sight Reading – A short sight-reading example will be provided during the audition. Students are encouraged to take a moment and review the example before being asked to perform on their instrument.

There are three parts to guitar and bass guitar auditions as listed below. Auditions usually take place in Jameson Recital Hall and students will be provided with a rehearsal space prior to their audition.

• Prepared Repertoire - Select two pieces demonstrating contrasting styles of playing, i.e., lyrical and technical. Selected pieces can be solos or etudes.
• Scales - Be prepared to play all major scales, preferably in 2 octaves. No specific rhythm or tempo is required.
• Sight Reading – A short sight-reading example will be provided during the audition. Students are encouraged to take a moment and review the example before being asked to perform on their instrument.

Please note that this audition is for students that play in the classical or jazz traditions or are looking to work toward technical virtuosity on their instrument. Students looking to audition on rhythm or lead guitar for worship ensembles should audition for the worship arts program. Students interested in both traditional/jazz and contemporary styles are encouraged to audition for both programs. 

A brief example of sight-reading, several major scales (hands together, four octaves) and solo piano literature representing two stylistic periods. The literature should equal or exceed the level of challenge presented in the sample works listed: (a) Baroque Period: J.S. Bach, Two-Part Invention No. 13 in A Minor, (b) Classical Period: Beethoven, Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13, Movement III, (c) Romantic Period: Brahms, Rhapsody in G Minor, Op. 79, No. 2, (d) Twentieth Century: Debussy, Arabesque No. 1 in E Major. Other appropriate literature might be found in anthologies such as the following: (1) Volume 47, Early Advanced Classics to Moderns, New York: Consolidated Music Publishers, 1969; (2) Recital Winners, Volume Two, Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing, 1993; (3) Applause, Book Two, Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing, 1986.

There are three parts to Percussion auditions as listed below. Auditions take place in the band room, and students are given time to prepare on the instruments in the room before the audition.

• Prepared Repertoire - Percussion auditions should typically demonstrate proficiency on two or more of these percussion areas: Snare drum, Mallet percussion, Timpani, Drum set. These proficiencies should be demonstrated by the performance of solos or etudes in the selected areas.
  • In addition to prepared music, performance of rudiments on Snare Drum is welcome.
  • Students including Drum set in their audition should be prepared to demonstrate a variety of styles (rock, swing, various Latin styles, etc.) in addition to prepared music
• Scales - Be prepared to play major scales through three flats and three sharps on mallet percussion, demonstrating at least two-mallet technique.
• Sight Reading – A short sight-reading example will be provided in the percussion area of the student’s choice during the audition. Students are encouraged to take a moment and review the example before being asked to perform on their instrument.

There are three parts to string auditions as listed below. Auditions usually take place in Jameson Recital Hall and students will be provided with a rehearsal space prior to their audition.

• Prepared Repertoire - Select two pieces demonstrating contrasting styles of playing, i.e., lyrical and technical. Selected pieces can be solos, etudes, or major orchestral excerpts.
• Scales - Be prepared to play all major scales up to four sharps and flats, preferably in 3 octaves. No specific rhythm or tempo is required.
• Sight Reading – A short sight-reading example will be provided during the audition. Students are encouraged to take a moment and review the example before being asked to perform on their instrument.

Prospective students performing a vocal audition sing two selections – one in English and a second item in a foreign language. For scholarship consideration, the two songs should present contrasting styles of classical-tradition art songs from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and/or Twentieth-Century periods of music history. Following the prepared solos, vocalists should also be prepared for two short sight-singing demonstrations.

An accompanist will be provided for on-campus vocal auditions, though a student may bring his or her own accompanist if desired. (Recorded accompaniments are not acceptable.) Please be sure when making photocopies of music for an accompanist that all lines of the piano parts appear on the photocopy. (Overly large pages may need to be reduced slightly.)

Students who wish to submit a videotaped audition will be asked to submit the contact information for an accompanist or other music mentor who would be willing to administer the sight-singing portion of the videotaped audition after the solo songs have been recorded.

There are three parts to woodwind auditions as listed below. Auditions usually take place in Jameson Recital Hall and students will be provided with a rehearsal space prior to their audition.

• Prepared Repertoire - Select two pieces demonstrating contrasting styles of playing, i.e., lyrical and technical. Selected pieces can be solos, etudes, or major orchestral/band excerpts.
• Scales - Be prepared to play all major scales and a chromatic scale. No specific rhythm, tempo, articulation or number of octaves is required.
• Sight Reading – A short sight-reading example will be provided during the audition. Students are encouraged to take a moment and review the example before being asked to perform on their instrument.