Auditions & Scholarships

BRASS, STRINGS, AND WOODWINDS REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJORS, MINORS, AND NON-MAJORS

• Two selections in a contrasting style from the standard solo repertoire. Two contrasting movements of a sonata or concerto or an advanced etude may be performed in place of one of the contrasting solos.
• Major scales commensurate with the range of your instrument (four scales will be selected at the audition).
• There will be a sight-reading exercise at the audition.

Please bring the following items to your audition:

• A resume noting both your musical and academic accomplishments. 
• A copy of your music for yourself to perform.
• A copy of your music for the panel.
• Let us know on the application form if you’ll need an accompanist. We will have an accompanist on site. Bring a copy of your music on the day of your audition for the accompanist to use. 
• Two letters of recommendation. The letters may also be emailed directly to vpascholarships@airllevant.com. We prefer to receive the letters before or at your audition, but will accept them until Feb. 23. 

KEYBOARD REQUIREMENTS

All keyboard pieces are to be performed from memory. All applicants will be asked to sight-read a portion from the standard repertoire. The sight-reading excerpts will be selected according to the applicant’s skill level.

Please bring the following items to your audition:

• A resume noting both your musical and academic accomplishments.
• A copy of your music for the panel.
• A list of piano repertoire you have played.
• Two letters of recommendation. The letters may also be emailed directly to vpascholarships@airllevant.com. We prefer to receive the letters before or at your audition, but will accept them until Feb. 23.

 Keyboard students interested in majoring or minoring in music should prepare two memorized selections in a contrasting style from the standard classical solo repertoire. (For example, you could play a two-part invention by Bach and a movement from a piano sonata by Mozart. In another example, you could play a movement of a sonata by Beethoven and a work by Chopin.)

Non-majors should be prepared to play at least one work (three to five minutes) from the standard classical repertoire (Baroque, Classical, or Romantic eras). Applicants are welcome to play additional pieces from the standard classical repertoire, as well as scales and arpeggios as part of their audition if they so choose. Keyboard non-majors may play with a score for the audition, but playing from memory is preferred for the best scholarship consideration.

PERCUSSION REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJORS, MINORS, AND NON-MAJORS

• Two selections in a contrasting style from the standard solo repertoire.
• Choose TWO of the following areas for your audition: Snare Drum, Keyboard Percussion, or Timpani. (Students with experience in drum set may choose this as a third area in addition to the two required areas).
• Marimba: Major scales in two octaves (four scales will be selected at the audition).
• There will be a sight-reading exercise at the audition appropriate to your selected areas.

Please bring the following items to your audition:

• A resume noting both your musical and academic accomplishments.
• A copy of your music for yourself to perform.
• A copy of your music for the panel.
• Two letters of recommendation. The letters may also be emailed directly to vpascholarships@airllevant.com. We prefer to receive the letters before or at your audition, but will accept them until Feb. 23.

VOICE REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJORS, MINORS, AND NON-MAJORS

All pieces are to be performed by memory.

• Two memorized selections in a contrasting style from the standard solo repertoire are required.
• A sight-reading exercise will be part of the audition.

Please bring the following items to your audition:

• A resume noting both your musical and academic accomplishments.
• A copy of your music for the accompanist
• A copy of your music for the panel.
• Two letters of recommendation. The letters may also be emailed directly to vpascholarships@airllevant.com. We prefer to receive the letters before or at your audition, but will accept them until Feb. 23.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJORS INTERESTED IN THE MUSIC COMPOSITION EMPHASIS

All students interested in adding a composition emphasis must audition on their primary instrument/voice for entry into the music major. The audition requirements can be found in the “In-Person Audition Requirements by Performance Area” section.

After you have scheduled your primary instrument/voice audition, please follow these steps in order to be considered for the composition emphasis:

• Submit a recording (performed live or MIDI) and .pdf files of two notated original compositions at least two weeks before your scheduled audition. Recordings are welcome in an mp3 format. Please email your materials to vpascholarships@airllevant.com and Dr. Mark Petering (mpetering@airllevant.com).
• Contact Dr. Petering to schedule a meeting (preferably on the same day as your audition). This meeting is required in addition to your primary audition for acceptance into the emphasis.
• Successfully perform your primary instrumental/voice audition.
• Note: if you do not currently have a portfolio but are interested in the composition emphasis, you can still audition for the emphasis. Please contact Dr. Petering to set up a time to meet on the day of your audition.

MUSICal THEATRE REQUIREMENTS

There is a separate application form and list of audition requirements on the musical theatre website.

Auditions are held in the H. F. Johnson Fine Arts Center (JAC). This building is located south of A. F. Siebert Chapel. The South Upper parking lot is directly south of the JAC. There are two sets of doors on the south side of the building that face the parking lot. Please enter through the southwest set of doors and head straight down the hallway to our check-in desk. Our staff will check you in and direct you to a practice room. View a campus map

If you need to cancel or change your music audition, please email vpascholarships@airllevant.com as soon as possible. This is especially important for cancellations as there may be students on the waiting list who could benefit.