Prospective Music Students Audition Information

Prospective Music Students Audition Information


How do I get an audition date?
Go to the School of Music web site and select your date for your audition. Or call the music office at 330.972.7590 to set up your audition date.
A written theory placement test, a Piano Proficiency, and an audition on your selected instrument(s).
Given to assess your keyboard skills. If you have no keyboard skills, you will be placed in a beginning piano class.
Test will include: definitions of musical symbols and terms, recognition of note and rest values, knowledge of key signatures and scales and aural recognition of scale forms, rhythms and pitches.
Audition for the area of your choice. Study requirements for your applied area. You need to audition for only one applied area, but have the option of choosing more than one.
Performance Audition Requirements
Undergraduate/Graduate For Jazz students, technique should be the same as above.
Audition: Yes
Accompanist: Not required
Performed from memory: Yes
Length of Audition: One day 9am-5pm
Recording Accepted:Yes DVD
Repertoire:
Applicants should contact the Professor directly to determine what repertoire will be played in the audition. We prefer solo/concerto material that is under current preparation for lessons or performances.
Below is a representative list that will help in the selection process.
Scales and/etude or other example of technical work.
Repertoire:
2 Movements of a Baroque Sonata, or 1 movement of a standard bass concerto-
Dragonetti, Dittersdorf, or Koussevitsky.
Also include two jazz standards: play the melody, improvise a bass line using the chord changes.
More Information: Guy Bordo gvbordo@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 15 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes CD, DVD
Repertoire:
Two pieces (two solos or one solo and one etude) of contrasting style, Major scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats, Chromatic scale, Sightreading
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 30 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes CD
Repertoire: Two contrasting works from the standard bassoon repertoire and 3-4 orchestral excerpts
More Information: Cynthia Cioffari ccioffa@uakron.edu
Undergraduate/Graduate
Audition: Yes
Accompanist: Not required
Performed from memory: Yes
Length of Audition: One day 9am-5pm
Recording Accepted:Yes DVD
Repertoire:
Applicants should contact the Professor directly to determine what repertoire will be played in the audition. We prefer solo/concerto material that is under current preparation for lessons or performances.
Below is a representative list that will help in the selection process.
Concertos of:
Saint-Saëns
Haydn
Lalo
Dvořák
Two contrasting movements of a Bach suite
One Etude:
Popper
Duport
Schroeder
More Information: Guy Bordo gvbordo@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 15 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes CD
Repertoire:
Class A solo or comparable repertoire
Contrasting Etude, preferably from Carl Rose's 32 Etudes
Major scales
Chromatic Scale up to high G
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 30 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes CD
Repertoire: 3 Contrasting Works from Standard Repertoire exhibiting a variety of styles.
5 Orchestral Excerpts
More Information: Kristina Jones kbelisl@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 10 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes DVD
Repertoire:
Prospective students need to prepare two contrasting pieces from the classical repertoire. These may include selections from the Renaissance lute repertoire or movements of Bach suites, to concert works or etudes by Giuliani or Sor, to Spanish or South American works and contemporary pieces. Students are encouraged to write directly with questions if they unsure about their repertoire. Applicants will be asked to sight-read and to demonstrate some technical activities such as scales, arpeggio patterns and so on.
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Preferred
Length of Audition: 20-30 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes DVD
Repertoire: Prospective students should prepare three contrasting works from the repertoire. They should include a Bach work, a contemporary work and something lyrical in nature or a 19th c. composition. Students will be asked to sight-read and to demonstrate a variety of technical activities, such as arpeggio patterns, scales and tremolo. These guidelines are not absolutely rigid, and students are encouraged to contact Mr. Aron directly with questions or concerns.
More Information: Stephen Aron stephenaron@mac.com
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 15 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes CD or DVD
Repertoire:
1. Ohio Class A Solo: for example, Mozart Concerto, Bach Sonata, French Conservatory Piece, Hindemith Sonata, Poulenc Sonata, etc.
2. A work that contrasts your first choice: an etude, another movement of first choice, another solo work
3. All major scales required; minor scales encouraged but not required
4. Sight Reading
5. A simple sight-singing exercise
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 30 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes CD or DVD
Repertoire:Prepare a 30 minutes program that includes at least 3 different styles of solo repertoire and 4-5 orchestral excerpts.
More Information: George Pope gspope@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:
Recording Accepted:
Repertoire: Two pieces (solos or etudes) of contrasting style. One should be lyrical and one should be more technical. Major scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats.
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:
Recording Accepted:
Repertoire: Two contrasting major solo works and also and etude demonstrating technique. Have prepared a group of 4-5 contrasting orchestral excerpts.
More Information: William Hoyt wgh@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:15 minutes
Recording Accepted:No
Repertoire: Two selections from The Real Book Volume I or from any Jazz Standard Fake Book. One piece as a chord melody solo if possible and the other play the melody in actual pitch (8va from written lead sheet)and the accompaniment in the appropriate style of the song.
Major and minor scales in two octaves.
Be prepared to demonstrate your sight reading ability.
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:15 minutes
Recording Accepted:No
Repertoire: Two selections from The Real Book Volume I or from any Jazz Standard Fake Book. One piece as a chord melody solo if possible and the other play the melody in actual pitch (8va from written lead sheet)and the accompaniment in the appropriate style of the song.
Major and minor scales in two octaves.
Be prepared to demonstrate your sight reading ability.
More Information: Dean Newton dean2@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:10-20 minutes
Recording Accepted:Yes CD
Repertoire:Two contrasting movements of a concerto or sonata of your choice
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:10-20 minutes
Recording Accepted:Yes CD
Repertoire: Two contrasting works for oboe and three orchestral excerpts.
More Information: Jack Harel jcozenharel@gmail.com
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:
Recording Accepted:Yes CD or DVD
Repertoire:Select 2 -3 contrasting pieces from below:
Smaller works by J.S. Bach such as 8 Little Preludes/Fugues, chorale preludes from the Little Organ Book
Pieces for manuals by baroque English composers such as Arne, Purcell, Croft, Wesley
Simple pieces by early French composers such as D\'Aquin, Dandrieu, or Couperin
Shorter works by 20th-century French/Belgian composers such as Franck, Peeters, Vierne, Dupre, Boellmann
Shorter works by 20th-century composers such as Callahan, Dale Wood, Paul Manz, Wilbur Held
All students accepted to study organ should have enough piano background to play a piece with simple two-part counterpoint.
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:
Recording Accepted:
Repertoire: Select 3 pieces in contrasting styles from below:
Major mature work by J.S. Bach, Bruhns, Bohm, or Buxtehude
Major work or movement from a major work by Mendelssohn
Movement from a major work by 20th-century French or Belgian composer such as Franck, Vierne, Widor, Dupre, Messiaen
Movement from a major work or single work by 20th-or 21st-century German, Belgian, English or American composer such as Schroeder, Peeters, Hindemith, Howells, or Callahan
More Information: Valerie Thorson thorson@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Suggested
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 30 minutes
Recording Accepted: No
Repertoire:
2 or 4 mallet marimba solo
snare drum solo
all major scales two octaves at quarter=90 in 16th notes
sight read snare drum
sight read marimba
vocal match pitch
optional: drum set, steel pan, hand drums, timpani
Please note: All jazz percussion majors will be expected to complete the 321 level( junior) of classical percussion before graduation.
Graduate
Audition: Suggested
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 1 Hour
Recording Accepted: No
Repertoire: Delecluse #1 Etude
4 mallet marimba solo
sight read 2 mallets
sight read snare drum
timpani etude or solo
three orchestral excerpts of your choice
optional: hand drums, steel pan, drum set, Djembe
More Information: Larry Snider lsnider@uakron.edu
Major and minor scales, a Bach two-part invention or two movements from a suite or equivalent, a movement from a Classical sonatina or sonata and/or Romantic or Impressionistic solo and sight reading and accompanying.
Undergraduate
Audition: Suggested
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 15-20 minutes
Recording Accepted: No
Repertoire:
Undergraduate and Graduate: Contrasting movements from major saxophone repertoire ICreston, Maurice, Bozza, Ibert, Dubois, Jacobi, Heiden, etc.) Additionally, major scales performed from memory for the full length of the horn. Also, the auditioning student will be given music to sight read.
Graduate
Audition: Suggested
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 15-20 minutes
Recording Accepted: No
Repertoire: Undergraduate and Graduate: Contrasting movements from major saxophone repertoire ICreston, Maurice, Bozza, Ibert, Dubois, Jacobi, Heiden, etc.) Additionally, major scales performed from memory for the full length of the horn. Also, the auditionee will be given music to sight read.
More Information: Richard Shanklin rlshank@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Suggested
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 15 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes Cassette or CD
Repertoire:
Undergraduaute--
Any solo from the Ohio Class "A" Solo and Ensemble list (or comparable) solo.
An etude of your choice.
Major scales (one octave) up to four sharps or four flats.
Graduate
Audition: Suggested
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 30 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes Cassette or CD
Repertoire: The audition will take place in a private lesson format.
Have at least one solo and one etude prepared that demonstrate your present ability.
prepare at least four representative, orchestral excerpts.
For electronic (cassette, CD) auditions:
Include at least two solos that representative of your performing level.
Orchestral Excerpts Tenor Trombone: Ravel - Bolero; Mozart - Requiem (Tuba Mirum) (2nd Trombone solo); Wagener- The Ride of the Walkyries (minor); Rossini - Overture to William Tell.
Orchestral Excerpts Bass Trombone: Handel - The Creation; Wagner - The Ride of the Walkyries (major); Brahms - Symphony I
More Information: Edward Zadrozny ezadrozny@aol.com
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:
Recording Accepted:Yes CD
Repertoire: Class A Solo - Examples: Hummel, Trumpet Concerto; Kennan, Sonata; Haydn, Trumpet Concerto; Goedicke, Concert Etude.
Contrasting Etude - Examples chosen from: Sachse, 100 Studies; Charlier, 36 Transcendental Etudes; Brandt, Orchestral Etudes.
Major Scales - up to four sharps and four flats..
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:
Length of Audition:
Recording Accepted:Yes CD
Repertoire: Two Major Solos from the Standard Literature - Examples: Stevens, Sonata; Tartini, Concerto; Tomasi, Concerto.
Standard Orchestral Excerpts - Examples: Stravinsky, Pertroushka; Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition; Respighi, Pines of Rome.
More Information: Scott Johnston trumpetsaj@aol.com
Undergraduate
Audition: Suggested
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 10 minutes
Recording Accepted: No
Repertoire:
Class A OMEA solo or equivalent, an etude and major scales from 4 b's through 4 #''s.
Graduate
Audition: Suggested
Accompanist: Not needed
Performed from memory:Not Required
Length of Audition: 15 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes CD or DVD
Repertoire: A major sonata or concerto written for the instrument, a baroque or classical transcription, and some orchestral excerpts
More Information: Tucker Jolly trjolly@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Yes
Accompanist: Not required
Performed from memory: Yes
Length of Audition: One day 9am-5pm
Recording Accepted:Yes DVD
Repertoire:
Applicants should contact the Professor directly to determine what repertoire will be played in the audition. We prefer solo/concerto material that is under current preparation for lessons or performances.
Below is a representative list that will help in the selection process.
Concertos of:
Telemann
Handel
J.C. Bach
Bach solo Cello Suites (one or more movements)
More Information: Alan Bodman bodman@uakron.edu
Undergraduate/Graduate
Audition: Yes
Accompanist: Not required
Performed from memory: Yes
Length of Audition: One day 9am-5pm
Recording Accepted:Yes DVD
Repertoire:
Applicants should contact the Professor directly to determine what repertoire will be played in the audition. We prefer solo/concerto material that is under current preparation for lessons or performances.
Below is a representative list that will help in the selection process.
Mozart Concerto 3, 4 or 5 (one movement)
Concertos of:
Bruch
Lalo
Saint-Saens
Kabalvesky
Solo Bach (any work for Violin)
More Information: Guy Bordo gvbordo@uakron.edu
Undergraduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Provided
Performed from memory:Yes
Length of Audition: 15-20 minutes
Recording Accepted: No
Repertoire:
Two contrasting selections must be performed. These selections should be chosen from the Ohio Music Education Association Adjudicative Events list or the music should be of comparable quality. All repertoire must be memorized.
All potential voice students (Music Education majors, Performance majors, Bachelor of Arts majors and minors) must audition for entrance into the School of Music.
The student must be able to read music well enough to play a vocal melody of a given song on the piano with pitch and rhythmic accuracy.
The student will be tested on sight singing and rhythm during the voice audition. Each student will sing a melody at sight and clap/tap 8 measures of rhythm.
Graduate
Audition: Required
Accompanist: Provided
Performed from memory:Yes
Length of Audition: 20 minutes
Recording Accepted: Yes Unedited CD or DVD
Repertoire: Applicants should be prepared to sing in Italian, German, French and English. Appropriate repertoire for the applicant’s voice category should be selected. The audition will include arias and art song. At the time of application, graduate students must demonstrate that they have completed the equivalent of French I-II, German I-II, and Italian I-II. All of these courses are available for remedial study at the University of Akron. Students may complete these requirements by taking an examination for reading knowledge in each of the languages or by taking the courses. Languages courses do not count towards a graduate degree in music.
More Information: Laurie Lashbrook lashbro@uakron.edu