Auditions and Registration for Ensembles and Lessons
Auditions:
100-LEVEL MUS courses are open to all students without audition. All MUSP (performance) courses require an audition prior to registration for the course. MUSP auditions take place during the first week of each semester.
Auditions are open to students of any major and school, and are intended to admit as many qualified students as possible. Students are urged to sign up for an audition time as soon as possible. At the conclusion of auditions (but prior to registration), students are informed by email about their placement into major ensembles, studio lessons and/or chamber music.
Registration:
Registration for all MUSP courses takes place during the second week of classes after auditions have been completed. Pre-registration is not possible for MUSP courses. Students in ensembles and chamber music will register in rehearsal during the second week of classes; students in lessons will register with their instructor during the second week of classes.
2024 FALL AUDITION SCHEDULE
PIANO — Michael Salmirs & Jinah Lee (FOR NEW STUDENTS ONLY)
Please email Michael Salmirs for further information.
ORGAN/HARPSICHORD — William Lawson
Previous keyboard experience necessary. Prepare to play one work on either piano or organ for the audition. For an appointment contact the instructor: William Lawson
ORCHESTRA & WIND SYMPHONY — Jingqi Zhu & Jennifer Greene
Auditions: Returning violins/violas Aug. 21; Woodwinds Aug. 22; New violins/violas Aug. 26; Cello/bass Aug. 26; Brass Aug. 26
Instrumental auditions are held during the first week of classes; sign up at this link.
The audition consists of: a) Major scales/rudiments; b) 2 – 3 minutes of a prepared published solo or etude chosen by the student to demonstrate their technique, tone and musicianship (no accompanist); and c) a brief sight-reading excerpt. Email Jingqi Zhu for more information.
PERCUSSION — Joel Smales
Auditions: Monday, August 26
Instrumental auditions are held during the first week of classes; sign up at this link.
VOICE — Brenda Iglesias & Thomas Goodheart (TA Graduate Voice Lesson Auditions)
*Auditions are for open to all students, or for those returning students who wish to change teachers.
Voice area auditions will take place at the following dates, times, and locations.
Held in Fine Arts Building, room 21
Thursday, August 22, 4:30-6:30pm
Saturday, August 24, 2:00-6:00pm
Held in Fine Arts Building, room 27
Monday, August 26, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Auditions: will be held during the first week of class; sign up at this link.
AUDITIONS FOR VOICE LESSONS are simple! We just need to hear you sing! You can bring any style of music. If you have sheet music, bring a copy (or airdrop the PDF file too!) a pianist will be available to accompany you. You’re also welcome to sing with a track, a cappella, or even sing "Happy Birthday" if you don’t have a song prepared. If you really don't know any song, we can also just listen to you perform some vocal exercises instead. We’re just looking to hear your voice and assess your musicality.
Note: In order to take private voice lessons, you must be enrolled in an ensemble (Treble Chorus or Harpur Chorale) so make sure you audition for Dr. Culverhouse too!
Email Brenda Iglesias for more information.
CHORUS — William Culverhouse (HARPUR CHORALE and CHAMBER SINGERS) & Megan Burrell (TREBLE CHORUS)
Choir auditions are offered at the following times, all in Fine Arts Building room 27 on the lower level of the building:
AUDITIONS FOR THESE TWO CHOIRS ARE EASY! You don't need to prepare anything in advance. We'll do some voice exercises to map out your comfortable range, some echo patterns to assess your ear, and a little bit of easy sight singing from notation. We're not looking for perfection, just intuitive musicality.
Thursday, August 22, 4:30-6:30pm
Friday, August 23, 2:30-4:30pm
Saturday, August 24, 3:00-6:00pm
Sunday, August 25, 2:00 PM-6:00pm
Auditions: To sign up for an audition slot, sign up at this link.
NOTE: Make sure you scroll back and forth to be able to view all the options on all four days. If all the slots are full, email me right away and we'll add more slots!
No prepared song is needed for the first round of auditions (for all choirs), which will include vocalizing, singing, simple patterns by ear and simple sight singing. Chamber Singers auditions occur at the end of each semester for the following semester. Email William Culverhouse for more information.
GUITAR — Paul Sweeny (CLASSICAL) & Jim Wilding (JAZZ, BLUES, ROCK, ETC.)
The Music Department now has a Guitar Ensemble, as well as lessons in both acoustic guitar and electric (Jazz) guitar. Guitarists with previous experience and some familiarity with reading staff notation are welcome to audition. Students taking lessons must also enroll in the Guitar Ensemble and/or a jazz ensemble (by separate audition); but students may audition for the ensembles without taking lessons. For the auditions, please prepare one piece (any style, acoustic or electric) that demonstrates your level of proficiency, and one major or minor scale (in any key).
Auditions: held during the first week of classes; sign up at this link.
For Classical guitar and Guitar ensemble, please email Paul Sweeny
For Jazz, Blues, Rock, etc. please email Jim Wilding
JAZZ IMPROVISATION — Greg Evans
Auditions: Sign ups and registration for both entry level and experienced level improvisation classes will take place Thursday, August 22 in FA 24 at 4:30 p.m. Please email Greg Evans for more information.
HARPUR JAZZ ENSEMBLE — Greg Evans
Auditions: Students audition by sitting in with the Jazz Ensemble. Auditions are held in FA 24 on Tuesday, August 27th, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Students should bring instruments except for piano and drum set. Amplifiers provided. Please email Greg Evans for more information.
HARPUR STUDIO JAZZ BAND – Laurence Elder
Auditions: Students audition by sitting in with the Studio Jazz Band. Auditions are held in FA 24 on Wednesday, August 28th, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Students should bring instruments except for piano and drum set. Amplifiers provided. Please email Laurence Elder for more information.
NUKPORFE AFRICAN DRUMMING AND DANCE ENSEMBLE — James Burns
Auditions: Email James Burns to schedule an audition.
ALL OTHER AREAS
Please contact the director of the ensemble you are interested in directly. You can find ensemble information here.
