Shenandoah Conservatory is committed to fostering a safe environment for our students and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are equally committed to providing exceptional opportunities for our students aligned with preparation for 21st century careers in the arts. This commitment begins with your audition! As the arts industry has responded to our current reality by modifying rehearsal and audition practices, Shenandoah Conservatory has also adopted the most recent industry standards, while maintaining a commitment to innovation and collaboration. Below is detailed information regarding the Shenandoah Conservatory audition process. We will continue to adapt our safety measures and procedures as we consult with state and federal agencies, university leadership and industry professionals. Please check this page for updates and be in touch with your division if you have any questions about the audition process.
Related Quicklinks
Music
All students must upload their video and complete the Large Instrumental Ensemble Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. See additional details below regarding the submission process and guidelines for video auditions.
Note for Percussion Students
Unfortunately, due to the risks involved with shared instruments, percussionists will NOT be able to audition via the established video auditions; however, you should still complete the Large Instrumental Ensemble Audition Form for registration purposes. We are currently developing a plan to accommodate you and will be in touch soon to update you on the process. In the meantime, please complete the Large Instrumental Ensemble Audition Form and review the audition materials below.
Video Audition Submission Process
- Follow the guidelines below to record your UNLISTED YouTube video.
- Label your YouTube video: [Name] – [Instrument]. Example: John Doe – Clarinet
- Complete and submit the Large Instrumental Ensemble Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. This form will provide a place to add the web link to your YouTube audition video.
Special Guidelines for Instrumental Video Auditions
- All videos will be submitted as a link to an UNLISTED YouTube video. You must set up your video as UNLISTED to protect against licensing infringement.
- Professional recordings are not recommended nor required.
- Position the camera’s field-of-view so that both right and left arms are in clear view (i.e., no music stand blocking bow arm or fingerboard or embouchure).
- Auditionees may stand or sit.
- Ensure that lighting and acoustics are adequate.
- State your name and instrument and the name of your solo selection. Play the required excerpts for your instrument as listed on the Instrumental Ensemble Audition Materials (listed below).
- Start with your solo selection, then proceed to the required excerpt.
- If you need to stop and start an excerpt again, do not pause, stop or restart video, simply begin again with the excerpt you were playing and continue.
- The entire audition should not exceed 10 minutes.
- Do not edit after the recording. Recordings that are not continuous or that are edited will be disqualified.
Submission Deadline: If you have opted for a video audition, please submit your YouTube web link via the Large Instrumental Ensemble Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2020.
Large Instrumental Ensemble Audition Form
Instrumental Ensemble Audition Materials
Woodwinds
Percussion
Questions?
Additional questions regarding large ensemble auditions should be directed to Professor Jan Wagner (Director of the Symphony Orchestra) at jwagner@su.edu or Dr. Timothy Robblee (Director of the Wind Ensemble) at trobblee@su.edu.
The audition material should be performed with a metronome. Make sure that the metronome is loud enough for the viewers to hear it. Optional: If you would like to be considered for one of the primary solo chairs, post an improvised solo, using a backing track, of a standard of your choice.
- Drummers: Along with the posted material, provide a medium swing groove, fast swing groove, a Latin groove of your choice, and a funk groove.
- Bassists: Along with the posted material, provide a swing groove bass line over a twelve bar blues in ‘two’ and in ‘four’; a Latin groove of your choice, and a funk groove.
Video Audition Submission Process
- Follow the guidelines above to record your UNLISTED YouTube video.
- Label your YouTube video: [Name] – [Instrument]. Example: John Doe – Clarinet
- Complete the Jazz Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 20. This form will provide a place to add the web link to your YouTube audition video.
Special Guidelines for Jazz Video Auditions
- All videos will be submitted as a link to an UNLISTED YouTube video. You must set up your video as UNLISTED to protect against licensing infringement.
- Professional recordings are not recommended nor required.
- Position the camera’s field-of-view so that both right and left arms are in clear view (i.e., no music stand blocking bow arm or fingerboard or embouchure).
- Auditionees may stand or sit.
- Ensure that lighting and acoustics are adequate.
- State your name and instrument and the name of your solo selection. Play the required excerpts for your instrument as listed on the Jazz Audition Materials (listed below).
- Start with the required excerpt and add an improvised solo example if you want to be considered for a primary solo chair.
- If you need to stop and start an excerpt again, do not pause, stop or restart video, simply begin again with the excerpt you were playing and continue.
- The entire audition should not exceed 10 minutes.
- Do not edit after the recording. Recordings that are not continuous or that are edited will be disqualified.
Submission Deadline: Please submit the Jazz Audition Form with YouTube video link by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 20.
Jazz Audition Materials
What It’s Called Horn Section Parts
What It’s Called MP3 Audio
Questions?
Additional questions regarding the Jazz Ensemble or Little Big Band should be directed to professor Craig Fraedrich at cfraedri@su.edu. Questions regarding the Jazz Combos should be directed to Dr. Robert Larson (Director of Jazz Studies) at rlarson@su.edu.
Chamber Ensembles Video Audition Submission Process
- Follow the guidelines below to record your UNLISTED YouTube video.
- Label your YouTube video: [Name] – [Instrument]. Example: John Doe – Clarinet
- Complete and submit the Chamber Ensemble Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2020. This form will provide a place to add the web link to your YouTube audition video.
Special Guidelines for Chamber Ensemble Video Auditions
- All videos will be submitted as a link to an UNLISTED YouTube video. You must set up your video as UNLISTED to protect against licensing infringement.
- Professional recordings are not recommended nor required.
- Position the camera’s field-of-view so that both right and left arms are in clear view (i.e., no music stand blocking bow arm or fingerboard or embouchure).
- Auditionees may stand or sit.
- Ensure that lighting and acoustics are adequate.
- State your name and instrument and tell us a little bit about your chamber ensemble experience.
- Play your required 2 contrasting pieces of your choice
- If you need to stop and start an excerpt again, do not pause, stop or restart video; simply keep the video running, begin again with the excerpt you were playing and continue.
- The entire audition should not exceed 10 minutes.
- Do not edit after the recording. Recordings that are not continuous or that are edited will be disqualified.
Submission Deadline: Please submit your YouTube web link via the Chamber Ensemble Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2020.
Chamber Ensemble Audition Form
Questions?
Additional questions regarding chamber ensemble auditions should be directed to Professor Doris Lederer (Director of Chamber Music) at dlederer@su.edu.
Performance Majors
Piano performance majors will need to submit materials for the chamber music auditions. Prepare and video no more than 5 minutes total of music (either solo or ensemble works) from 2 contrasting styles. Email your video to Director of Chamber Music and Professor of Viola and Chamber Music Doris Lederer at dlederer@su.edu by Monday, August 17, 2020. You will either be assigned to a small ensemble or as the accompanist for another instrumental or vocal student as your ensemble placement for the semester.
Non-Performance Majors
Non-performance piano majors (composition, music education, music production & recording technology and music therapy) may audition for any of the established ensembles — Jazz Ensemble, choirs, chamber music — or may elect to serve as the accompanist for another instrumental or vocal student. If you wish to audition for Jazz Ensemble or chamber music, please prepare the materials as indicated on this page. If you wish to work as the accompanist for another student, email Dr. Karen Walker at kwalker@su.edu.
Please check the Welcome Week schedule for the date, time and place of the guitar ensemble auditions.
Questions?
Email professor Julian Gray (Director of Guitar Studies) at jgray3@su.edu.
Participation in vocal ensembles is open to students throughout the university regardless of their major. All Shenandoah University students wishing to participate in a vocal ensemble will be accepted and assigned to projects that match their vocal abilities, musicianship and experience level.
Note: Some projects require auditions, and some auditions are mandatory for certain majors.
Choral Video Auditions
Any student, new or returning, undergraduate or graduate, wishing to participate in vocal (choral) projects, including all majors with a vocal ensemble requirement, should submit a video of themselves singing one of the three songs listed in the Choral Audition Materials below. The song should be performed unaccompanied (a cappella) and sung in a comfortable range.
Choral/Opera Video Audition Submission Process
- Follow the guidelines above to record your UNLISTED YouTube video.
- Label your YouTube video: [Name] – [Instrument]. Example: John Doe – Clarinet
- Complete the Choral Ensembles & Opera Projects Audition Form by Thursday, August 20. This form will provide a place to add the web link to your YouTube audition video.
Special Guidelines for Choral/Opera Auditions
- All videos will be submitted as a link to an UNLISTED YouTube video. You must set up your video as UNLISTED to protect against licensing infringement.
- Professional recordings are not recommended nor required.
- Position the camera’s field-of-view as a medium shot, so that your torso and head are in clear view.
- Ensure that lighting and acoustics are adequate.
- State your name and which selection you are singing from the Choral/Opera Audition Materials (listed below). Songs should be performed unaccompanied (a cappella) and sung in a comfortable range.
- Start with your choral audition and then proceed to your opera audition (if applicable).
- If you need to stop and start in the middle of a selection, do not pause, stop or restart video; simply keep the video running, begin again with the selection you were singing and continue.
- The entire audition should not exceed 10 minutes.
- Do not edit after the recording. Recordings that are not continuous or that are edited will be disqualified.
Submission Deadline: Please submit your YouTube web link via the Choral Ensembles & Opera Projects Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 20.
Choral Ensembles & Opera Project Audition Form
Choral/Opera Audition Materials
America, the Beautiful
(Verse 1 only)
Oh, beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
Amazing Grace
(Sing verse 1 “straight.” You may improvise on verse 3.)
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Twas grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
O Shenandoah
(Verse 1 only)
O Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away you rolling river.
O Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away, I’m bound away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri.
*Sheet music is included for your reference. You do not need to sing your selection in the same key as the sheet music.
Questions?
Additional questions about vocal ensembles during the 2020/21 school year should be directed to Dr. Matt Oltman (Director of Choral Activities) at moltman@su.edu.
Returning conservatory voice students who wish to be considered for participation in opera projects during the 2020/21 academic year should include, in the same video, an operatic aria or art song, in any language, using the same procedures for recording with a piano accompaniment track that you and your teacher implemented last semester.
New conservatory voice students should reach out to their applied voice teacher for instructions on how to procure piano accompaniment tracks and create an audition video.
All vocal performance majors are required to audition for opera.
Choral/Opera Video Audition Submission Process
- Follow the guidelines above to record your UNLISTED YouTube video.
- Label your YouTube video: [Name] – [Instrument]. Example: John Doe – Clarinet
- Complete the Choral Ensembles & Opera Projects Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 20. This form will provide a place to add the web link to your YouTube audition video.
Special Guidelines for Choral/Opera Auditions
- All videos will be submitted as a link to an UNLISTED YouTube video. You must set up your video as UNLISTED to protect against licensing infringement.
- Professional recordings are not recommended nor required.
- Position the camera’s field-of-view as a medium shot, so that your torso and head are in clear view.
- Ensure that lighting and acoustics are adequate.
- State your name and which selection you are singing from the Choral/Opera Audition Materials (see Choral Ensembles section). Songs should be performed unaccompanied (a cappella) and sung in a comfortable range.
- Start with your choral audition and then proceed to your opera audition (if applicable).
- If you need to stop and start in the middle of a selection, do not pause, stop or restart video; simply keep the video running, begin again with the selection you were singing and continue.
- The entire audition should not exceed 10 minutes.
- Do not edit after the recording. Recordings that are not continuous or that are edited will be disqualified.
Submission Deadline: Please submit your YouTube web link via the Choral Ensembles & Opera Projects Audition Form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 20.
Choral Ensembles & Opera Project Audition Form
Questions?
Additional questions about opera projects during the 2020/21 school year should be directed to Dr. Byron Jones at bjones@su.edu.
Complete details on the audition process and requirements will be released in the coming weeks. Please check back later for updates.
Theatre
Due to COVID-19 safety measures, auditions for the spring theatre season will be conducted via video submissions. All students who wish to be considered for a role in a theatre production this spring should follow the guidelines listed below and complete the Theatre Audition Form with their submissions by 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 28. Callbacks will also be held via video the following week.
Musical theatre students are required to audition for the musical(s); they may also audition for the plays but it is not required. Acting students are required to audition for the plays; they may also audition for the musicals but it is not required.
All musical theatre students must audition for BLOOM, but only those that feel they are right for THE LAST 5 YEARS and can handle it vocally should submit for that project.
All acting students should audition for both A DREAM PLAY and AS YOU LIKE IT.
Theatre Audition Guidelines
BLOOM: One 60-second cut of contemporary musical theatre or pop song.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS: One 60-second cut from the song cuts provided for either Jamie or Cathy (“Shiksa Goddess” for Jamie or “Summer in Ohio” for Cathy).
- “Shiksa Goddess” for Jamie Sheet Music
- “Shiksa Goddess” for Jamie Rehearsal Track
- “Summer in Ohio” for Cathy Sheet Music
- “Summer in Ohio” for Cathy Rehearsal Track
A DREAM PLAY: One 45–90 second selection from the play; can be fully memorized or on-book. If on-book, preparation is required so that eyes can be off the page. Please use the camera as the person to whom you are speaking.
AS YOU LIKE IT: One 60-second Shakespeare monologue.
Special Guidelines for Theatre Auditions
- All videos will be submitted as a link to an UNLISTED YouTube video. You must set up your video as UNLISTED to protect against licensing infringement.
- Label your YouTube video: [First Name – Last Name]
- Professional recordings are not recommended nor required.
- Position your camera so that you are in clear view; ensure lighting and acoustics are adequate.
- For singing or monologue videos, please slate by stating your name and the title(s) of your selections.
Please submit the Theatre Audition Form (with video links) by 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 28 in order to be considered for the spring theatre season.
Questions?
Additional questions regarding theatre auditions should be directed to Elizabeth Albert (Operations Manager) at ealbert00@su.edu.
Dance
Dance Ensemble choreography will be provided by the Dance Division by Monday, August 10. The Dance Division will provide further instructions through email. If you are a non-dance major and interested in auditioning for the dance ensembles, email Chair of Dance Division and Associate Professor of Dance Maurice Fraga at mfraga@su.edu.
Questions?
Additional questions regarding dance ensemble auditions should be directed to professor Maurice Fraga (Chair of Dance Division) at mfraga@su.edu.