Ensemble & Production Auditions

Due to COVID-19 safety measures, Shenandoah Conservatory will be conducting video auditions for wind and string students enrolled in Large Instrumental Ensemble (wind and percussion students will register for MUEN 305/505-101, 2 credits; string students will register for MUEN 305/505-102, 2 credits).

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

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.

Due to COVID-19 safety measures, Shenandoah Conservatory will be conducting video auditions for Jazz Ensemble, Little Big Band and Jazz Combos (see “Special Guidelines for Jazz Video Auditions” for further instructions).

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 Form

Jazz Audition Materials

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.

All new incoming undergraduate instrumental and piano performance students will submit a 5-minute video of two contrasting works of choice no later than Thursday, August 20. Returning instrumental and piano performance students will be placed at the discretion of the director of chamber music.

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.

From the 10 numbered excerpts, please choose the most advanced Guitar 1, Guitar 2, Guitar 3 and Guitar 4 part that you can play confidently and fluently. The individual Guitar 1, 2, 3 and 4 parts can be chosen from the different 10 numbered excerpts. This means you will be preparing 4 excerpts.

Guitar Audition Excerpts

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.

Due to COVID-19 safety measures, we will be conducting video auditions for any university student wishing to participate in Shenandoah Conservatory’s vibrant vocal/choral program. This year, instead of being placed in one of our larger traditional choirs, all choral students seeking academic credit will now register for Shenandoah Voices (MUEN 312) and will be assigned to new, smaller, project-based ensembles.

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

*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.

Due to COVID-19 safety measures, auditions for opera projects will be conducted via video submissions. As the fall and spring projects are finalized, repertoire and directors will be announced. Your audition selection should be something you sing very well, that shows your strengths and that gives us a glimpse of your personality and musical identity! Remember: sing to express, not to impress!

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.