Ensemble & Production Auditions

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 6 p.m. on Friday, August 20, 2021. See additional details below regarding the submission process and guidelines for video auditions.

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 6 p.m. on Friday, August 20, 2021. 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: Submit your YouTube web link via the Large Instrumental Ensemble Audition Form by 6 p.m. on Friday, August 20, 2021.

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.

Auditions for the Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Ensemble, Little Big Band and Jazz Combos will be conducting in-person from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, August 27 and Saturday, August 28, 2021 in Armstrong Hall. Sign up for a time by adding your first and last name.on the Jazz Auditions Google Spreadsheet.

Improvisation is optional, but encouraged. Play prepared music at indicated temp or a tempo that is manageable. Both wind and rhythm players will also sight read during the audition.

Wind Instruments

From the Improvisation Folder (Optional)

1. Select one Blues and play three choruses of improvisation
2. Select two tunes and play the melody with two choruses of improvisation

From the Prepared Music (Mandatory)

Saxophones

1. Mannix – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=215+
2. Rapid Transit – Prepare part of your choice, measure 9-41 mm=200+
3. Taking of Pelham – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=90

Trumpets

1. Peanut Vendor – Prepare 1st or 2nd part G to End mm=200
2. Taking of Pelham – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=90
3. Mannix – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=215+

Trombones

1. Mannix-Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=215+
2. Taking of Pelham-Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=90
3. March of the Tadpoles -Prepare a part of your choice measures 81-153 mm= 250+-

Rhythm Players

From the Improvisation Folder (Optional) – No drums on this event

1. Select one Blues and play three choruses of improvisation
2. Select one tune and play the melody with two choruses of improvisation

For all rhythm (Mandatory)

1. Grooves: Play short sample of Swing, Salsa, Funk and straight 8th on any chord, progression or tune.

For all rhythm (Mandatory)

Prepared Music (Guitar/Vibes select piano or actual part)

1. Mannix – Prepare entire chart part mm=215+
2. Taking of Pelham – Prepare entire chart mm=90
3. Vine Street Rumble mm=140
   1. Piano, guitar and vibes play the PIANO PART measures 1-17 and 49-70 mm=140
   2. Bass measures 5-33 & 68 to end mm=140
   3. Drums-measures 32-49 & 65 to end mm=140

Questions?

Additional questions regarding the Jazz Ensemble should be directed to Dr. Matthew Niess (Director of Brass Studies and Artist-in-Residence, Trombone) at mniess@su.edu. 

Additional questions regarding the Little Big Band or Jazz Combos should be directed to professor Craig Fraedrich (Director of the Little Big Band and Jazz Combos) at cfraedri@su.edu. 

All new incoming undergraduate instrumental and piano performance students will audition in person for Chamber Ensembles with Professor Doris Lederer (Director of Chamber Music) on Friday, August 27. Audition requirements include two contrasting works of choice lasting no more than 5 minutes total. Returning instrumental and piano performance students will be placed at the discretion of the director of chamber music.

Questions?

Additional questions regarding chamber ensemble auditions should be directed to Professor Doris Lederer (Director of Chamber Music) at dlederer@su.edu.

 

Piano

Piano 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 Piano 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, etc.). If you wish to audition for Jazz Ensemble or chamber music, please prepare the materials as indicated on this page.

Piano Proficiency

Shenandoah Conservatory will review video submissions to assess piano proficiency. Undergraduate freshman and transfer students must upload their video and complete the Piano Proficiency Form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. See additional details below regarding the submission process and guidelines for video auditions.

Video Audition Submission Process

• Follow the guidelines below to record your UNLISTED YouTube video.
• Label your YouTube video: [Name] – [Instrument]. Example: John Doe – Piano
• Complete and submit the Piano Proficiency Form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. 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.
• Ensure that lighting and acoustics are adequate.
• State your name and the name of your selection.
• 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: Submit your YouTube web link via the Piano Proficiency Form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

Piano Proficiency Form

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.

We will be accepting video submissions for ensemble placement for the fall 2021 semester for any university student wishing to participate for the first time in Shenandoah Conservatory’s vibrant choral program. Participation in choral ensembles is open to students throughout the university regardless of their major. All Shenandoah University students wishing to participate in choir will be accepted and assigned to an ensemble that match their vocal abilities, musicianship and experience level.

NOTE: Video submissions are only required for new students to the choral program in any year or major. If you sang in an ensemble last year, you already know your ensemble placement.

Choral Video Placement Process

Any new student, undergraduate or graduate, wishing to participate in choral ensemble, including all majors with a vocal ensemble requirement, should submit a video of themselves singing a short song of their choice (some example listed below). The song should be performed unaccompanied (a cappella) and sung in a comfortable range.

Choral Video Placement 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 Ensemble Placement Form by Thursday, August 19, 2021. This form will provide a place to add the web link to your YouTube video.

Special Guidelines for Choral Placement

• 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 what your are singing. Songs should be performed unaccompanied (a cappella) and sung in a comfortable range.
• 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 video should not exceed 5 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 Ensemble Placement Form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 19, 2021.

Choral Ensemble Placement Form

Sample Choral Placement 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 2021/22 school year should be directed to Dr. Matt Oltman (Director of Choral Activities) at moltman@su.edu.

Please prepare two selections (songs or arias), one in English and one in another language. In the interest of time, you may be asked to sing only a portion of your second piece. Additionally, prepare the monologue which will be chosen and made available at the beginning of Welcome Week. The monologue does not have to be memorized.

Questions?

Additional questions regarding chamber ensemble auditions should be directed to Dr. Byron Jones (Associate Professor of Voice) at bjones@su.edu.