Ensemble & Production Auditions

Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion

The Large Ensemble Placement Auditions for all winds and percussion will take place in Armstrong Concert Hall starting on 9 a.m. on Friday, August 25. During Welcome Week (starting Monday, August 21), you will have an opportunity to sign up for a slot (available on a first-come, first-served basis). A sign-up link will be sent to your SU email that week. Please be on the lookout for that email.

All wind and percussion students register for “Large Instrumental Ensemble” MUEN 305 section F2F1 or MUEN 505 section 101. (Please note that section 102/F2F2 is for STRINGS ONLY.) Please note that the online catalog from the registrar’s office shows all the possible rehearsal times for groups that meet under the umbrella of 305/505. Following these “ensemble auditions” part assignments will be determined and you will learn your specific rehearsal schedule(s) within all of the possible rehearsal times.

What to Prepare

The music selected for these auditions represents a variety of core repertoire excerpts important to your development. You will receive information about ensemble rehearsals (Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band) following these auditions.

Please select yourself:

• One selection of your choice that best demonstrates your ability (60–90 seconds in duration)

Then prepare:

• The “general” excerpt selected for your instrument

If you wish to be considered for principal parts, please ALSO prepare:

• The “principal” excerpt selected for your instrument

When you audition, please inform the monitor if you will be playing the excerpt intended for principal part consideration. The panel may request specific excerpts (and amounts of those excerpts) during your audition.

Please be sure to contact your studio teacher or Dr. Tim Robblee (trobblee@su.edu) with questions!

Schedule

• 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. – Flute
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. – Clarinet
• 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Lunch Break
• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Saxophone
• 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – Oboe & Bassoon
• 2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Break
• 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.– Horn
• 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Trumpet
• 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Trombone
• 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Tuba & Euphonium
• 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Break (Set-up for Percussion)
• 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Percussion

Schedule subject to change.

Strings

The Large Ensemble Placement Auditions for all strings (including harp) will take place in Armstrong Hall, Room 39 and Armstrong Concert Hall starting at 4 p.m. on Monday, August 28. During Welcome Week (starting Monday, August 21), you’ll have an opportunity to sign up for a slot (available on a first-come, first-served basis). A sign-up link will be sent to your SU email that week. Please be on the lookout for that email.

All wind and percussion students register for “Large Instrumental Ensemble” MUEN 305 section F2F2 or MUEN 505 section 102.

Please prepare the excerpts as posted and only prepare those sections that are LISTED at the end of these directions. All excerpts (except harp) were extracted from repertoire that will be performed during the 2023/24 season.

If you are a new, incoming undergraduate student only, please also bring a short (2-minute max) solo of your choice which best demonstrates your ability. You must also prepare the excerpts.

All returning students (both undergraduate and graduate) and new-incoming graduate students will prepare the orchestral excerpts only.

Note for Violins

All violins will audition using the first violin part. If you would like to be considered for concertmaster assignments, please prepare (as a substitute for the Haydn excerpts) all the solos from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade (orchestraexcerpts.com/violin).

Please be prepared to perform all excerpts although you may not be asked to play all of them at the actual audition. The format for the auditions will communicated to you in August.

Questions?

As we make the transition to a new conductor this year, please be sure to check your SU email for changes and updates to the audition process. If you have immediate questions, contact Director of Bands Dr. Tim Robblee at trobblee@su.edu; if you have questions in August or later, contact Director of Orchestral Studies Dr. Emanuele Andrizzi at emanuele.andrizzi@su.edu for more information.

Audition Blocks Schedule* for Monday, August 28, 2023

4 p.m. – Harp in Armstrong Hall, Room 39
4:45 p.m. – Violins in Armstrong Hall, Room 39
6:15 p.m. – More violins as needed on Armstrong Concert Hall stage
7:15 p.m. – Viola on Armstrong Concert Hall stage
8:15 p.m. – Celli on Armstrong Concert Hall stage
9:15 p.m. – Double basses on Armstrong Concert Hall stage

*Audition block times are approximate and subject to change

Large Instrumental Ensembles Audition Materials

Questions?

Additional questions regarding large ensemble auditions should be directed to Dr. Emanuele Andrizzi (Director of the Symphony Orchestra) at emanuele.andrizzi@su.edu or Dr. Timothy Robblee (Director of the Wind Ensemble) at trobblee@su.edu.

Auditions for the Shenandoah Conservatory Studio Big Band, Little Big Band and Jazz Combos will be conducting in-person on Friday, August 25, 2023 in Ruebush Hall, Room 128. 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. Mambo Inn – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=230
2. Rapid Transit – Prepare part of your choice, measure 9–41 mm=200+
3. All of Me – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=medium swing

Trumpets

1. Mambo Inn – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=230
2. Taking of Pelham – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=90
3. All of Me – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=medium swing

Trombones

1. Mambo Inn – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=230
2. All of Me – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=medium swing
3. So What – Prepare a part of your choice measures mm= up tempo swing

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. Mambo Inn – Prepare entire chart, mm=230 (latin)
2. All of Me – Prepare entire chart, mm=medium (swing)
3. So What – Prepare entire chart, mm=up tempo (swing)

Questions?

Additional questions regarding the Studio Big Band should be directed to Dr. Matthew Niess (Director of Jazz & Commercial Music and Associate Professor of Trombone) via email 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) via email 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 25, 2023. 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 Performance Majors

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 25, 2023. 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.

Non-Performance Piano Majors

Non-performance piano majors (composition, music education, music production & recording technology and music therapy, etc.) may audition for any of the established ensembles (Studio Big Band, choirs, chamber music, etc.). If you wish to audition for a jazz ensemble or chamber music, please prepare the materials as indicated on this page.

Guitar auditions will be held on the Friday of Welcome Week. 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?

Contact Director of the Guitar Studio and Associate Professor of Guitar Colin Davin at colin.davin@su.edu.

 The choral department welcomes students to sing with us. Choirs are open to all students at Shenandoah University, including music majors and non-majors.

To join, enroll in the choir that you are most interested in participating in. If you are placed in a different choir after your audition, we will adjust your enrollment at that time.

Non-Auditioned Choirs

No audition is required for the following choirs — simply register and join us:

• Shenandoah Chorus (soprano-alto singers), register for MUEN 313/513
  Shenandoah Voices (tenor-bass singers), register for MUEN 312/512

Conservatory Choir

An audition is required for all new and returning students who wish to join the following choir:

• Conservatory Choir (SATB singers), register for MUEN 311/511

Auditions for the Fall semester are held during Welcome Week in August, and auditions in the Spring semester are held by appointment in December and January.

If you are interested in auditioning for Conservatory Choir:

• First, register for Conservatory Choir. If you are placed in a different choir after your audition, we will adjust your enrollment at that time.
• Then, complete the Conservatory Choir Auditions Google Form. Please submit this form prior to your audition/interview.
• Submit recordings of yourself singing (instructions found on the audition form). Please submit these recordings by the deadline listed on the audition form.
• Sign up for the live interview/sight-singing portion of the audition. Instructions and times for signing up are found on the audition form.
• Note: Students who are not accepted into Conservatory Choir will be asked to change their registration to Shenandoah Chorus or Shenandoah Voices.

Questions?

Additional questions about choral ensembles should be directed to Dr. Hillary Ridgley (Director of Shenandoah Chorus) at hridgley@su.edu or Dr. Richard Robbins (Director of Choral Activities/Conservatory Choir) at richard.robbins@su.edu.

Opera auditions for Shenandoah Conservatory’s Main Stage Opera production of Shostakovich’s “Moscow, Cheryomushki” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9. If you would like to register interest in auditioning, email Director of Opera and Associate Professor Ella Marchment at emarchme@su.edu.

Opera auditions for the fall opera production are closed.

Questions?

Additional questions regarding opera auditions should be directed to Director of Opera and Associate Professor Ella Marchment at emarchme@su.edu.

CONTEMPO Ensemble auditions for students not enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development program will be held on Friday, August 25, 2023. Auditions are available for drum set only this year. Applicants are assessed on technique, interpretation, intonation, feel, rhythm and personal style.

Drum Set

Two songs/pieces, each approximately 2 minutes in length, of contrasting styles and genres (pop, R&B, Latin, soul, country, etc.) on drum set played along with recordings:

• One song/piece in a slower tempo to demonstrate your expressivity and touch on the instrument
• A second song/piece in a faster tempo to demonstrate technique and energy
• If desired, you may include a third original composition

At the audition, students will also complete a short diagnostic including the following:

• Reading short notated rhythms
• Singing back short rhythms by ear
• Improvising a one-minute drum solo

Questions?

Additional questions regarding opera auditions should be directed to Director and Assistant Professor of Contemporary Music Rod Vester at rvester@su.edu.

  The Music Theory Placement Exam will be held on Friday of Welcome Week for students taking and retaking the exam. Students will be contacted over the summer with more information about the exam. A study guide and list of resources is available here.

View Music Theory Placement Exam Study Guide

  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 16, 2023. 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 16, 2023. 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 16, 2023.

Piano Proficiency Form

The Applied Musicianship Proficiency Exam will be held on Friday of Welcome Week. Students in Musical Theatre, Collaborative & Audio Arts, Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneurial Development and Theatre Design & Production – Sound Reinforcement have the option to take the Applied Musicianship Proficiency Exam if they have a background in basic music theory, keyboard and singing skills. Students will be contacted over the summer with more information about the exam. Students should be prepared to transcribe a brief rhythmic example which includes syncopations; identify ascending major and perfect intervals; sight read a brief melodic example using solfege, numbers or a neutral syllable; notate a major scale; and play a major scale at the piano. MusicTheory.net and Sight Reading Factory are available resources to polish listening and reading skills.