Music
Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion
The Large Ensemble Placement Auditions for all winds and percussion will take place on the Armstrong Concert Hall on Friday, August 23, and Saturday, August 24, starting at 9 a.m. During Welcome Week (beginning Monday, August 19), 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 101 or MUEN 505 section 101. (Please note that section 102 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(s) selected for your instrument. Note: players preparing both general and principal will likely be asked to omit the selection of their own choice (option 1 above).
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.
View Winds & Percussion Full Instructions
Please be sure to contact your studio teacher or Dr. Tim Robblee (trobblee@su.edu) with questions!
Schedule
Friday, August 23, 2024
- 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. – Saxophone
- 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Clarinet
- 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. – Flute
- 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Lunch Break
- 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Oboe & Bassoon
- 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – Horn
- 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Break
- 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Percussion
Saturday, August 24, 2024
- 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. – Trumpet
- 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Trombone
- 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Tuba & Euphonium
- 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Lunch Break
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 26. During Welcome Week (starting Monday, August 19), 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 students need to be registered for “Large Instrumental Ensemble” MUEN 305 section F2F2 (undergraduate students) or MUEN 505 section 102 (graduate students).
Please prepare the excerpts as posted and only prepare those sections that are LISTED at the end of these directions. Please be prepared to perform all excerpts although you may not be asked to play all of them at the actual audition.
Note for Students Interested in Being Assigned as Concertmaster/Principals
If you would like to be considered for concertmaster/principal assignments, please prepare (as a substitute for the Shostakovich excerpts, but please still, prepare the other assigned excerpts for your instrument) the following solos:
Violin
- A. Ginastera, VIII. Variazione in modo di Moto perpetuo per Violino, from Variaciones Concertantes (Violin I | Violin II)
- Dvořák: Symphony No. 8, mvt. 2 CM solo
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Questions?
If you have questions, please contact Director of Orchestral Studies Dr. Emanuele Andrizzi at emanuele.andrizzi@su.edu for more information.
Audition Blocks Schedule* for Monday, August 26, 2024
4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. – Harps
4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. – Violas
5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Cellos
7:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Violins
9 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. – Double Basses
*Audition block times are approximate and subject to change
Large Instrumental Ensembles Audition Materials
Percussion
Harp
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
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, Commercial Rock Ensemble (formerly known as the Little Big Band) and (formerly known as the Jazz Combos) Big Band Workshop will be conducting in-person on Friday, August 23, 2024 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)
- Select one Blues and play three choruses of improvisation
- Select two tunes and play the melody with two choruses of improvisation
From the Prepared Music (Mandatory)
Saxophones
- Mambo Inn – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=230
- Rapid Transit – Prepare part of your choice, measure 9–41 mm=200+
- All of Me – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=medium swing
Trumpets
- Mambo Inn – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=230
- Taking of Pelham – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=90
- All of Me – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=medium swing
Trombones
- Mambo Inn – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=230
- All of Me – Prepare entire chart, part of your choice mm=medium swing
- 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
- Select one Blues and play three choruses of improvisation
- Select one tune and play the melody with two choruses of improvisation
For all rhythm (Mandatory)
- 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)
- Mambo Inn – Prepare entire chart, mm=230 (latin)
- All of Me – Prepare entire chart, mm=medium (swing)
- So What – Prepare entire chart, mm=up tempo (swing)
Questions?
Additional questions regarding the Studio Big Band, Commercial Rock Ensemble (formerly known as the Little Big Band) or Big Band Workshop (formerly known as Jazz Combos) should be directed to Dr. Matthew Niess (Director of Jazz & Commercial Music and Associate Professor of Trombone) via email at mniess@su.edu.
Questions?
Additional questions regarding chamber ensemble auditions should be directed to Professor Doris Lederer (Director of Chamber Music) at dlederer@su.edu.
Note for 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.
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.
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. It is possible to enroll in multiple choirs.
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
Fall semester auditions are held in the Spring semester and during Welcome Week in August. Spring semester auditions are by appointment. Membership in Conservatory Choir is open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students; first-year students should enroll in Shenandoah Chorus or Shenandoah Voices.
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 the fall opera production are closed.
Opera auditions for Shenandoah Conservatory’s Main Stage Opera production of Verdi’s “Falstaff” will be held in early September. If you would like to register interest in auditioning, email Director of Opera and Associate Professor Ella Marchment at emarchme@su.edu.
Questions?
Additional questions regarding opera auditions should be directed to Director of Opera and Associate Professor Ella Marchment at emarchme@su.edu.
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
Piano/Keyboard
Two or three songs/pieces, each approximately 2 minutes in length, of contrasting styles and genres (pop, R&B, Latin, soul, country, etc.):
- 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 a chord progression written using chord symbols
- Playing back short melodies and/or rhythms by ear
- Identifying intervals and chord qualities by ear
- Improvising over a common chord progression
Background Vocalist
Two songs of contrasting styles and genres (pop, R&B, Latin, soul, country, etc.), each approximately 2 minutes in length that contains backgrounds. You will sing background vocal part within your voice part along to an accompaniment track that you will provide:
- One song in a slower tempo to demonstrate your expressivity
- A second song in a faster tempo to demonstrate technique and energy
At the audition, students will also complete a short diagnostic including the following:
- Reading short notated melodies and/or rhythms
- Singing back short melodies and/or rhythms by ear
- Improvising over a common chord progression
Questions?
Additional questions regarding opera auditions should be directed to Director and Assistant Professor of Contemporary Music Rod Vester at rvester@su.edu.
Theatre
Fall 2024 Audition Information
Audition information for Fall 2024 theatre productions “Legally Blonde The Musical,” “Antigone” and “Waitress” is now available. All forms, information and materials must be accessed from your su.edu account (no outside accounts will be given access).
View Fall 2024 Theatre Audition Info
Submissions
All students participating in the live auditions must complete the Fall 2024 Theatre Production Audition Google Form. The sign ups for audition appointments will open Friday, August 16; if appointments are full and you need to sign up, email Elizabeth Albert at ealbert00@su.edu for more information.
Begin Fall 2024 Theatre Production Audition Form
Questions?
Additional questions regarding theatre auditions should be directed to Director of Patron Experience & Engagement Elizabeth Albert at ealbert00@su.edu.
Dance
All new and returning dance students are invited to attend a Dance Area Meeting from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 in Ewing Dance Studio located in Shingleton Hall. Dance Ensemble auditions will take place from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, in Ewing Dance Studio located in Shingleton Hall. Seniors and group composition students will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Ewing Dance Studio located in Shingleton Hall.
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.
Music Theory Placement, Piano Proficiency & Applied Musicianship Proficiency
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 Monday, August 12, 2024. 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 Monday, August 12, 2024.