Music Audition Requirements

Info Brass Guitar Percussion Piano Strings Voice Woodwinds

Audition Scheduling Process

1. Review the audition requirements.
2. Performance Grant auditions may be scheduled using the online reservation request form here: Audition Registration
3. Incoming Freshmen and/or Transfer Students must apply to the University.
4. To learn more about UTC Music, click here for More info.

Brass

• Prepared Pieces: two pieces, movements, or etudes of contrasting tempo and style, or a single selection with contrasting sections
• Scales: Chromatic and all major scales as appropriate for each instrument.
• Sightreading: May be required.

Audition Requirements - Brass

These requirements apply to music minors as well as music majors, and will be requested of students applying for music activities grants and scholarships. Questions? Contact Dr. Erika Schafer (Trumpet), Dr. Jocelyn Sanders (Horn), Professor Rich Stichler (Trombone), or Dr. Kenyon Wilson (Low Brass).

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Guitar

• Scales
• Chords
• Solo guitar piece
• Melodies - from notation, tab, or by ear
• Sight-reading
• Improvisation

Audition Requirements - Guitar

Questions? Contact Prof. Stephen Brannen.

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Percussion

• Scales: All major scales (2 octaves)
• Prepared Pieces:
  • One 4-mallet marimba solo
  • One concert/orchestral snare solo
  • One rudimental snare solo
  • One timpani solo
  • Demonstrate drum set styles (optional)
  • One multi-percussion solo (optional)
• Sight-Reading: Be prepared to sight read on all instruments
• Questions? Contact Prof. Ethan McDaniel, or (423) 425-4647.

Audition Requirements - Percussion

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Piano

Music Major

• Prepared Pieces: Two MEMORIZED pieces in contrasting styles from standard classical concert repertoire originally composed for solo piano (such as Bach "Prelude and Fugue" from The Well-Tempered Clavier, or a single movement of a Beethoven Piano Sonata)
• Scales: All major and minor keys, four octaves, hands together
• Arpeggios: All major and minor keys, four octaves, hands together
• Sightreading: Required

Audition Requirements - Piano

Questions? Contact Dr. Lynn Worcester

Music Minors

• Prepared Pieces: Two MEMORIZED pieces from the standard intermediate classical repertoire, originally composed for solo piano (e.g. Bach "Invention in Two Voices"; Chopin "Prelude")
• Scales: All major and minor keys, two octaves, hands together
• Arpeggios: All major and minor keys, two octaves, hands together
• Sightreading: Required

Questions? Contact Dr. Lynn Worcester.

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Strings

Audition Requirements - Strings

Questions? Contact Professor Sandy Morris

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Voice

First-Year Voice Students

Prepared Pieces: Two memorized songs (preferably one in Italian)

          Sight Singing: Required

Transfer Students:

          Prepared Pieces: Four memorized songs to include English, Italian, French, and German repertoire

          Sight Singing: Required

Suggested Vocal Literature

We receive many questions each year about the definition of an "art song" and what is appropriate for a vocal audition. It is perhaps easier to indicate what is NOT appropriate. Inappropriate pieces include: popular music, hymns, gospel songs, movie themes, or solos from high school choral pieces. The following sources would provide appropriate audition materials:

• Collections of Italian Songs and Arias such as Schirmer publications' 24 Italian Songs and Arias (of the 17th and 18th centuries) or Hal Leonard publications' 26 Italian Songs and Arias
• Collections of songs for particular voice types such as New Imperial Edition Soprano Songs or Bass Songs, Alfreds' Singers Library of Song, Hal Leonard Standard Vocal Literature, or G. Schirmer Reliquery of English Song
• Oratorio Arias such as solos from Handel: Messiah or Mendelssohn: Elijah
• Spiritual solo arrangements by such composers as Moses Hogan, Harry T. Burleigh, Nathaniel Dett, or Roland Carter
• A Broadway show tune may be offered IN ADDITION to other traditional art songs.

Audition Requirements - Voice

Questions? Contact Dr. Rebecca St. Goar.

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Woodwinds

• Prepared Pieces: two pieces, movements, or etudes of contrasting tempo and style, or a single selection with contrasting sections (may be performed with accompaniment)
• Scales: chromatic and all major scales as appropriate for the instrument
• Sightreading: May be required.

These requirements apply to music minors as well as music majors, and will be requested of students applying for music activities grants and scholarships.

Audition Requirements - Woodwinds

Questions? Contact Dr. Ronda Ford.