School of the Arts and Architecture

Department of Music

AUDITION REQUIREMENT

VOICE

Freshman and Sophomore Performance Specialist and Music Education specialists:

SIGHT-READING:

· a simple melody without text

REPERTOIRE: Be prepared to sing, from memory, at least 2 pieces from the

classical vocal repertoire, such as art songs or arias from opera

or oratorio

· One piece must be in Italian

· One piece must be in English, French, German, Spanish or Russian

· If desired, an additional piece in English from the

American musical theater (“Broadway”) repertoire may

be added

Junior and Senior Performance Specialists:

SIGHT-READING:

· A melody of moderate rhythmic and intervallic difficulty

REPERTOIRE: Be prepared to sing, from memory, at least 3 pieces from

the classical vocal repertoire, such as art songs or arias from opera or oratorio

· The three selections must represent contrasting languages,

historical periods and musical styles, tempi, moods and demonstrate the ability to successfully perform more technically and musically advanced repertoire than would be expected of a freshman applicant.

· If desired, an additional piece in English from the American

musical theater (“Broadway”) repertoire may be added

The following list contains examples of appropriate audition repertoire. It is intended merely to serve as a guide:

Selections from “24 Italian Songs and Arias”

Songs in Italian by Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti, Donaudy

Songs in French by Faure, Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc

Songs in German by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, Strauss

Songs in English by Purcell, Haydn, Vaughan Williams, Quilter, Britten, Barber, Copland, Rorem, Gordon

Arias by Handel, Bach, Mozart

Repertoire: MM and DMA:

You must demonstrate your familiarity with a variety of musical styles and periods, including the mid to late 20th Century. 

Please prepare the following program of eight (8) pieces:

a) one aria written before 1800,

b) one aria written between 1800 and 1899,

c) one aria written after 1900,

d) one aria or extended solo from an oratorio, cantata, mass, or requiem,

e) one song in English written after 1950,

f) one song in French

g) one song in German

h) one song in another language of your choice (eg. Spanish, Italian, Russian, Korean, Norwegian, Czech, etc.)

Pre-Screening CD (or DVD): FOUR selections from the list above are required, demonstrating contrasting style, historical period, language, and tempo/technical skills.

At least one selection must be in English; at least one selection must be an opera aria; at least one selection must be an art song. One selection may be a musical theater ("Broadway") song, if desired.

Live Audition: If selected for live audition, the EIGHT selections listed above are required. These may include selections from the pre-screening audition, but it is not mandatory that the same pieces be used in live audition as long as the repertoire criteria are met.

Your audition will begin with one selection of your choice; the committee will then request additional repertoire from your prepared program, if desired.

Sight Reading may be required: MM and DMA: A piece on the level of an Italian operatic aria from the 18th or early 19thCentury, without text.