Music Auditions - Kendall College of Arts and Sciences

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School of Music

Music Auditions

Students interested in scholarships, majoring in music, adding a music minor or interested in performing in TU School of Music ensembles (orchestra, marching/concert band, choral ensembles and jazz bands) should arrange for an audition.

The Music Audition Request Form is the first step in the process. Finishing the form (it takes around 5 minutes) gets you into our system and helps our faculty members reach out to tailor the audition experience to your needs!

After submitting the form, a School of Music faculty member in your area will contact you via email. You can call 918-631-2738 with questions regarding your audition

Our on-campus auditions for 2024 are TBD.

The deadline for auditioning in-person or virtually for scholarship consideration is March 10, 2023.

We are also scheduling auditions virtually and accepting auditions via YouTube (see instructions below).

Audition repertoire suggestions for your area are also found below.

For any information on auditions, please call the School of Music office at 918-631-2738, the TU Office of Admissions at 1-800-331-3050 or email Richard Wagner, Director of the School of Music.

Audition Requirements/Recommendations

How to make an Audition Video.

  • Brass

    Recommended audition materials

    Instrument

    Brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba)

    Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors

    1. Two (2) works (one lyrical and one technical) of contrasting styles and tempos from the standard repertoire including movements of sonatas, concerti or other solo works.
    2. An All-State audition etude. You may substitute the etude for solo work of comparable difficulty.

    TU Brass Faculty

    Trumpet: Ron Predl @ ronald-predl@utulsa.edu
    Trumpet: Tim McFadden @ tim-mcfadden@utulsa.edu
    Horn: Dr. Joseph Falvey @ joe-falvey@utulsa.edu
    Trombone: Isaac Washam @ isaac-washam@utulsa.edu
    Tuba/Euphonium: Dr. Shelby Kifer @ sak0522@utulsa.edu

  • Cello

    Recommended audition materials

    Instrument

    Cello

    Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA)

    • One three octave scale and arpeggio
    • One etude (Schroeder Volume II or similar)
    • One movement of unaccompanied Bach
    • One solo piece or concerto movement (memorized)

    Music Minor and non-majors

    • One three octave scale and arpeggio
    • One solo piece of choice
    • One etude

    TU Cello Professor

    Kari Caldwell @ karicaldwell@gmail.com

  • Classical Guitar

    Recommended audition materials

    Instrument

    Classical Guitar

    Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors

    • One or two octave major scales in the keys of C, G, D, A, and E in first position.
    • Etude or Prelude by Sor, Giuliani, Tarrega.
    • Sight reading to be selected at the audition (if audition is in-person)

    TU Guitar Faculty

    Sean Al-Jibouri @ sda2004@utulsa.edu

  • Harp

    Recommended audition materials

    Instrument

    Harp

    Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors

    • 2-handed, 2 octave scale (any key) Play 3 repetitions, non-stop, with turnarounds at the top and bottom of the scale
    • An orchestral cadenza of your choice
    • An orchestral excerpt of your choice (minimum 6 measures)
    • Two (2) solo selections of contrasting style and from different eras/composers (Selections over 3 minutes are subject to being cut at some point during the audition)
    • Handel Concerto in Bb is preferred to have been learned but not required
    • Be prepared to have a 30-45 minute lesson with the harp instructor at some point after your audition (if in-person auditions are held)

    TU Harp Instructor

    Lorelei Barton @ lorelei-barton@utulsa.edu

  • Jazz

    Jazz Audition Requirements

    Students interested in performance opportunities with the various jazz workshop ensembles are encouraged to schedule a separate jazz audition in addition to the required classical audition.

    Audition requirements include:

    • Scales/Chords – major scales & major 7th chord arpeggios; dorian minor scales & minor 7th chord arpeggios; dominant scales and dominant 7th chord arpeggios.
    • Prepared Selection – perform a jazz etude, transcribed solo or any excerpt from the jazz idiom that best demonstrates basic knowledge of jazz articulation and interpretation.
    • Jazz Performance – perform contrasting selections with prerecorded accompaniments (Jamey Aebersold Vol. 54 is recommended). Suggested selections include “Now’s The Time”, “Blue Bossa”, “Maiden Voyage”, “Impressions”, “Misty” or other tunes from standard jazz repertoire. Pianists, guitarists and wind players are expected to play the melody and improvise. Pianists and guitarists will be asked to comp the chord progressions as well. Bassists will be asked to play bass lines which outline the harmony and reflect the rhythmic style of the selection. Bassists may also improvise if they choose to.

    Jazz Drummers will be asked to:

    • Play time (slow, medium and fast).
    • Sight read materials provided at the audition.
    • Demonstrate time and knowledge of styles in swing, bossa nova, samba, waltz, rock/funk, ballad and brushes.
    • Alternate keeping time and improvising for four, eight, and twelve-measure trading groups; repeat in different styles and tempi.

    Vocalists will be asked to perform a selection(s) with prerecorded or live accompaniment (Aebersold play-alongs are fine). Tunes should be selected from standard jazz repertoire demonstrating the students understanding of jazz style, phrasing and interpretation.

  • Percussion

    Recommended audition materials

    Instrument

    Percussion

    Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors

    • Snare Drum: Perform a solo demonstrating technique on the instrument – concert or rudimental style.
    • Timpani: Perform a solo for two, three or four drums.
    • Mallets: Perform a short solo demonstrating two or four mallet technique on xylophone or marimba.

    TU Percussion Instructor

    Richard Wagner @ richard-wagner@utulsa.edu

  • Piano

    Piano Audition Requirements

    Bachelor of Music (BM)

    Please prepare three pieces from the following list of repertoire categories. It is best if all pieces are memorized, but printed music may be used with one selection if necessary.

    • One Baroque piece
      Examples: A Bach Prelude and Fugue from the Well Tempered Klavier, a movement or movements from a suite by J.S. Bach or Handel, or a Scarlatti or Soler sonata
    • One movement from a classical sonata
      Works by Mozart, Hayden, or Beethoven (or Schubert)
    • One Romantic work
      This category is vast. Examples include a Mendelssohn Song Without Words, a Chopin nocturne, scherzo, or ballade, a Rachmaninov etude or prelude, etc., a Grieg Lyric Piece, etc.
    • One Impressionist, Twentieth, or Twenty-First-Century work
      Also a large category. Example composers: Prokovief, Bartok, Debussy, Ravel, Copland, Danielpour, John Adams, etc.

    Additional Items to Bring

    • A repertoire list from the last few years.
    • A short resume indicating awards, competitions and accompanying experience.
    • A letter of recommendation from your current piano teacher.

    Students may be asked to demonstrate their ability to sight-read.

    Bachelor of Music Education (BME) and the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor, non-majors

    • Two or three pieces selected from the list above are required for the audition, according to the level and ability of the applicant.

    Students may be asked to demonstrate their ability to sight-read.

    TU Piano Faculty

    Dr. Stuart Deaver @ stu-deaver@utulsa.edu

  • String Bass

    Recommended audition materials

    Instrument

    String Bass

    Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Music (BM)

    • Two octave major scales in E, F, and G
    • One octave scales in C, D, and E flat
    • One movement of a sonata or piece of similar difficulty
    • Sight-reading to be selected at the audition

    Music Minor and non-majors

    • Three scales of your choice in one octave
    • One solo piece of your choice
    • Sight-reading to be selected at the audition

    TU String Bass Instructor

    Dean DeMerritt @ ded4870@utulsa.edu

  • Viola

    Recommended audition materials

    Instrument

    Viola

    Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Music (BM)

    • One three octave scale and arpeggio
    • One etude (Kreutzer or similar)
    • One movement of unaccompanied Bach
    • One solo piece or movement of a concerto

    Music Minor and non-majors

    • One three octave scale and arpeggio
    • One solo piece of choice
    • One etude

    TU Viola Instructor

    Paulo Eskitch @ paulo-eskitch@utulsa.edu

  • Violin

    Instrument

    Violin

    Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Music (BM)

    • One three octave scale and arpeggio
    • One etude (Kreutzer or similar)
    • One movement of unaccompanied Bach
    • One solo piece or movement of a concerto

    Music Minor and non-majors

    • One three octave scale and arpeggio
    • One solo piece of choice
    • One etude

    TU Violin Professor

    Maureen O’Boyle @ maureen-oboyle@utulsa.edu

  • Voice

    Recommended Audition Repertoire for Voice

    Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (BM)

    • Three memorized classical-type art songs or arias; one selection in a language other than English preferred

    Bachelor of Music Education, Vocal (BME) and Bachelor of Arts (BA)

    • Two memorized classical-type art songs or arias; one selection in a language other than English preferred

    Non-Music Majors and Music Minors

    • One memorized classical-type art song or aria in a language of your choice
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    For more information, please contact the Coordinator of the Vocal Area: Professor Judith Raiford at judith-raiford@utulsa.edu.

  • Woodwinds

    Recommended audition materials

    Instrument

    Woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophones)

    Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors

    1. Two (2) works (one lyrical and one technical) of contrasting styles and tempos from the standard repertoire including movements of sonatas, concerti or other solo works.
    2. An All-State audition etude. You may substitute the etude for solo work of comparable difficulty.

    TU Woodwinds Faculty

    Flute: John Rush @ john-rush@utulsa.edu
    Oboe: Lisa Iottini-Wagner @ lisa-iottini-wagner@utulsa.edu
    Clarinet and Saxophone: Dr. David Carter @ david-carter@utulsa.edu
    Bassoon: Jim Fellows @ jmf950@utulsa.edu