Ensemble Auditions
Ensemble-Specific Audition Info
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Concert Choir, Glee Club, Oriana Singers, and University Choir
Sunday, August 25 | 12:30–4:00pm
Monday–Thursday, August 26–29, 2024 | 9:30am–12:00pm, 1:00pm–4:00pmAll students interested in registering for a choir are required to audition. Students audition for all choirs and are placed in ensembles that best match their skills and availability.
The audition includes sight-singing, ear tests and simple vocalizes to determine range and voice part. It is not necessary to prepare a piece.
Auditions will be in Room 106, Music Building I.
Watch “An Inside Look: Penn State Choir Auditions” to get a sense of the audition experience.The online sign-up form and audition form must be completed prior to your audition.
Questions should be directed to Dr. Christopher Kiver, Director of Choral Activities at cak27@psu.edu
Essence of Joy
General Auditions: See above
Call-back Auditions + Returning Members: Dates/Times TBDSingers for Essence of Joy will be selected from the general choir auditions mentioned above. If selected for a call-back audition, new Tenors and Basses as well as Sopranos and Altos will be required to attend a second audition in Room 110, Music Building 1. Nothing needs to be prepared in advance of the audition.
Returning members of Essence of Joy should attend the appropriate session for their voice part in room 110.
Please contact Dr. Anthony Leach for further information: atl105@psu.edu
Vocal Dimensions
Auditions will be by appointment during the first week of each semester. Please email Dr. Kathryn Hylton at kjh6093@psu.edu to arrange an audition date and time. The audition includes sight-singing, aural skills exercises, range testing, and an a cappella performance of a verse and chorus of a jazz standard or pop tune of the singer’s choice.
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Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and/or Philharmonic Orchestra:
Wind and percussion auditions for Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE), Symphonic Band (SB), and/or Philharmonic Orchestra (Phil) need only audition once. Auditions will be held Monday and Tuesday January 8th and 9th, 2024 in the School of Music. Auditions are blind and consist of excerpts, scales (winds only), and sight-reading.
Interested students must sign up for an audition time.
Concert Band
An audition is required for the Spring Concert Band. Concert Band Auditions for the Spring 2024 ensemble will be administered via video submission. Video submissions will be due during the first week of Spring semester classes. Students will be asked to perform a 3-5 minute video of a musical excerpt(s) of their choice consisting of contrasting musical styles which best demonstrate their playing abilities. Students will also be required to submit a separate video of an excerpt from the spring concert repertoire that will be provided approximately one month prior to the audition due date.
Campus Band
There is no audition for Spring Campus Band. Sign-up for MUSIC 83.
Contact Dr. Mitchell-Spradlin for questions: tmitchellspradlin@psu.edu
- Symphonic Wind Ensemble | MUSIC 78/505: M/W 1:25-3:20
- Symphonic Band | MUSIC 80/506: T/R 1:35-3:30
- Concert Band | MUSIC 82: M/W 6:00-7:15pm
- Campus Band | MUSIC 83: T/R 6:30-7:45
- Philharmonic Orchestra 77/507: T/R 4:00-6:00pm
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Penn State Spring 2024
Big band and new (not currently enrolled) combo player auditions will be held on:
Sunday, January 7, 4-9pm, and Monday, January 8, 4-9pm, in Room 128, Music Building I.
Jazz Combos
Those currently enrolled in combos who wish to be enrolled again next semester must notify Dr. Davis at joshuadavis@psu.edu before January 8. An audition is not required. Jazz combo players interested in forming their own groups of five or more players should submit a request by email to Dr. Davis by 1/8/24. All others will be placed in combos with others of comparable ability.
Those not currently enrolled in combos must prepare a Bb or F Blues and the instrument-specific big band audition piece Low Down found in the link below.
Combos will be open to solo vocalists. Students interested should prepare a jazz standard with a YouTube backing track emailed to Dr. Davis at joshuadavis@psu.edu before 1/7/24. While scat improvisation is not required, substantial melodic embellishment is strongly encouraged.
Big Bands
Saxophone players should prepare the audition materials on alto saxophone and either soprano, tenor or baritone saxophone if possible. Those able to demonstrate using only one instrument are strongly encouraged to audition regardless.
Trombone players interested in playing bass trombone are encouraged to audition on both bass and upper parts if possible. Those able to demonstrate using only one instrument are strongly encouraged to audition regardless.
Bassists should prepare the audition materials on both double bass and electric bass if possible. Those able to demonstrate using only one instrument are strongly encouraged to audition regardless.
Please sign up for your audition time on the jazz bulletin board outside the jazz office on the first floor of Music Building II.
Big Band Audition Materials
Audition music can be found on a OneDrive folder, linked below (please choose the download option to obtain the files):
Your Choice
Prepare 30-45 seconds of any piece in any style of music that demonstrates your technical and musical strengths.
Improvisation
Demonstrating improvisation is only required for those auditioning for Jazz combos.
Sight-Reading
The audition panel may provide brief excerpts to assess sight-reading ability.
Prepared Reading
Play in time, in tune, with printed articulations and dynamics, and with a feel and full sound exemplified by the master players of your instrument.
Low Down (140 bpm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6_g-MyyFFw
Trumpets – Prepare part 1 or 4, – student’s choice.
Saxophones – Prepare on two saxophones, i.e. alto and tenor, or tenor and bari, or alto and bari.
Trombones – Prepare parts 1, 2, or bass, -student’s choice.
Those interested in being considered for placement in Centre Dimensions should also prepare as much as possible of Samba Del Gringo (132 bpm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm3A34wA4Sw
Trumpet – Prepare part 1 or 4, – student’s choice.
Saxophones – Prepare on two saxophones, i.e. alto and tenor, or tenor and bari, or alto and bari.
Trombones – Prepare parts 1, 2, or bass, -student’s choice.
Questions should be directed to Dr. Joshua Davis, Director of Jazz at joshuadavis@psu.edu.
Vocal Dimensions
Auditions will be by appointment during the first week of each semester. Please email Dr. Kathryn Hylton at kjh6093@psu.edu to arrange an audition date and time. The audition includes sight-singing, aural skills exercises, range testing, and an a cappella performance of a verse and chorus of a jazz standard or pop tune of the singer’s choice.
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Please contact Dr. Ted Christopher for Program and Audition information.
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Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras
Auditions are required for students interested in participating in the Philharmonic (Music 77/507) and/or Chamber Orchestras (Music 76/508) and are open to all University Park campus students. Auditions take place the first week of classes each semester and the requirements are as follows:Fall semester: please prepare two contrasting pieces from two different composers and two different music periods. In addition, you maybe asked to sight-read and excerpt from the standard orchestral repertoire.Spring semester: A list of excerpts to be prepared for the audition will be provided at the end of the Fall semester.Please sign-up for an audition time during your instrument slots on the orchestra board by room 104 in music building II.*Note that Chamber Orchestra is offered only in the Fall
If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Gerardo Edelstein, Director of Orchestral Studies at gfe1@psu.edu
Campus Orchestra
Auditions are required for students interested in participating in the Campus Orchestra (Music 100) and are open to all University Park campus students.
Auditions take place the first week of classes each semester and you are asked to prepare two contrasting pieces from different composers and music periods.
In addition you will be asked to sight-read an excerpt from the standard orchestral repertoire. Please sign-up for an audition time during your instrument slots on the orchestra board by room 104 in music building II. If you have any questions, please contact Ying Lam Chu (yyc5701@psu.edu) or Javier Gorelik (jzg6175@psu.edu).
Early Music Ensemble
While there is no audition required for Early Music Ensemble, it does require permission of the instructor. Please contact Professor James Lyon at jpl5@psu.edu if you are interested in joining the ensemble.