Ensemble Auditions

Concert Choir, Glee Club, Oriana Singers, and University Choir

Monday–Wednesday, January 13–15, 2025 | 9:30am–12:00pm, 1:00pm–4:00pm

All 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

Singers for Essence of Joy will be selected from the general choir auditions mentioned above. Be sure to register for auditions at the link above.

Please contact Dr. Anthony Leach (atl105@psu.edu) if you have any questions.

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.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble and/or Symphonic Band:

For students wishing to audition for Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, or Orchestra:
Auditions will take place the first two days of the Spring Semester between 1–4pm and 7-10pm. Auditions will consist of prepared excerpts, scales, and sightreading.

Interested students must sign up for an audition time.

• Audition Sign-Up Schedule: Click to View
• Audition Packet: Click to View
• Video Auditions: Submission Form

Concert Band (Music 82)

For students wishing to play in Spring 2025 Concert Band:
An audition is required for the Spring Concert Band (Music 82 – M/W 6:00–7:15 pm in the Blue Band Building). Concert Band Auditions for the Spring 2025 ensemble will be administered via video submission. Video submissions will be due the first week of Spring Semester classes by Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm. Students will be asked to submit 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.

Contact Dr. Mitchell-Spradlin for questions: tmitchellspradlin@psu.edu

Penn State Fall 2024

Big band and new (not previously enrolled) combo player auditions will be held on:

Sunday, August 25, 4-9pm, and Monday, August 26, 4-9pm, in Room 128, Music Building II.

Jazz Combos

Those previously enrolled in combos who wish to be enrolled again next semester must notify Dr. Davis at joshuadavis@psu.edu before August 27. An audition is not required. Jazz combo players interested in forming their own groups of five or more players should include that request in their email to Dr. Davis. 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 August 27. 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):

Audition Materials

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.

Please contact Dr. Ted Christopher for Program and Audition information.

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 (or fragments), up to 5 minutes in total.

If you have any questions, please contact both Dor Amran (dga5174@psu.edu) and 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.