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Ensemble Auditions

Bassist, seated behind piano and music stands playing.

Ensemble-Specific Audition Info

Choirs

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

Monday, January 8 – Wednesday, January 10, 2024 | 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


For Essence of Joy:

Singers 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 will be required to attend a second audition on Wednesday, August 23 at 3:35 p.m. in Room 110, Music Building 1, and Sopranos and Altos on Thursday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 110. Nothing needs to beprepared in advance of the audition.

Returning members of Essence of Joy should attend the appropriate session for their voice part on August 23 or 24 in room 110.

Please contact Dr. Anthony Leach for further information: atl105@psu.edu


For 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.

Concert Bands

For students wishing to audition for 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 sightreading.

Interested students must sign up for an audition time.

AUDITION SIGN-UPS Released during Finals Week

AUDITION PACKET Released during Finals Week

For Students wishing to play in 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.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CONCERT BAND VIDEO SUBMISSION

For Students wishing to play in 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

Jazz Ensembles

Audition Guidelines for Jazz Ensembles (Big Bands and Jazz Combos)

Penn State Fall 2023

Big band and Jazz combo auditions will be held on Sunday, August 20, 4 pm – 10 pm, and Monday, August 21, 3 – 10 pm in room 128, Music Building I.

Jazz combo players interested in forming their own groups of five or more players should submit a request by email to joshuadavis@psu.edu by August 21. All others will be placed in combos with others of comparable ability.

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.

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.

Audition music can be found on a OneDrive folder, linked below (please choose the download option to obtain the files):

Audition Materials

 

Prepared Reading

Prepare all of the music in the OneDrive folder labelled for your instrument. 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. This accompaniment track will be provided for Miles Higher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgzd5Xik1d4

 

Sight-Reading

The audition panel may provide brief excerpts to assess sight-reading ability.

 

Improvisation

Demonstrating improvisation is optional for those auditioning for big bands only but is required for those auditioning for Jazz combos. Miles Higher has harmonies provided and can be used like a lead sheet for improvisation with the accompaniment track. Alternatively, you may request to play over a blues in Bb or F.

 

Questions should be directed to Dr. Joshua Davis, Director of Jazz at joshuadavis@psu.edu.

For 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.

Opera Theatre

Program and Audition Information

Please contact Dr. Ted Christopher for information.

Orchestras

For 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


For 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).

For 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.