Purdue Bands & Orchestras Instrument Travel Fund - Spain 2026

The Wind Ensemble and Purdue Jazz Band are crossing oceans to share their talent with music lovers and friends across Spain. The two ensembles will perform in and explore Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona over spring break. For many of our students, this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and we want to help clear their path. Join our instrument travel crowdfunding campaign and help us reach our $10,000 goal to fly their instruments! The campaign closes on Saturday, March 14th, and every dollar makes a difference!

Instrument Travel Fund

NEW STUDENT INDOOR AUDITIONS

For incoming freshmen, transfer students, and students not currently enrolled in an ensemble planning to audition for a concert band, jazz band, or orchestra. Information coming soon.

Openings in all Wind Bands for Piccolo, Flute, all Clarinets, all Double Reeds, all Saxophones, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, and Percussion.  

Occasional opportunities for Harp and Piano.  

Audition Instructions  

Students will prep their virtual audition and submit the audition form by July 1 for priority ensemble consideration. We will hold ongoing auditions throughout July – end of the first week of classes for any student who wishes to participate after the priority deadline. 

After submitting your audition form, there will be three opportunities to attend a Virtual Info Meeting (attendance optional) to meet the directors and learn more. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Caitlin. 

Virtual Info Meeting Dates (attendance optional) 

Sunday, June 28th or Wednesday, July 22nd  

Meeting link will be shared this summer. 

Audition Requirements 
ALL STUDENTS 

  • Students will play alone, without accompaniment. 

 
WOODWIND/BRASS 

  • Students are required to play two etudes of their choice. 
  • Students interested in Wind Ensemble or Philharmonic Orchestra Winds must play Etudes 2 and 3. 
  • Please prepare the two scales specified on your audition sheet. 

 
PERCUSSION 

  • Please prepare the snare and mallet requirements and etudes specified on the audition sheet. 
  • Students interested in Wind Ensemble or Philharmonic Orchestra should play the timpani audition, in addition to snare and mallet. 
  • Percussionists should prepare the two scales specified on your audition sheet and two rudiments, if applicable. 

HARP AND PIANO 

  • Please prepare a short selection of no more than 3 minutes which showcases your technical ability, as well as your musicianship.   
  • Harp and piano players may not be assigned to a specific ensemble but will be given performance opportunities based on departmental need and when schedules allow.   
  • Upon placement, these students will be asked to enroll in BAND 120 for 1-credit through our Applied Music Studies.  

Recording Process 

  • You will not need anything more advanced than a video-enabled phone to record this audition. 
  • At the beginning of your video, state your first and last name and the instrument and part you are playing. Example: “Hi, I’m Matt Conaway, and I’m auditioning on Trombone.” 
  • Make sure your face and hands are visible as much as possible throughout your audition. If we can’t verify what the keys are doing, we may ask you to resubmit the video. 
  • You MAY record etudes and scales separately and splice together, but each song should itself be done in a single take. Do not add any special audio effects or on-screen text. Keep it as simple as possible. No autotune, no AI! 
  • We recommend you upload the audition as an UNLISTED (not private) YouTube file. NOTE: if you make it “public” that means you are sharing your audition with anyone and everyone. Alternatively, you may choose to upload to a file storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox that allows you to share a viewable link. 
  • If you are auditioning for more than one ensemble, such as jazz band and concert band, or another combination, please submit 2 separate audition forms. 
    There will be no sight-reading component. 
  • If you do not have access to an appropriate audition instrument or access to any device capable of recording video, please contact Caitlin for alternative audition instructions. 

After Your Recording is Complete 

  • Questions? Email our Manager of Recruitment & Student Success, Caitlin (caitlin@purdue.edu).  

How do I enroll in a concert band or orchestra? 

  • Enroll with your academic advisor during your advising appointment. Upon placement into your official ensemble near the end of July, you may be asked to adjust your schedule. 

Academic Advisors – Please reference our instructional guide. Coming April 2026.

Openings in all Orchestras for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass. 

Audition Instructions  

Students will prep their virtual audition and submit the audition form by July 1 for priority ensemble consideration. We will hold ongoing auditions throughout July – end of the first week of classes for any student who wishes to participate after the priority deadline. 

After submitting your audition form, there will be three opportunities to attend a Virtual Info Meeting (attendance optional) to meet the directors and learn more. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Caitlin. 

Virtual Info Meeting Dates (attendance optional) 

Sunday, June 28th or Wednesday, July 22nd  

Meeting link will be shared this summer. 

SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION: Coming Soon.

Audition Requirements 

  • One prepared solo or etude (2-3 minutes in length.) 
    Students will play alone, without accompaniment. 
    Please prepare two scales of your choosing (ascending and descending in three octaves.) 
  • For Philharmonic consideration choose two from the following: 
  • Violin – A, C, E-flat major 
  • Viola/Cello – D, F, A major 
  • Bass – E, F, G major 

Recording Process 

  • You will not need anything more advanced than a video-enabled phone to record this audition. 
  • At the beginning of your video, state your first and last name and the instrument you are playing. Example: “Hi, I’m Adam Bodony, and I’m auditioning on Violin.” 
  • Make sure your face and hands are visible as much as possible throughout your audition. If we can’t verify what you are doing, we may ask you to resubmit the video. 
  • You MAY record solo/etudes and scales separately and splice together, but each piece should itself be done in a single take.  
  • Do not add any special audio effects or on-screen text. Keep it as simple as possible. No autotune, no AI! 
  • We recommend you upload the audition as an UNLISTED (not private) YouTube file. NOTE: if you make it “public” that means you are sharing your audition with anyone and everyone. Alternatively, you may choose to upload to a file storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox that allows you to share a viewable link. 
  • If you are auditioning for more than one ensemble, such as jazz band and orchestra, or another combination, please submit 2 separate audition forms. 
  • There will be no sight-reading component. 
  • If you do not have access to an appropriate audition instrument or access to any device capable of recording video, please contact Caitlin for alternative audition instructions. 

After Your Recording is Complete 

  • Navigate to the following link to submit your audition video: Coming Soon.
  • Questions? Email our Manager of Recruitment & Student Success, Caitlin (caitlin@purdue.edu).  

How do I enroll in an orchestra? 

  • Enroll with your academic advisor during your advising appointment. Upon placement into your official ensemble near the end of July, you may be asked to adjust your schedule. 

Academic Advisors – Please reference our instructional guide. Coming April 2026.  

Openings in all Jazz Bands for Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet, Tenor Trombone, Bass Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Vibraphone, Bass, Drum Set, and Vocals. 

Audition Instructions  

Students will prep their virtual audition and submit the audition form by July 1 for priority ensemble consideration. We will hold ongoing auditions throughout July – end of the first week of classes for any student who wishes to participate after the priority deadline. 

After submitting your audition form, there will be three opportunities to attend a Virtual Info Meeting (attendance optional) to meet the directors and learn more. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Caitlin. 

Virtual Info Meeting Dates (attendance optional) 

Sunday, June 28th or Wednesday, July 22nd  

Meeting link will be shared this summer. 

Saxes, Trumpets, and Trombones: Play the etude from start until mm36 with #1 Rhythm Section Play Along Track.  

  • Horns interested in Purdue Jazz Band (PJB) or American Music Repertory Ensemble (AMRE) consideration, improvise over chord changes from mm36 to the end and should not play written parts, except for the last 4 measures as written. No improvisation is required for anyone else. 

To be considered for a Lead Trumpet role: Complete the above AND take mm31-34 up an octave. 

Guitars, Vibes and Piano: Play the entire from start until mm36 with appropriate Play Along Track.  

  • Guitar, Vibes, and Piano interested in Purdue Jazz Band (PJB) or American Music Repertory Ensemble (AMRE) consideration should play from start through mm36 or letter E and improvise from letter E to the end, where no rhythmic notation is written.  
  • Pianists should solo with the right hand and comp with the left. 

Bass: Play the etude from start until mm36 or letter E as written with appropriate Play Along Track. 

  • Bass interested in Purdue Jazz Band (PJB) or American Music Repertory Ensemble (AMRE) consideration, create a “walking bass line” from E-F, play written lines, and improvise the 12 bars starting at letter G, and play the last 4 bars as written.  

Drums: Play 8 bars of the following: 

  • Medium Swing at mm120 
  • Bossa Nova at mm120 
  • Funk or Hip Hop at mm90 
  • Up-Tempo Swing at mm240 

Vocalists: Prepare two jazz pieces of contrasting style and tempo with a karaoke-style big band accompaniment (YouTube is preferred). If auditioning for Purdue Tower of Power Band (ToP) consideration, pop songs are acceptable. 

All Musicians: While improv is not required, anyone interested in showing their skills can improvise from mm37, letter E, to the end. 

Recording Process 

  • You will not need anything more advanced than a video-enabled phone to record this audition. 
  • At the beginning of your video, state your first and last name and the instrument you are playing. Example: “Hi, I’m Bethany Robinson, and I’m auditioning on bass.” 
  • Make sure your face and hands are visible as much as possible throughout your audition. If we can’t verify what the keys are doing, we may ask you to resubmit the video. 
  • You MAY record etudes and scales separately and splice together, but each piece should itself be done in a single take. 
  • Do not add any special audio effects or on-screen text. Keep it as simple as possible. No autotune, no AI! 
  • We recommend you upload the audition as an UNLISTED (not private) YouTube file. NOTE: if you make it “public” that means you are sharing your audition with anyone and everyone. Alternatively, you may choose to upload to a file storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox that allows you to share a viewable link. 
  • If you are auditioning for more than one ensemble, such as jazz band and concert band, or another combination, please submit 2 separate audition forms. 
  • There will be no sight-reading component. 
  • If you do not have access to an appropriate audition instrument or access to any device capable of recording video, please contact Caitlin for alternative audition instructions. 

After Your Recording is Complete 

  • Navigate to the following link to submit your audition video:
  • Questions? Email our Manager of Recruitment & Student Success, Caitlin (caitlin@purdue.edu).  

How do I enroll in a jazz band? 

  • Enroll with your academic advisor during your advising appointment. Upon placement into your official ensemble near the end of July, you may be asked to adjust your schedule. 

Academic Advisors – Please reference our instructional guide. Coming April 2026.  

Have lots of questions? Unsure if Purdue is for you?

Schedule a Meeting