Indoor ensemble auditions

For incoming freshmen and transfer students.

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

Students will schedule a virtual meeting with a director and email an audition video (unlisted YouTube link) to their assigned director after their appointment time. Auditions will be completed by mid-July.

After completing this audition registration, please begin preparing your audition video and expect to receive an email from a director to schedule a brief virtual meeting sometime in the coming weeks. Your audition video will be due at the end of the week of your virtual meeting. The meeting is only informational and an opportunity for us to meet you. There will be no playing component to the meeting.

Audition Requirements

ALL STUDENTS

  • Students will play alone, without accompaniment.
  • If you do not have access to the instruments needed to perform your audition, please contact audition Caitlin for alternative audition instructions.

WOODWIND/BRASS

  • Students are required to play two etudes of their choice. 
  • Students interested in Wind Ensemble or Philharmonic Orchestra Winds must play Etude 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 two rudiments, if applicable.

Virtual Audition Formatting

  • All video submissions must be unlisted YouTube links. Links via Dropbox or mp4/audio attachments will not be accepted. Please double check that your link is not set to private before submitting. If you need help figuring this out, here is a tutorial: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/157177?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
  • Etudes and scales must be in one video, though it does not need to be one continuous take. Please do not submit more than one video unless you are auditioning for more than one ensemble.
  • If you are auditioning for more than one ensemble, such as jazz band and concert band, or another combination, please submit 2 separate video auditions.
  • There will be no sight-reading component.

Please include the following in the description of your YouTube posting:

  • Name
  • Instrument
  • Hometown/State
  • Major
  • Ensemble(s) you are auditioning for
    • If also auditioning for AAMB, please note this.

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.

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

Students will schedule a virtual meeting with Prof. Adam Bodony and submit an audition video (unlisted YouTube link) after their appointment time. Auditions will be completed by mid-July.

After completing this audition registration, please begin preparing your audition video and expect to receive an email from Prof. Adam Bodony to schedule a brief virtual meeting sometime in the coming weeks. Your audition video will be due at the end of the week of your virtual meeting. The meeting is only informational and an opportunity for us to meet you. There will be no playing component to the meeting.

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
  • If you do not have access to the instruments needed to perform your audition, please contact Caitlin for alternative audition instructions.

Virtual Audition Formatting

  • All video submissions must be unlisted YouTube links. Links via Dropbox or mp4/audio attachments will not be accepted. Please double check that your link is not set to private before submitting. If you need help figuring this out, here is a tutorial: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/157177?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
  • Etudes and scales must be in one video, though it does not need to be one continuous take. Please do not submit more than one video unless you are auditioning for more than one ensemble.
  • If you are auditioning for more than one ensemble, such as jazz band and concert band, or another combination, please submit 2 separate video auditions.
  • There will be no sight-reading component.

Please include the following in the description of your YouTube posting:

  • Name
  • Instrument
  • Hometown/State
  • Major
  • Ensemble(s) you are auditioning for

Enroll in an Orchestra class

  • 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.

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

Students will schedule a virtual meeting with Prof. Jarrard Harris and submit an audition video (unlisted YouTube link) after their appointment time. Auditions will be completed by mid-July.

After completing this audition registration, please begin preparing your audition video and expect to receive an email from Prof. Jarrard Harris to schedule a brief virtual meeting sometime in the coming weeks. Your audition video will be due at the end of the week of your virtual meeting. The meeting is only informational and an opportunity for us to meet you. There will be no playing component to the meeting.

Audition Requirements

Instrumental Etudes (All Saxes, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass and Vibes):

The appropriate etude for each instrument will be prepared following the instructions at the top of the page with the following clarifications:

  • Wind Instruments: Play a chromatic scale two octaves or lowest to highest notes up and down.
  • Any trumpeter wanting to specifically be considered for a ‘lead’ trumpet position should play Letter D-E bars up an octave.
  • Guitarists, pianists, vibes, and bass players should prepare a no more than two-minute piece demonstrating their musical ability (jazz style is preferred) and should be performed “in time”. Bassist should play written parts and “walk” where notated.
  • Pianists and guitarists should play written parts and “comp” where notated in etude.
  • Students auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should be prepared to improvise over the chord changes in etude from letter D-end of piece in etude.
  • Students not auditioning for PJB or AMRE should improvise 2 choruses over Bb Blues.
  • If you do not have access to the instrument needed to perform your audition, please contact Caitlin for alternative audition instructions.

Drummers should follow the directions on the etude and play from beginning up until letter E. On the blues play-a-long be prepared to play 2 choruses of time then do 2 choruses of trading 4’s

  • Also be prepared to play 8 bars of the following styles:
  • Medium Swing
  • Fast Swing
  • Bossa
  • Samba
  • Rock (Hip hop or Funk)
  • Medium Swing 3/4

Vocalists should prepare two contrasting jazz style pieces with a karaoke style big band accompaniment (YouTube is preferred). Please decide on cuts so that the two should be a total of less than four minutes together.

Virtual Audition Formatting

  • All video submissions must be unlisted YouTube links. Links via Dropbox or mp4/audio attachments will not be accepted. Please double check that your link is not set to private before submitting. If you need help figuring this out, here is a tutorial: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/157177?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
  • Etudes and scales must be in one video, though it does not need to be one continuous take. Please do not submit more than one video unless you are auditioning for more than one ensemble.
  • If you are auditioning for more than one ensemble, such as jazz band and concert band, or another combination, please submit 2 separate video auditions.
  • There will be no sight-reading component.

Please include the following in the description of your YouTube posting:

  • Name
  • Instrument
  • Hometown/State
  • Major
  • Ensemble(s) you are auditioning for
    • If also auditioning for AAMB, please note this.

Enroll in a Jazz Band Class

  • You will be given a course number to sign up for when registering for classes during your advising appointment. These are not official placements as there are more auditions heard over the summer and final placements will be made by mid-July, after which you will update your schedule and register for your assigned ensemble.