Benjamin T. Rome School of Music

Audition Dates

Auditions are held in the School of Music on:

• Saturday, December 5, 2009*
• Saturday, January 16, 2010*
• Saturday, February 6, 2010*
• Saturday, March 27, 2010**

*Musical theatre auditions will only be held on these audition dates.

**Saturday, March 27th audition is only for graduate and transfer students who could not attend the previous audition dates (No Musical Theatre Auditions).

All applicants who  audition (either in person or by recording) are automatically considered for music school scholarship.

Undergraduate Audition Requirements

Applicants should prepare a 10-minute audition of 3 contrasting pieces of standard classical repertoire. Please call the school of music if you need a clarification. Audition committees reserve the right to select audition pieces.

• Voice and Musical Theatre: an accompanist will be provided.
• Piano: Music must be memorized and should represent at least two style periods.
• Percussion: Prepare music for mallet, keyboard, timpani and snare drum.
• Woodwind, brass and percussion players may be asked to sight read.
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Special Undergraduate Programs Audition Requirements

Musical Theatre

Applicants for the undergraduate program in musical theatre should bring a photo and resume of musical/dramatic experience and prepare the following 10-minute voice, acting and dance audition:

• Voice: Two songs from musicals. The songs must be in contrasting styles (ballad, up-tempo); one must be from a musical written before 1960; each should be of a two-minute maximum duration; each must be memorized. Please bring copies of your music. An accompanist will be provided.
• Acting: Two one-minute monologues from plays contrasting in style and period. May be excerpts from a comedy or drama; choice must be appropriate to the candidate’s age and experience; must be memorized; should be performed in the context of the play, which the candidate must be able to discuss.
• Dance: One-minute dance routine with accompaniment on CD or iPod.

Appropriate dance clothes and shoes (jazz or character) must be worn, and all elements will be evaluated during the same time slot.

Taped auditions must be a video of a live audition in standard DVD format.

Composition

In addition to passing an audition in the major performance area, applicants for the undergraduate degree program in composition must submit two to three scores and recordings (if available) of original compositions to be reviewed and approved by the composition faculty.

Music Education

Please contact Dr. Michael Smith (smithmv@cua.edu) before scheduling a Music Education audition.

In addition to passing an audition in the major performance area, applicants must submit a well-written essay (two to three paragraphs), describing why they wish to become a music education major, what motivates that decision, and what do they hope to be able to accomplish as a music educator.

Graduate Audition Requirements

Master of Music degree programs

• Applicants for M.M. degree programs must present a 10-minute audition of three (3) pieces in contrasting style, either in person or by CD.
• Composition applicants for both concert music and stage music emphases must submit a portfolio of scores and recordings (which  may include electronic music, software, or video) in lieu of the audition. An interview is also required of all composition applicants. For more detailed information, visit http://composition.cua.edu/Admissions.

Doctor of Musical Arts degree programs

• Piano and Orchestral Instruments: Applicants for the D.M.A. degree programs must present a 15-minute audition of 3 contrasting pieces of standard classical repertoire. This audition must be in person.
• Voice: Applicants for voice must present a 10-minute audition of 3 contrasting pieces of standard classical repertoire. This audition must be in person.

All applicants, regardless of degree program, who audition in person are considered for performance-based music scholarship.

Graduate Programs in Sacred Music and Orchestral Conducting

• Sacred Music: All sacred music auditions will be held in the Spring Semester 2010, date TBA.  All applicants for MMSM and DMA programs in Sacred Music (concentrations in choral music, organ performance and composition) must first contact Dr. Leo Nestor, (nestor@cua.edu).
• Orchestral Conducting: All Applicants for Graduate degree programs in Orchestral Conducting must first contact Mr. David Searle, (searle@cua.edu).

   

Benjamin T. Rome School of Music

To schedule your live audition, fill out an Online Audition Request Form!

Include a completed audition form with your CD or DVD recording for taped auditions!