Auditions

Audition Dates

Auditions

Prospective students wishing to apply to the music department should complete the following steps to apply to attend SRU as a Music Major or Music Minor:

Apply to SRU: Admissions
Receive Formal Acceptance from SRU Admissions
Complete the Music Audition Form

Please note--students must already be accepted to the university PRIOR to auditioning.

Once you submit this form, your application will be processed through our music and admissions offices, then a confirmation email will be sent.

AUDITION DATES

Here are the dates for our in-person auditions:

November 15, 2025
- Application must be submitted by November 1, 2025
January 31, 2026
- Application must be submitted by January 17, 2026
February 28, 2026
- Application must be submitted by February 14, 2026
March 28, 2026
- Application must be submitted by March 14, 2026

While in-person auditions are preferred, we will certainly accommodate virtual auditions.

The Audition Process

There are three components to the audition:

Performance Audition: Determines the student's level of accomplishment on their major instrument or voice. Performances of two contrasting compositions are required.
Basic Music Skills Assessment: Students will be asked to briefly demonstrate skills in sight singing, pitch matching, and rhythmic reading.
Personal Interview: Determines if the student has the necessary planning, interest, and dedication to successfully develop a career in music.

Piano Demonstration: Non-piano applicants who have 3–4 years of prior piano experience/lessons are encouraged to perform a classical piano demonstration to determine their appropriate entrance piano placement level.

Music Theory Assessment: This assessment is designed solely to evaluate your current level of music theory knowledge. It will not impact your admission decision in any way. Your results will simply help us understand where you are in your theory journey so we can best support your musical growth.

Audition Content

Voice

Please prepare to sing two pieces from memory. One should be a classical piece, typically a foreign language art song, the second should be in English in a style of your choosing. Choir parts are not appropriate for the audition.

SRU will provide a pianist for your audition. Simply bring your piano accompaniment to the audition - there is no need to send the music in advance.

Winds and Strings

Perform two contrasting selections. In general, this can mean a lyrical selection and a technical selection. Entire works (such as a full sonata or concerto) are not necessary.

Piano

Two classical piano solos from different musical eras demonstrating technical ability and musicality. Major and harmonic minor scales. One piano composition provided by the Piano Faculty to sight read.

Percussion

Snare drum:

A concert etude (something out of the texts by Goldenberg, Peters, Cirone, Delecleuse, Albright, etc.)
A rudimental piece or etude (optional)
Sight reading

Marimba/Xylophone:

Two mallet solo or etude (a piece from Goldenberg, Whaley, Cirone, Peters etc.)
Four mallet solo or etude (optional)
Sight reading

Timpani (optional):

Two, three or four drum etude or solo
Tuning

Drumset (optional):

Styles at various tempos, could include: swing, swing with brushes, jazz waltz, shuffle, rock, funk, samba, bossa nova, mambo/songo
Soloing in swing (trading fours, or eights)
Sight reading

Hand Drums (optional)

Music

Auditions

Auditions

Music

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