Oklahoma City University : Bass School of Music

Admission to the University
Applicants must complete and return the Oklahoma City University Undergraduate, Transfer, or Graduate university application prior to auditioning. Apply for admission to Oklahoma City University either online or by contacting the Undergraduate, Graduate or International Admissions Office. Also contact Student Financial Services for financial aid information.

Audition Request Form
Applicants must request an audition with the Bass School of Music by filling out the audition request form. ALL prospective music majors must audition for admission and complete the audition request form here: https://secure.okcu.edu/auditions/ Do NOT make travel arrangements until you have received a confirmed audition time from the Bass School of Music (via phone and email) after submitting the audition request. Musical Theater applicants should select the VOCAL button on the audition request form.

Auditions for Fall 2012 admission will not be considered after May 1, 2012.

Audition Requirements
View the undergraduate or graduate audition requirements below. Audition requirements must be followed whether performing a live or recorded audition.

2011-2012 National Audition Dates on the campus of Oklahoma City University:
for FALL 2012 admission

Saturday, February 4, 2012 (full - closed to vocalists and music theater)

Friday, March 9, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012

See additional guidelines for recorded materials under "Recorded Auditions" below. Undergraduate Recorded Auditions are accepted until May 1, 2012. Graduate Recorded Auditions are accepted until April 15, 2012.

Music Theater applicants should select the Vocal option on the left of the audition request form.
Instrumentalists may make alternate audition arrangements if they cannot attend a national audition date.

RECORDED AUDITIONS
On-campus auditions are encouraged whenever possible. Recorded auditions will NOT be reviewed if the applicant has not applied for admission to Oklahoma City University and completed the Bass School of Music audition request form.

All audition requirements are to be followed for recorded auditions, according to the guidelines above.

DVDs are required for recorded auditions. CDs are allowed only for the portfolio portion for applicants in Composition. No VHS tapes, no mini disks, and no links to online video clips will be reviewed. No CDs except for applicants in Composition.

Recordings must be made within the last nine months. Applicants should review the recording in its entirety ensuring that it is clear and easily audible. Recordings will not be returned. Please clearly mark recorded audition materials with the applicant's name and contact information, instrument/voice, degree of interest, and works performed. For Music Theater and/or Vocal Performance applicants, make sure that we have a full-body shot of you at all times so that we can see your movement throughout the pieces. The only prop that you are allowed to utilize is one chair.

Undergraduate recordings must be received by May 1, 2012.
Graduate recordings must be received by April 15, 2012.

Mail recordings to:
Oklahoma City University, Bass School of Music
2501 N. Blackwelder
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
ATTN: Student Services, Rachel McCarthy

For further information about the audition process or audition requirements, please contact Rachel McCarthy, Coordinator of Admissions and Student Services at the Bass School of Music: (405) 208-5980 or RMcCarthy@okcu.edu.

You will be notified of the result of your live audition into the Bass School of Music typically within four to six weeks of the audition, provided your Oklahoma City University application is complete. Recorded audition results often take longer than four to six weeks to process. All audition results are sent through US mail. Please do not call or email our offices asking for Admission or Audition results. No audition results are given over email or telephone. You are responsible for checking the status of your OCU application with the University's Office of Admissions and completing all components of the application prior to the audition.

Undergraduate voice candidates who wish to apply for admission to the Bass School of Music must schedule an audition on the Oklahoma City University campus during one of the three national audition weekends or send a recording.

Undergraduate instrumental candidates are encouraged to audition during one of the three national audition weekends if possible. Instrumentalists who are unable to attend a national audition weekend may audition by appointment or send a recording.

ALL VOCAL AUDITIONS (including Music Theater)
All vocal music must be performed from memory. Vocal applicants may be asked to sing all or part of their prepared repertoire. Applicants must prepare entire pieces (not 16 bars or a "cut"). An accompanist will be provided free of charge at the on-campus national audition dates. One copy of the music must be supplied for the accompanist. You will meet with the accompanist briefly prior to your scheduled audition time. Taped accompaniments, A Cappella performances, staging, props, and dance are not allowed during the vocal audition. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to bring a headshot and resume to the audition.

Vocal Music Education, Music Business-Voice Emphasis, Composition-Voice Emphasis, Church Music-Voice Emphasis, and Bachelor of Arts-Voice Emphasis
Applicants are required to sing two contrasting classical or art songs.
One selection must be in English.

Vocal Music Education
Applicants for the Choral Music Education program are encouraged to bring a one page resume, which lists the applicant’s age appropriate activities in music teaching such as: school section leader, choral instructor in religious communities, summer teaching activities in camp or other youth programs, volunteer activities, or any other sustained activity that demonstrates an age appropriate interest in teaching or nurturing others. The applicant is also encouraged to list any special recognition or awards that have been received for their musical and/or academic achievements.

VOCAL PERFORMANCE
Applicants must be prepared to sing three classical or art songs:

One piece must be in English
One piece must be an early Italian piece (e.g., a selection from 24 Italian Songs and Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries)
One piece of the applicant’s choice

MUSIC THEATER
Applicants must be prepared to sing three songs and perform two monologues:

One classical or art song in any language
One classic Music Theater piece written prior to 1970
One contrasting Music Theater piece of the applicant’s choice

Music Theater applicants must also perform by memory two contrasting monologues. The two monologue selections together should not exceed three minutes in total time. The monologues are to come from published plays. The applicant should audition with contemporary material and stay away from Greek tragedy, Shakespeare, Moliere, and the like. Monologues from musicals, television, or other mediums are not allowed. There is no dance portion of the Music Theater audition.

MUSIC THEATER and VOCAL PERFORMANCE Combined Audition
Applicants interested in both Music Theater and Vocal Performance must be prepared to sing five songs:
One classical or art song in English

One classical or art song in early Italian (e.g., a selection from 24 Italian Songs and Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries)

One classical or art song of the applicant’s choice

One Music Theater piece written prior to 1970

One contrasting Music Theater piece of the applicant’s choice
Applicants interested in both Music Theater and Vocal Performance must also perform by memory two contrasting monologues. The two monologue selections together should not exceed three minutes in total time. The monologues are to come from published plays. The applicant should audition with contemporary material and stay away from Greek tragedy, Shakespeare, Moliere, and the like. Monologues from musicals, television, or other mediums are not allowed. There is no dance portion of the Music Theater and Vocal Performance Combined Audition.

INSTRUMENTAL AUDITIONS

Instrumental Music Education, Instrumental Performance, Music Business-Instrumental Emphasis, Composition-Instrumental Emphasis, and Bachelor of Arts-Instrumental Emphasis:

(For all orchestral and wind instruments, excluding percussion, guitar, piano, and organ)
Instrumental auditions require the performance of two contrasting pieces. Repertoire may be solos or etudes written for the instrument, preferably one fast, technical piece and one slow, lyrical piece. All instrumental auditions will include sight-reading. Photocopied music and taped accompaniments are not allowed.

PERCUSSION AUDITIONS
Applicants are required to perform at least one piece or etude on snare drum, marimba (4-mallet), and timpani. Percussion auditions will include sight-reading.

GUITAR AUDITIONS
Applicants are required to perform two contrasting pieces for classical guitar, equal (or greater) in difficulty to the studies of Sor, Giuliani, Carulli, or Carcassi.

PIANO AUDITIONS
Applicants are required to perform three pieces from memory, selected from the following historical periods:
Baroque (e.g., Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, Rameau, Couperin)
Classical (e.g., one movement of a Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven Sonata)
Romantic (e.g., Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Brahms, Liszt)
Twentieth Century (e.g., Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, Hindemith, Prokofieff, Copland, Muczynski)
Applicants may be asked to perform all or part of their prepared repertoire.

ORGAN AUDITIONS
Applicants are required to perform three pieces:
One work by J.S. Bach or another Baroque composer
One piece by a Romantic or contemporary composer
A hymn, prepared as if it were being played for a congregation
Ample time and pistons will be provided for registering pieces and hymn.

COMPOSITION AUDITIONS
Composition auditions require the submission of a portfolio of original compositions and recordings, if available. Students will interview, by appointment, with the Composition faculty. In addition, composition applicants must also audition on their major instrument or voice, according to the guidelines above.

Voice students who wish to apply for admission to the Bass School must schedule an interview and audition on the Oklahoma City University campus during one of three national scholarship audition weekends. Other majors may audition during the scholarship weekends or by appointment.

GRADUATE VOCAL PERFORMANCE AND OPERA PERFORMANCE
Candidates must prepare a repertoire of six pieces to include the following:

1. Operatic aria
2. Oratorio aria
3. 20th century British or American art song
4. French art song
5. German art song
6. Song of the candidate’s choice

GRADUATE MUSIC THEATER
Candidates must prepare a repertoire of six pieces to include the following:

Classical Selections
1. One operatic aria
2. One art song

Music Theater Selections – three contrasting pieces
3. One up tempo
4. One ballad
5. One classic music theater piece prior to 1970
6. Music theater selection of the candidate’s choice

Applicants must also perform two contrasting monologues no more than two minutes each.

Vocal candidates may be asked to sing all or part of their prepared repertoire. All vocal music must be performed from memory. Photocopied music, taped accompaniments, and a cappella performances are not allowed.

GRADUATE INSTRUMENTAL
Candidates are required to perform four pieces of varied styles and periods. Repertoire may be solos or etudes written for the instrument. All instrumental auditions will include sight-reading.

Photocopied music and taped accompaniments are not allowed.

GRADUATE PERCUSSION
Candidates are required to perform at least one piece or etude on snare drum, marimba (4-mallets) and timpani and six orchestral excerpts (minimum). Audition will include sight-reading.

GRADUATE PIANO
Candidates are required to perform a thirty-minute program representing important works from at least three of the following historical styles:
1. Baroque period (e.g., Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, Rameau, Couperin)
2. Classical period (e.g., Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart)
3. Romantic period (e.g., Chopin, Schubert, Liszt, Brahms, Schumann)
4. Twentieth century (e.g., Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, Hindemith, Prokofieff, Schoenberg, Copland, Barber)

Candidates may be asked to perform all or part of their prepared repertoire.

GRADUATE ORGAN
A 30 minute program should be prepared to include the following:
- One major work by J.S. Bach or another Baroque composer.
- Two additional pieces in differing styles from the Romantic period or later (e.g., one lyrical, one virtuosic piece).

Playing from memory is encouraged, but not required. Ample time and pistons will be provided for registering the program.

GRADUATE COMPOSITION
Candidates must submit a portfolio of original compositions and, if available, recordings. Candidates will be interviewed by the Director of Composition, by appointment.

To schedule an audition/interview, submit materials, or make inquiries about the MM-Conducting degree, please contact:

Dr. Edward Knight
Oklahoma City University, Bass School of Music
2501 N Blackwelder
Oklahoma City, OK 73106

eknight@okcu.edu
405-208-5274

GRADUATE VOCAL COACHING
Candidates must perform an on-campus vocal coaching audition. The audition will take place with singer(s) provided by the Bass School of Music. Candidates will also be interviewed by members of the vocal coaching faculty. The audition/interview will be scheduled by the program director at a mutually agreeable time.

The audition will include the following elements:
1. Two contrasting art songs;
2. An aria from the standard operatic repertoire;
3. A selection from the musical theater repertoire;
4. Sight reading

The selections chosen should represent the range of the auditioner’s skills and abilities. Specific audition programs (except sight reading) will be determined in advance in consultation with the program director, and a rehearsal with the singer(s) will be scheduled prior to the audition.

Prior to the on-campus audition, submission of supporting materials, including c.v., portfolio of performances, recordings, etc., is encouraged.

To schedule an audition/interview, submit materials, or make inquiries about the MM-Vocal Coaching degree, please contact:

Professor Jan McDaniel
Oklahoma City University, Bass School of Music
2501 North Blackwelder
Oklahoma City, OK 73106

jmcdaniel@okcu.edu
405-208-5206

GRADUATE CONDUCTING
Candidates must perform a conducting audition. The conducting audition will take place with one of the major ensembles on a preassigned piece. Candidates will be interviewed by members of the conducting faculty, by appointment.

To schedule an audition/interview, submit materials, or make inquiries about the MM-Conducting degree, please contact:

Dr. Matthew Mailman
Oklahoma City University, Bass School of Music
2501 N Blackwelder
Oklahoma City, OK 73106

mmailman@okcu.edu
405-208-5021

Instrumental conducting candidates must perform an instrumental audition. Vocal auditions for choral conducting candidates is optional.

For further information about the audition process or audition requirements, please contact Rachel McCarthy, Coordinator of Admissions and Student Services at the Bass School of Music: (405) 208-5980 or RMcCarthy@okcu.edu.