Audition Information for Undergraduate & Graduate Students

Audition Form
To apply for an audition please complete the audition form and submit it to OCU. All prospective music majors must audition for admission.

Audition Requirements
View the undergraduate or graduate audition requirements below. Please contact Rachel McCarthy at rmccarthy@okcu.edu if you have questions about the audition process.

Admission to the University
Apply for admission to the University either online or by contacting the Undergraduate, Graduate or International Admissions Office. Request a university application and all financial aid information.

Audition Dates - 2009-2010
November 20, 21, 2009
February 5, 6, 2010
March 26, 27, 2010

Instrumentalists may arrange private auditions at 405-208-5980.

Applicants must complete and return the University Undergraduate and Transfer application prior to auditioning. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Undergraduate Admissions Office at 405.208.5050 or online. Auditions may be requested by completing the audition form.

VOCAL AUDITIONS

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 (do not just prepare 16 bars).

An accompanist will be provided free of charge. You will meet with the accompanist briefly prior to your scheduled audition time. Photocopied music from books that you own may be supplied for the accompanist. Taped accompaniments and a cappella performances are not allowed.

Music Theater
Applicants must be prepared to sing three pieces:

• one classical or art song
• one classic Music Theater piece written prior to 1970
• one contrasting Music Theater piece of the applicant’s choice

Applicants must also perform, by memory. two contrasting monologues. The selections together should not exceed three minutes in total time. The monologues are to come from published plays.

Vocal Performance
Applicants must be prepared to sing three classical or art songs:

• one must be in English
• one must be an early Italian piece (Example: a selection from 24 Italian Songs and Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries)
• one selection of the applicant’s choice

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

INSTRUMENTAL AUDITIONS
Instrumental auditions require the performance of two contrasting pieces. Repertoire may be solos or etudes written for your 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
Candidates are required to perform at least one piece or etude on snare drum, marimba (4-mallet), and timpani. Audition will include sight-reading.


PIANO AUDITIONS
Piano auditions require three pieces from memory, selected from the following historical periods:

• Baroque (e.g., Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, Rameau, Couperin)
• Classical (e.g., Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven Sonata – one movement or an equivalent classical composition)
• 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

• 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 submission of a portfolio of original compositions and, if available, recordings. Students will be interviewed by the Director of Composition, by appointment. Prospective composition applicants must also audition on their major instrument or voice, according to the guidelines above.

SELF-PREPARED RECORDED AUDITIONS
DVDs are required for recorded auditions. CDs are allowed only 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 submit recorded auditions by May 1, 2010.

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

CDs and DVDs - Record material according to the repertory guidelines for your degree and instrument/voice. Both the CD/DVD and the CD/DVD box should be labeled with the applicant’s name, degree program, instrument/voice, and works performed. Please no VHS tapes or mini disks. Please no CDs except for applicants in Composition.

International Undergraduate Students
Applicants must apply through the International admissions office. Applicants may submit a recorded audition according to the guidelines above, if applicant is unable to audition in person. Photocopied music and taped accompaniments are not allowed.

For further information contact the Student Services Department for the Bass School of Music at (405) 208-5980 or rmccarthy@okcu.edu.

Graduate candidates must complete and return the University Graduate Application prior to auditioning. Auditions may be requested by completing the Audition Form.

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.

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

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.

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

Photocopied music and taped accompaniments are not allowed.

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.

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.


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 - one lyrical, one virtuosic - from the Romantic period or later.

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

COMPOSITION
Candidates must submit a portfolio of original compositions and, if available, recordings. Candidates will be interviewed by the Director of Composition, by appointment. Candidates must also audition on their major instrument or voice, according to the following guidelines:

• Instrumental
  Candidates are required to perform three pieces of varied styles and periods. Repertoire may be solos or etudes written for your instrument. All instrumental auditions will include sight-reading. Photocopied music and taped accompaniments are not allowed.
  
  
• Piano
  Candidates must perform three pieces from memory, selected from the following historical periods:
  Baroque (e.g., Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, Rameau, Couperin)
  Classical (e.g., Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven Sonata – one movement or an equivalent classical composition)
  Romantic (e.g., Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Brahms, Liszt)
  Twentieth Century (e.g., Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, Hindemith, Prokofieff, Copland, Muczynski)
  
  
• Vocal
  Candidates must be prepared to sing two contrasting classical or art songs. One selection must be in English. Photocopied music and taped accompaniments are not allowed.

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

VOCAL COACHING
Candidates must perform a 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, please contact:
Professor Jan McDaniel
Bass School of Music
Oklahoma City University
2501 North Blackwelder
Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1493
jmcdaniel@okcu.edu
405-208-5206


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.

Send all Conducting audition recordings to

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

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

SELF-PREPARED RECORDED AUDITIONS
DVDs are preferred for recorded auditions. 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 submit recorded auditions by April 15, 2010.

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

CDs and DVDs - Record material according to the repertory guidelines for your degree and instrument/voice. Both the CD/DVD and the CD/DVD box should be labeled with the applicant’s name, degree program instrument/voice and works performed. Please no VHS tapes or mini disks.



International Graduate Students
Applicants must apply through the International admissions office. Applicants may submit a recording according to the guidelines above.