All MM Opera Performance and MM Vocal Performance applicants are invited to attend our On-Campus Graduate Vocal Audition Event on Feb. 16-17, 2024.

Applicants are invited to enjoy a complimentary dinner with faculty and staff on Friday, Feb. 16, before attending a free opening night performance of The Bass School of Music's production of the opera Merry Wives of Windsor. The Graduate Vocal Audition day begins the next morning on Feb. 17. The schedule for the Audition Day is below:

9 - 9:30 a.m.: Audition Check-in

9:30 - 10 a.m.: Welcome Meeting

10:30 a.m.: Vocal Auditions Begin

Tours of the Music Building and Campus information presentations will be provided throughout the day.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or would like additional information.

MM Vocal Performance and Opera Performance candidates should submit their prescreen audition by Jan. 15 and complete their audition by Feb. 17 to be considered for graduate assistantships.

On-campus Graduate Voice Audition Date:

Feb. 17

Live-virtual Audition Dates:

Feb. 2 and 23

If you are unable to attend these dates, please contact [email protected] for information regarding alternate date auditions and recorded auditions.

Vocal Performance and Opera Performance Prescreen Requirements

• Submit your graduate application.
• Submit your prescreen audition recording through Acceptd.
• Prescreen Guidelines:
  • Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos.
  • There should not be a separate “slate” video. Instead, slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece.
  • The proper slate is to share your name, title, and composer.

Prescreen audition must include two videos from the following list:

• Operatic aria
• Oratorio aria
• 21st century British or American art song
• French art song
• German art song

Vocal Performance and Opera Performance Final Round Audition Requirements

Candidates invited to campus will be required to perform the following repertoire:

• Operatic aria
• Oratorio aria
• 21st century British or American art song
• French art song
• German art song
• Song of the candidate’s choice

An accompanist will be provided free of charge at the on-campus audition. In addition to the original music, one copy of the music must be supplied for the accompanist, hole punched and in a three-ring binder. You will meet with the accompanist briefly prior to your scheduled audition time. All sheet music must be easily readable.

All MM Music Theater prescreen submissions are due Dec. 1. You will receive notification of a final audition by Jan. 7.

On-campus Audition Dates:

Feb. 2-3, 23-24

Live-virtual Callback Dates:

Feb. 2, 23

If you are interested in beginning classes in the Spring semester of 2024, please email [email protected].

Graduate Music Theater Prescreen Requirements

• Submit your university application.
• Submit your prescreen audition recording through Acceptd.
• Prescreen Guidelines:
  • Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos.
  • There should not be a separate “slate” video. Instead, slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece.
  • The proper slate for a song is to share your name, the song title, and show in which it appears, if applicable.
  • The proper slate for a monologue is to share your name, the title of the play, and the playwright (for Music Theater auditions only).
• Submit your prescreen audition materials by Dec. 1 to be notified of an invitation to the live callback auditions by January 7th.

Vocal Requirements

Students should prepare 2-contrasting pieces.

• One song should be a ballad and one song should be uptempo as to contrast style
  • One song should be written prior to 1970. This song can be either the uptempo or the ballad (student’s choice).
  • One song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.
• Each song file should be 60-90 seconds (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds)
• Students must sing to musical accompaniment, which could include live or pre-recorded accompaniment. No “a cappella” singing (meaning singing without music).
• One song should be filmed in a close up and one filmed full frame.

Monologue Requirements

• Two 60-90 second contrasting monologues
  • 1 Contemporary (written after 1900); Contemporary monologues should be filmed in a “close-up” shot which means the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.
  • 1 Classical (written pre-1900); Classical monologues should be filmed in a “full body” shot which means the top of the head to the feet on the floor should be visible in the frame. Playwrights may include Shakespeare, Molière, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Middleton, Thomas Kyd, Aristophanes, or contemporary adaptations of classical plays that still employ heightened language.
• Monologues must be from a published play.
• Monologues cannot be from musicals, television shows, or movies.
• Each monologue file should be 60-90 seconds in length (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds)

Dance Requirements

• 30-60 seconds of dance in whatever dance discipline you feel most confident. This may include, but is not limited to jazz, ballet, tap, modern, cultural dance styles, hip hop, lyrical, or contemporary.
• All dance media should be filmed in a “full body” shot taking care to keep the student’s entire body in the frame at all times.
  
• Applicants do not need to slate in any dance media.
• Regardless of which style of dance you execute, the choreography and the movement should be story-driven and connected to the music where the applicant is dancing with a sense of purpose.
• Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. To the best of your ability, move your body fully. Please include at least one turn, one jump and one kick (or other suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body).
• Dance media can be self-choreographed, but must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own.
• All choreography must be performed to music; please no “a cappella” dance media.

A Wildcard Video

• This media can be ANYTHING you want: a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, an instrument that you play, another song in a different style, etc.
• “What do you want us to know about you?” and “What makes you unique?”

Final Audition Requirements

Applicants are expected to have full songs and monologues memorized and performance-ready.

Vocal

• Two contrasting music theater selections
  • One song should be written prior to 1970 and one piece should be written after 1970 and contrast in style of the first
  • You are not required to sing the songs you submitted for prescreening

• One operatic aria or art song

Monologue

• Two contrasting monologue selections
• Monologues must be from a published play
• Please have both monologues memorized and performance-ready
• You are not required to perform the monologues you submitted for prescreening

In-Person Dance Call

• Applicants who are invited for the in-person auditions will participate in a live dance call
• No prior dance experience is necessary
• Please bring a change of clothes and shoes that you would be comfortable dancing in for the live dance call

An accompanist will be provided free of charge at the on-campus national audition dates. In addition to the original music, one copy of the music must be supplied for the accompanist, hole punched and in a three-ring binder. You will meet with the accompanist briefly prior to your scheduled audition time. All sheet music must be easily readable.