Department of Music Auditions and Awards

Music major candidates must complete an audition to be accepted into the Department of Music, and to be considered for a talent award. Students interested in the Music Participation Award must also complete an audition.

Auditions for 2008 are listed below. You will be on campus from approximately 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. You will have the opportunity to meet faculty and students.

Music Audition Dates 2008

Thursday, January 24
Tuesday, February 12
Thursday, March 6 (this audition date is full)
Tuesday, April 1 (this audition date is full)
Thursday, April 10
Saturday, April 12 (Open to Participation Award AND prospective music major auditions)

If you live too far from campus to audition in person, a video or audio-taped audition will be given careful consideration. By request, students may audition on College Visitation Days.

Audition Requirements
An accompanist will be provided when appropriate, or auditionees may bring their own accompanist.

All instruments except keyboard and percussion: Prepare an etude and a Class A solo piece from the OMEA Solo and Ensemble contest list or the equivalent. (The list will be provided upon request.) Scales and sight-reading will be part of the audition. Playing from memory is not required. At least one piece with accompaniment is expected.

Percussion: Prepare your materials in three areas of percussion; one solo should be from the OMEA Solo and Ensemble Class A contest list or the equivalent. Playing from memory is not required.

Keyboard: Prepare two pieces in contrasting styles. Scales sight-reading will be a part of the audition. It is recommended that you play from memory.

Musical Theatre: See Theatre and Dance. An audition for musical theatre will also qualify the auditionee for consideration as a music major.

Voice: Prepare two memorized pieces in contrasting styles. One piece should be performed in a foreign language. Selections from the art song and operatic repertoires should be emphasized, although one folk song arrangement or musical theatre piece may be included. Students auditioning for the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree must present classical repertory.

Additional considerations for all auditionees:

In order to get as complete a musical profile as possible, auditionees also may be asked to sight read during the audition, and will also complete music theory, music history, sight-singing and piano proficiency tests, as well as a music aptitude test.
Auditionees are strongly encouraged to provide original music for their accompanists at the audition. If originals are not available, please bring very clear, readable copies in correct page order in a 3-ring binder
There are special talent awards available for string players and participation awards for non-majors.

To arrange your audition, contact Claire Brock in the Department of Music at CBrock@Otterbein.edu or (614) 823-1504.

The Department will notify students of their acceptance as music majors within two weeks of their audition date.