Here you can find the various audition requirements for the following areas:
Contact Dr. David Wharton, (307) 766-5222
Students who are interested in brass scholarships should be prepared to perform major scales in addition to two selections of contrasting style. One selection should be in a lyric style, and the other should be more technical. If you have questions about audition literature please contact Dr. David Wharton. Students can complete their audition via Zoom or by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
Contact Dr. Ben Markley (307) 223-1020
Prospective students will be asked to play major scales and two contrasting pieces that best demonstrate their knowledge of the jazz idiom. Students can complete their audition via Zoom or by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
Contact Dr. Andrew Wheelock, (307) 766-5242
Students can complete their audition via Zoom or by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
Undergraduate Percussion Audition Requirements
Prospective students will be evaluated on technical proficiency, musicality, rhythmic accuracy, sight reading, tone production, intonation, and overall musical experience.
Each student will be asked to perform a solo or etude of moderate difficulty in each of the following instrumental areas:
Snare Drum* (concert style), Marimba (2 or 4 mallet) or Xylophone, Timpani*, and Drum Set. On drum set, students will be evaluated based on their musicality, improvisational, and technical skills in regard to the following genres: jazz, Afro-Cuban, funk, Brazilian (a prepared solo is not required but jazz drum solo transcriptions are encouraged).
Each applicant must also demonstrate sight-reading ability on snare drum, marimba, and drum set. Students will also be asked to play two-octave major and minor scales and arpeggios. Please bring one (1) copy of your audition music for the panel.
*We recommend selections from the following; however, comparable alternates may be performed:
Snare Drum
Modern Rudimental Swing Solos – Wilcoxon
Portraits in Rhythm – Cirone
12 Studies for Snare Drum – Delecluse
Timpani
Concepts for Timpani – Beck
Etudes for Timpani, Vol. 3. – Hochrainer
Graduate Percussion Audition Requirements
Applicants for the MM degree or DMA degree must perform one major solo in each of the following instrumental areas: Snare Drum (concert style), Marimba, Timpani, Multiple-Percussion or Hand Drums, and Drum Set. (An audio recording and score can satisfy the Multi-perc. requirement.) On Drum Set, students will be evaluated based on their musicality, improvisational, and technical skills in regard to the following genres: jazz, Afro-Cuban (son, guaguanco, songo, bembe, mozambique), odd meter (7/8, 5/4, 9/8), funk, Brazilian (bossa, samba, partido-alto), (a prepared solo is not required but jazz drum solo transcriptions are encouraged.
In addition, each applicant must prepare contrasting orchestral excerpts for snare drum (2), xylophone (2), and timpani (2), and demonstrate sight-reading ability on snare drum, marimba, and drum set. Please provide one (1) copy of your audition music for the panel.
Contact John Fadial, (307) 766-5242
Students should be prepared to play two contrasting works or movements of the same work. Students are encouraged to prepare scales to demonstrate technical proficiency, though this not a requirement. Accompaniment is not required for auditions. Students can complete their audition by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). High quality audio recordings are acceptable, but video recordings are preferred.
Contact Dr. Nicole Riner, (307) 766-5242
Incoming students will be asked to perform major scales and two short pieces in a contrasting style. Students should choose one piece that is slow and lyrical and one that is faster and more technical. If students are unsure if their selections are appropriate they may contact the woodwind area coordinator or the applied teacher. Students can complete their audition via Zoom (preferred) or by submitting a pre-recorded video (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
Contact Dr. Theresa Bogard, (307) 766-5242
Priority for keyboard scholarships is given to students who declare a music major; exceptions are given to non-majors who display exceptional talent. Scholarships may be awarded for up to full tuition and fees. Synchronous Zoom or recorded auditions are strongly encouraged due to COVID social distancing guidelines. All audition repertoire must be performed from memory.
One composition by Bach
A sonata-allegro movement of a classical sonata (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert)
One substantial Romantic work (e.g., music by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, or others)
One composition by Bach
A complete classical sonata (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert)
One étude of virtuosity
One substantial Romantic work (e.g., music by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, or others)
One composition by Bach
A complete classical sonata (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert)
One étude of virtuosity
Plus one of the two categories below:
One substantial Romantic work (e.g., music by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, or others)
One composition by a 20th or 21st century composer
Scholarship recipients are expected to perform in two designated Music Department ensembles every semester, and must enroll in private piano or organ lessons. Accompanying is the primary ensemble required for keyboard scholarship recipients.
All keyboard scholarship applicants must demonstrate accompanying skills and will be asked to sight read an art song and an instrumental accompaniment. Fluent performance of all major and minor scales is expected.
Contact Dr. Brian C. Murray at bmurray7@uwyo.edu
Undergraduates:
Students will perform two selections from memory. Both may be in English, but a song
in a contrasting language is preferred. Selections should be from the classical vocal
repertory and can include aria, art song, folk song, and other classifications that
are not of a "pop" style. Singers are encouraged to choose repertoire that most accurately
shows the beauty and potential of the voice.
Graduates:
Students will offer five selections (1 aria, 1 oratorio, 3 art songs) from memory
in at least three of the following languages: English, Italian, French, German.
All:
After the online audition application is completed, singers will be contacted to schedule
an audition time.
Vocal auditions will include a musical skills assessment. Singers will read both rhythm and melody at sight. Rhythms may include simple or compound meters, dotted and syncopated figures and ties. Melodies may include simple or compound meter, leaps from the tonic triad, IV, and V chords, syncopated figures, and may be in major or minor tonalities. Use of the solfege system is preferred. (If you would like help to prepare these skills, please contact Dr. Murray at bmurray7@uwyo.edu).
