Music Auditions

Table of Contents

Audition Dates

  • Saturday, January 30, 2027
  • Saturday, February 20, 2027
  • Saturday, March 6, 2027 (Instrumental Only)
  • Saturday, March 20, 2027 (Non-Music Major Auditions)

Other dates available upon request

Audition Requirements and Forms

Voice Studio

Undergraduate

Audition form

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All music majors with a concentration in voice must sing two contrasting vocal pieces. Genres may include folk song, classical, art song or Broadway selections. One selection in a foreign language is preferred.
  • Sight-reading
  • Vocalization
  • Theory Diagnostic Test (For incoming Freshmen only)

Keyboard Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • Three memorized pieces in contrasting styles (Baroque, Classical, romantic, Impressionism, 20th or 21st Century)
  • Major and minor scales (Selection)
  • Arpeggios (Selection)
  • Sight-reading

Bassoon Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major Scales and Chromatic Scale
    • Bb major should be played three octaves; all other major scales can be two octaves.
    • Chromatic scale should be three octaves, from low Bb to high Bb.
  • Two contrasting etudes or movements of solo repertoire; one slow and one fast. All-State etudes or UIL solo pieces work perfectly!
  • Sight-read a short musical example

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major and Harmonic Minor Scales up to High D
  • Chromatic Scale up to High D
  • Sight-read a short musical example
  • Two movements that are contrasting in style and/or time period selected from the following list:
    • Mozart: Bassoon Concerto
    • Weber: Bassoon Concerto
    • Hummel: Bassoon Concerto
    • Any Vivaldi Concerto
    • Hailstork: Bassoon Set
    • Brandon: Colored Stones
    • Still: Songs for Bassoon and Piano, arr. Alexa Still
    • Saint-Saens: Sonata
    • Tansman: Sonatine
    • Telemann: Sonata in F minor
    • York: Sonata
    • Mignone: 16 Waltzes for Solo Bassoon
    • Villa-Lobos: Ciranda das Sete Notas
    • Siqueira: Three Etudes for Bassoon and Piano
    • Milde: 50 Concert Studies Op. 26
  • Two contrasting orchestral excerpts from the following list:
    • Mozart: Overture to Le Nozze di Figaro, measures 139-171
    • Beethoven: Symphony no. 4, mvmt. IV, measures 15-25, 184-190
    • Ravel: Bolero, rehearsal 2-3
    • Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, mvmt. II opening solo
    • Price: Symphony no. 1, mvmt. I, beginning-measure 19
    • Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, mvmt. IV, measures 49-63
    • Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 4, mvmt. II, measure 274-end
    • Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major, mvmt. I, rehearsal 9-10; mvmt. III, rehearsal 14-bar 3 of rehearsal16
    • Stravinsky: Rite of Spring, beginning-measure 15

Clarinet Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major Scales and Full-Range Chromatic Scale
  • Two contrasting etudes or portions of solo repertoire which highlight your lyrical and technical abilities
  • Sight-reading
  • Students interested in auditioning as a performance major should also prepare the exposition of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto (m. 57 to 154)

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major and Minor Scales and Full-Range Chromatic Scale from memory
  • Two contrasting pieces or movements of a larger work from the standard solo repertoire. These pieces/movements must be (or equivalent to) Class 1 solos from the UIL PML.
  • Exposition of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto (m. 57 to 154)
  • Two contrasting Orchestral Excerpts from the standard repertoire
  • Sight-reading

Flute Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Applicants should prepare the following:

  1. All major scales, two octaves (memorization required)
  2. Full-range chromatic scale (memorization required)
  3. One UIL Class I solo, repertoire of comparable difficulty, or two contrasting etudes (TMEA and ATSSB All-State audition etudes are acceptable)
  4. Sight-reading may be requested

Performance Major Applicants: In addition to the UIL Class I solo or comparable repertoire, performance major applicants should prepare the first-movement exposition from either Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major, K. 313 or Flute Concerto in D Major, K. 314.

Questions regarding flute audition requirements may be directed to Dr. Ben Carlee at [email protected].

Graduate

Audition Form

Applicants should prepare the following:

  1. All major and minor scales (memorization required)
  2. One movement from a sonata by J.S. Bach
  3. First-movement exposition from either Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major, K. 313 or Flute Concerto in D Major, K. 314
  4. Two contrasting orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire
  5. One selection from the standard 20th- or 21st-century flute repertoire
  6. Sight-reading may be requested

Questions regarding flute audition requirements may be directed to Dr. Ben Carlee at [email protected].

Guitar Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major Scales and a Full-Range Chromatic Scale
  • Two contrasting etudes (slow and fast) or portions of solo repertoire (lyrical and technical)
  • Sight-read a short musical example
  • Students interested in auditioning as a performance major should also be prepared to perform a movement or movements from a standard concerto, sonata or significant solo repertoire. Please contact the applied faculty member for your instrument with any questions.

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major Scales and a Full-Range Chromatic Scale
  • Two contrasting etudes (slow and fast) or portions of solo repertoire (lyrical and technical)
  • Sight-read a short musical example
  • Students interested in auditioning as a performance major should also be prepared to perform a movement or movements from a standard concerto, sonata or significant solo repertoire. Please contact the applied faculty member for your instrument with any questions.

Horn Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major Scales and a Full-Range Chromatic Scale
  • Two Etudes in contrasting styles (Lyrical and Technical) or portions of major Concertos by Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, or other Texas Class 1 solos
  • Students will sight read a short musical example
  • Students interested in Performance Majors should be prepared to perform significant works from the Horn Repertoire, including works by Bozza, Hindemith, Vignery. Four Orchestral Excerpts in contrasting styles – Ex. Tschaikovsky 5th, Beethoven 7th, Shostakovich Symphony 5, Mahler Symphony No 1 or 5.

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major Scales and a Full-Range Chromatic Scale
  • Two Etudes in contrasting styles (Lyrical and Technical) or portions of major Concertos by Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, or other Texas Class 1 solos
  • Students will sight read a short musical example
  • Students interested in Performance Majors should be prepared to perform significant works from the Horn Repertoire, including works by Bozza, Hindemith, Vignery. Four Orchestral Excerpts in contrasting styles – Ex. Tschaikovsky 5th, Beethoven 7th, Shostakovich Symphony 5, Mahler Symphony No 1 or 5.

Oboe Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major Scales (From Memory)
  • Full Range-Chromatic Scale (From Memory)
  • One Etude from the Ferling, Luft or Barret Studies
  • One Solo work from the standard oboe repertoire
  • Sight Reading

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All Major and Minor Scales (From Memory) Full Range-Chromatic Scale (From Memory)
  • One Etude from Ferling or from the Barret Grand Studies
  • Two Contrasting Solos or Movements from the standard repertoire
  • Three Standard Orchestral Excerpts
  • Sight-Reading

Percussion Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • Snare Drum
    • One concert style solo or etude
  • Keyboard
    • One 2-mallet or 4-mallet solo or etude
    • Sight-reading a 2-mallet etude
  • Timpani
    • One solo or etude
    • Demonstrate knowledge of tuning
  • Drum-Set (Optional)
    • Demonstrate 2-4 styles

Please prepare materials that will best demonstrate your abilities. Examples of appropriate repertoire include all-region etudes and solos from solo and ensemble competitions. Please contact Dr. Zator with any questions regarding the appropriate repertoire.

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • Snare Drum
    • One concert style solo or etude
  • Keyboard
    • One 4-mallet solo
    • Sight-reading a 2-mallet etude
  • Timpani
    • One solo or etude
  • Drum-Set
    • Demonstrate 2-4 styles

Please prepare materials that will best demonstrate your abilities. Solo repertoire should be at a senior recital level. Please contact Dr. Zator with any questions regarding the appropriate repertoire.

Saxophone Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All major scales, 1-2 octaves from memory
  • Full-range chromatic scale from memory
  • One technical (fast) solo or etude selection
  • One contrasting lyrical (slow) solo or etude
  • Sight-read a short excerpt
  • Optional: perform any jazz style or etude selection and/or improvise over a standard progression
  • Questions regarding saxophone audition requirements may be directed to Dr. Chris Beaty at chris.beaty@etamu.edu

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All major and minor scales (3 forms) from memory
  • 10-15 minutes of standard solo repertoire consisting of both lyrical & technical sections
  • 1-2 etudes from standard Ferling to more modern selections
  • Sight-read a short excerpt
  • Optional: perform any jazz style or etude selection and/or improvise over a standard progression

Trombone Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All major scales in 2 octaves and a full-range chromatic scale
  • One solo or movement of a larger solo piece. Suggested repertoire: Barat, David, Galliard, Guilmant, Telemann, Saint-Saens
  • Two contrasting etudes of your choice. Suggested repertoire: Bordogni/Rochut, Blazhevich/Fink, Arban, Voxman, Kopprasch
  • Sight reading in bass clef

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Requirements

  • All major and minor scales in 2 octave
  • One solo or movement of a larger solo piece. Suggested repertoire: Grondahl, Tomasi, Hindemith, Sulek, Jongen, Ropartz, Casterede
  • Two contrasting etudes of your choice. Suggested repertoire: Bordogni/Rochut, Blazhevich/Fink, Arban, Voxman, Kopprasch
  • Two contrasting orchestral excerpts of your choice. Suggested repertoire: Mozart “Requiem”, Ravel “Bolero”, Berlioz “Hungarian March”, Wagner “Die Walküre”, Rossini “William Tell Overture”, Rossini “La Gazza Ladra”, Saint-Saens “Symphony 3”
  • Sight reading in bass and tenor clef

Trumpet Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Information

Repertoire – Your audition should include 5-10 minutes of music (solos, etudes, and/or orchestral excerpts are acceptable) that shows your playing at its best. I don't have a required list of pieces but I do need to hear examples of your slow/lyrical playing as well as your technical skills. I also need to hear major scales (from memory, if possible) and I'll ask you to sight read. Prospective Graduate students and music performance majors should also prepare three standard orchestral excerpts. If you just have no idea of what to prepare just contact me and I can help!

The School of Music has scheduled Audition Days in the spring to make the whole process easy. We'll have representatives from the School and University on-hand to answer your questions and give tours of the building and campus. While I can hear auditions by appointment I strongly suggest you make plans to audition on one of our official Audition Days.

Audition Dates

Tuba-Euphonium Studio

Undergraduate

Audition Form

Audition Information

Euphonium

  • One Bordogni/Rochut etude of your choosing
  • Choose one of the following solos:
    • Beautiful Colorado – Joseph DeLuca
    • Morceau Symphonique – Alexander Guilman

Please communicate with Prof. Packman before your audition day if you would like to audition with alternative materials.

Audition Information

Tuba

  • One Bordogni/Rochut etude of your choosing
  • Choose one of the following solos:
    • Rondo from “Andante and Rondo” – Antonio Capuzzi arr. Catelinet
    • Movement 1 from “Suite for Tuba” – Don Haddad

Please communicate with Prof. Packman before your audition day if you would like to audition with alternative materials.

Graduate

Audition Form

Audition Information

Euphonium

  • One Bordogni/Rochut etude of your choosing
  • Choose one of the following solo selections:
    • Movements 1, 2 & 5 from “Partita for Euphonium and Piano” – Arthur Butterworth
    • Movement 3 from Diamond Concerto (Euphonium Concerto No.3) – Phillip Sparke
  • Prepare the following works:
    • Barnum and Bailey's Favorite – Karl L. King
    • The Stars and Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa

Please communicate with Prof. Packman before your audition day if you would like to audition with alternative materials.

Tuba

  • One Bordogni/Rochut etude of your choosing
  • Choose one of the following solo selections:
    • Corrente & Bouree Anglaise from “Flute Partita in A minor” – J.S. Bach trans. F. Cooley NOTE: Please omit repeats
    • Movements 1 & 7 from 7 Motors to Power Your Way – William A.R. Way
  • Prepare the following works:
    • Les Preludes – Franz Liszt arr. Brown
    • Symphony No.5 – Sergei Prokofiev

Please communicate with Prof. Packman before your audition day if you would like to audition with alternative materials.

H

Pride Marching Band

Music Majors

Students who have formally auditioned and been accepted to the School of Music are automatically accepted into The Pride Marching Band.

Non-Music Majors

All woodwind and brass players must submit one video file. The video does not need to be one continuous take; multiple clips may be edited together. There is nothing specific you need to play for your video, just something that best represents your abilities.

At the beginning of the video, please state:

  • First and last name
  • Current school
  • Intended major (Non-music majors are welcome.)

Submission Instructions

  • Upload your video to YouTube as Unlisted
  • Submit the YouTube link using the provided upload instructions
  • Deadline: August 1

Questions?
Contact Dr. Stephanie DeLuca, Interim Director of Athletic Bands

Battery Percussion

Submit a short solo (max 2.5 minutes) demonstrating your abilities, plus the following exercises:

  • 8's
  • Accent tap
  • Double beat
  • Triple beat
  • Diddle and roll exercises
  • Flam accent and flam tap

Guidelines:

  • A drum is preferred; a practice pad is acceptable
  • Perform standing, with full body visible, and mark time
  • Tenors and basses may perform on a single pad (ignore crossovers; bass uses matched grip)
  • An audible metronome is required

Front Ensemble Pre-Audition

All percussionists must submit one video file. The video does not need to be one continuous take; multiple clips may be edited together.

At the beginning of the video, please state:

  • First and last name
  • Current school
  • Intended major (Non-music majors are welcome.)

Submission Instructions

  • Upload your video to YouTube as Unlisted
  • Submit the YouTube link using the provided upload instructions
  • Deadline: August 1 (hard deadline)
  • Results will be sent during the first week of August

Front Ensemble

Include a short 2- and/or 4-mallet solo or excerpt, plus:

  • 2-mallet major, minor, and chromatic scales and arpeggios
  • 4-mallet dexterity and blocked chords
    • Vibraphone: Burton grip
    • Marimba: Stevens grip

Piano and Rack Percussion

  • Piano: Technical solo or etude and basic scales
  • Rack Percussion: Keyboard percussion, multi-percussion, or snare solo

Choose material that best demonstrates your strengths.

Audition Purpose

This video submission is a pre-audition for The Pride Marching Band and helps determine your readiness and potential placement on battery or front ensemble instruments. Once you hear back from us, you may be invited to join us for our Pride Week, where we will establish final placements for instrumentation.

Questions?
Contact Dr. Tanner Leonardo, Assistant Director of Percussion

Colorguard auditions will take place both in person and through video.

For colorguard audition information, please contact the band office at [email protected]. All audition information will be emailed to you as well as shared on social media (Instagram: @etamucolorguard).

Please use one of the following options to submit your audition video:

  • Create a Dropbox link to your video
  • Create an Unlisted YouTube link to your video
  • Create a Google Drive link to your video

Please fill out this brief form where you will enter your audition video link, and submit your audition.

You will receive an automated reply letting you know we have received your video link.

We thank you for your cooperation and patience. Please know our goal is to help you through this process in order to get you information on admission and scholarships as soon as possible. If you have any questions or encounter any difficulties, please feel free to contact us.

Go Lions!

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