Upcoming Audition Dates:​​

FOR FALL 2019 Admission (Applications close 8 days before the audition date)
The audition Application portal Is open

• Saturday, January 26, 2018*
• Monday, February 18, 2019*
• Saturday, March 16, 2019*
• Saturday, April 13, 2019

*Priority dates for the 2018-19 academic year for Music Scholarship and Creative Artist Awards (incoming freshmen).

Graduate Audition Application

Contact

If you have additional questions about graduate auditions and admission to the School of Music, please email Dr. Michael Chunn, Coordinator of Graduate Studies, mchunn@kent.edu or call the main School of Music office at 330-672-2172.

Graduate Audition Information

Master's degree applicants in MM Performance and MM Conducting applicants must audition in their major performing medium before being recommended for admission to the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music. While it is not required for admission, students planning to study applied music while in any graduate music program must also audition. 

For students residing an inconvenient distance from Kent, an audition recording (video) may be uploaded or URL's to video provided in the "Portfolio" section of the Graduate Studies Application.

Conducting applicants should submit a preliminary video recording directly to the professor in their area of specialization as outlined in the audition requirements of each specific area (Band, Orchestral, Choral). If necessary, a live audition will be scheduled at a later date through the appropriate conductor. Please see below for audition and contact information. 

Audition Requirements

Voice

Present a variety of languages and a variety of performance styles. Typically, songs or arias presented are from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century repertory and include an oratorio aria or an opera aria. Candidates are requested to provide their own accompanist. If this is not possible, a recording of the accompaniment is acceptable. Additionally, students will be asked to demonstrate musical sight-reading ability and proficiency in Italian, German, and French diction through poetic excerpts.

Piano

Four works representing at least three different style periods, including a complete Classical Sonata. All selections composed prior 1950 should be memorized. Sight-reading may be included.

Woodwinds

• Flute: First movement exposition of either Mozart Concerto (G or D major). Two other works of contrasting period and style, including one 20th century work. These may be movements from a concerto/sonata or separate works. A selection of standard orchestral excerpts. Sight-reading may be included.
• Oboe: Two works contrasting in period and style, including one 20th century work. These may be movements from a concerto/sonata or separate works. A selection of standard orchestral excerpts. Sight-reading may be included.
• Clarinet: Two works contrasting in period and style, including one 20th century work. These may be movements from a concerto/sonata or separate works. A selection of standard orchestral excerpts. Sight-reading may be included.
• Bassoon: Two works contrasting in period and style. These may be movements from a concerto/sonata or separate works. A selection of standard orchestral excerpts. Sight-reading may be included.
• Saxophone: Two works contrasting in period and style, including one 20th century work. These may be movements from a concerto/sonata or separate works. Sight-reading may be included.

Brass

• Trumpet: Two works contrasting in period and style, including one 20th century work. These works may be movements from a concerto/sonata or separate works. A selection of standard orchestral excerpts. Sight-reading may be included.
• Horn: A Mozart concerto and a contrasting solo work. A selection of standard orchestral excerpts. Sight-reading may be included.
• Trombone: Two movements from solo(s) of applicant’s choice, demonstrating musicality, technical proficiency, range and contrasting styles. Preferred Tenor Trombone orchestral excerpts are Mozart “Tuba Mirum” solo from Requiem; “Ride of the Valkyries” (2nd trombone); and Mahler Symphony No. 3, 1st Mvt., 1st trombone solos. Preferred Bass Trombone orchestral excerpts are Haydn The Creation (solo), Franck Symphony in D Minor (solo), Wagner “Ride of the Valkyries”. Sight-reading may be included.

• Tuba: Two contrasting etudes (Bordogni/Rochut and Kopprasch preferred) and a concerto from the standard repertoire. A selection of standard orchestral excerpts. Proficiency on both bass tuba and contrabass tuba preferred.  All major and minor scales (2 octaves).  Sight-reading may be included.

Percussion 

Solo work demonstrative of proficiency on keyboard percussion (solo marimba work preferred). Standard orchestral excerpts for xylophone or glockenspiel, snare drum and timpani. Etude or solo for snare drum and timpani (or multiple percussion). Optional: demonstration of jazz skills on drum set, vibraphone, or steel pan. Recordings may be submitted in lieu of an audition at the Kent Campus. A DVD recording of a live performance is preferred in this case. 

Strings 

• Violin: Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita and the first movement from a standard concerto.
• Viola: Two contrasting movements from a Bach suite and the first movement from a standard concerto.
• Cello: Two contrasting movements from a Bach suite and the first movement from a standard concerto.
• Bass: One movement of a Bach Cello Suite. Two contrasting movements of a concerto or other significant solo work. Orchestral Excerpts: Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 3rd movement and Mozart Symphony No. 40, 4th movement, mm. 49-70 or applicant’s choice. Scales with varied bow articulations (staccato, legato, detache, marcato). 

Graduate String Quartet 

Two complete works of contrasting styles, demonstrating the quartet’s overall playing level. Following a live audition, there will be a coaching session with the faculty Artists-in-Residence. 

For audition recordings, a recording of two complete works of contrasting styles. A video recording is preferred. 

Conducting

• Band: To be considered as a candidate, applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and a 15-20 minute conducting video prior to February 1, 2018. Applicants who attend the “Kent Wind Band Conductor’s Symposium” (November 3-4, 2017) are not required to submit video. Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree in music.  Preference will be given to those with public school teaching experience. An on-campus audition is required, and will be held on March 6, 2018. The Director of Bands will notify applicants if they are invited to audition. Please contact Dr. Jesse Leyva at jleyva@kent.edu for more information. 
• Choral: To be considered as a candidate, applications should submit a 15-20 minute DVD choral rehearsal/performance video recording and a resume outlining prior vocal/choral/conducting experience prior to setting up the audition date. The Director of Choral Studies will notify candidates if they are invited to audition. The 30 minute audition will consist of the vocal warm-ups and a rehearsal of two works (1. an assigned piece; 2. a work of the candidate’s choosing) with one of the University choral ensembles. A 30-45 minute video recording may be submitted in lieu of a live audition if the distance is too great; however, an on-campus audition is preferred. Please contact Dr. Scott MacPherson a smacpher@kent.edu for more information. 
• Orchestra: To be considered as a candidate, applicants must submit a 30-45 minute video recording (or links to online videos) of conducting, including (if possible) rehearsal footage from the perspective of the orchestra.  The Director of Orchestras will then notify candidates if they are invited to audition.  An on-campus audition and interview will then be arranged. Please contact Dr. Jungho Kim at jkim73@kent.edu for more information.