School of Music and Dance Ensembles & Auditions
Audition Requirements | Audition Schedule (subject to change)

School of Music and Dance ensembles perform regularly on and off campus. Our premier ensembles are frequently featured in festivals and competitions throughout the western United States, and our Marching Band has traveled to the Rose Bowl, Holiday Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl in recent years. For advanced students, paid performance opportunities are available in the Eugene Symphony; Eugene Opera; Oregon Mozart Players; our internationally acclaimed Oregon Bach Festival; local churches, clubs, and hotels; and through private teaching and accompanying.

The School of Music and Dance serves the campus community by sponsoring more than 200 concerts and recitals each year; by offering many courses of interest to those not majoring in music or dance; and by sponsoring regional, national, and international music conferences, workshops, and master classes, with visiting artists such as Wynston Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Philip Glass, Elly Ameling, and Eugene Rousseau. Each year our Chamber Music Series brings renowned ensembles such as the Guarneri, Tokyo, Juilliard, and Emerson String Quartets to campus. The music school sponsors several festivals, including the Oregon Bach Festival, Oregon Jazz Celebration, and Music Today Festival.

AUDITION INFORMATION

Students interested in auditioning for University Singers, Chamber Choir, Repertoire Singers, and Women's Choir can sign up for an audition time on a sign-up sheet which will be posted on the choral department bulletin board outside of room 165 (the Choral Library) in the School of Music and Dance.

At the audition, you can either sing a prepared piece (a pianist will be provided), or a familiar tune such as Silent Night or Amazing Grace. You will also be asked to demonstrate your range, repeat back some short melodies (to test your ear), and do some sightreading. Each audition takes about 10 minutes. For more information contact Sharon J. Paul at sjpaul@uoregon.edu.

It is highly recommended that students audition during the Week of Welcome, students who are unable to, should come to the first rehearsal of the ensemble they wish to join during the first week of classes.

There is no audition required for Concert Choir. Screening and voice placement interviews are held during the first week of classes. Students may register in advance. Fall, Winter & Spring terms offer open enrollment (new members are welcome at the start of each term).

Each singer auditioning for Opera Ensemble should prepare two contrasting arias of his/her choice. Each actor should bring a short song and a monologue involving movement. Female belters are encouraged to audition. Dancers should prepare a short contemporary solo. A pianist will be provided. Performers of all levels are encouraged to audition. Graduate student choreographer needed. For more information, contact Nicholas Isherwood (ish@uoregon.edu).

All woodwind and brass players who wish to audition for the University Symphony, Oregon Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, or otherwise have an ensemble requirement, must take an audition in the fall. Any student who is in the marching band and who has an ensemble requirement must still audition during this period. Unlike other ensemble types, woodwind and brass players audition to a player pool from which they are then assigned to an appropriate ensemble. For questions, contact Robert Ponto at rponto@uoregon.edu.

Please prepare the following:

1. Two musical selections, each approximately one minute in length. One of the selections should be lyrical in nature and should demonstrate expressiveness; the other selection should demonstrate the player's technical and rhythmic skills.

2. The audition will also include some sight reading.

3. In some cases, there may be a few additional materials to prepare. If that is the case, these materials will be posted on the audition sign-up board during the Week of Welcome.

Audition sign-up sheets will be posted outside room 173. Please sign up for the earliest time available within your instrument specific time block.

There is no audition required for Campus Band. Students may register in advance. Fall, Winter, & Spring terms offer open enrollment (new members are welcome at the beginning of each term).

Sign up sheets for Orchestral Strings will be posted next to room 173 beginning on the Sunday prior to Week of Welcome. Music to prepare for the audition will also be posted. In addition students must bring something of their own choice (about 3 minutes in length). Contact Wayne Bennett wbennett@uoregon.edu for more information.

Students interested in auditions for the Gospel choirs, should contact Andiel Brown at abrown10@uoregon.edu.

Students interested in the Collegium Musicum should contact Marc Vanscheeuwijck at marcovan@uoregon.edu.

Students interested in the East European Folk Music Ensemble should contact Mark Levy at mlevy@uoregon.edu.

2009 AUDITIONS SCHEDULE