Audition Information

AUDITION DATES AND DEADLINES

Admission to the School of Music is contingent upon acceptance to the College of Liberal Arts. Click here to apply. Applicants are encouraged to apply Early Action (no later than December 1) to ensure their application is received and reviewed ahead of their audition visit. Upon submitting your application to DePauw, you will receive an email with instructions on scheduling your audition and accessing your student portal.  

NOTE: Most School of Music applicants will receive an admission decision from the College of Liberal Arts prior to auditioning for the School of Music. However, ahead of an initial admission decision, we encourage you to reserve your audition visit early. Applicants who do not demonstrate strong academic performance may not be eligible to audition. Applicants should confer with George Palton, Associate Director of Music Admission, before finalizing travel plans for their audition visit.

PRE-SCREEN AUDITIONS

Pre-screen auditions are only required for vocalists. Instrumentalists should plan on auditioning during one of the on-campus audition dates listed below. For vocalists, an unedited pre-screen video recording of two of the three required audition pieces should be submitted no later than December 1 to your student portal. Please refer to the audition requirements under “Voice” that are listed here. Applicants are advised not to finalize any travel plans until they are informed of the pre-screen audition results.

INDIVIDUAL AUDITION APPOINTMENTS

If you are unable to attend one of the audition visits, contact George Palton, Associate Director of Music Admission, to schedule an alternate audition date. Videotaped submissions will be accepted for applicants outside of the Continental United States and under special circumstances with prior approval. Recorded auditions must adhere to the Audition Repertoire Requirements.

AUDITION REPERTOIRE

Woodwinds

For admission to the School of Music and scholarship consideration:
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassoon – At least two contrasting works from the standard repertoire, including movements of sonatas, concerti and other solo pieces. You will be asked to sight-read and demonstrate proficiency in both scales and arpeggios.

Brass

For admission to the School of Music and scholarship consideration:
Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium/Baritone, Tuba – At least two contrasting works from the standard repertoire, including movements of sonatas, concerti and other solo pieces. You will be asked to sight-read and demonstrate proficiency in both scales and arpeggios.

Percussion

For admission to the School of Music and scholarship consideration:
1. Select One Solo Literature or Etudes from each of the following categories: 

• Snare drum: solo snare drum or etudes from Peters, Cirone, Delecluse that demonstrating buzz rolls, flams, and different articulation strokes; and optional on rudiments: here
  
• Marimba, xylophone or vibraphone (demonstrating two and four-mallet technique)
• Timpani (demonstrating tuning ability); and optional: drum set or multiple percussion.

2. Sight-reading on snare drum and marimba
3. Two Octave Major Scales with Arpeggio from memory

Keyboard Instruments

For admission to the School of Music and scholarship consideration:
Organ – At least two selections: (1) prelude and fugue by J.S. Bach or a work by another Baroque composer; and (2) a 19th-20th century composition.
Piano – Three selections (all performed from memory), one for each of the following categories: (1) a prelude and fugue from the Well-Tempered Klavier by J.S. Bach; (2) a movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven; and (3) a Romantic, Impressionist or Contemporary work of choice.

Strings

For admission to the School of Music and scholarship consideration:
Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass – At least two contrasting works chosen from the following three choices: (1) a movement from a J.S. Bach solo sonata or partita, or other Baroque work; (2) a movement from a 19th-20th century sonata or concerto; (3) or a work of the student's choice. You will be asked to sight-read and demonstrate proficiency in both scales and arpeggios.

Harp

For admission to the School of Music and scholarship consideration:
Two contrasting pieces from the standard repertoire, plus one orchestral excerpt.

Voice

For admission to the School of Music and scholarship consideration:
By December 1, all vocalists are required to submit an unedited pre-screen video recording of two of the three pieces below to your student portal. You may sign up for an audition date, but do not finalize any travel plans until you are informed that you have passed the pre-screen audition. In the live audition, vocalists will be required to sight-read, match pitch, and perform the following three pieces: (1) an art song or aria in Italian; (2) an art song or aria in French or German; and (3) a classical or musical theatre piece in English. All audition repertoire must be memorized.
NOTE: DePauw will provide a pianist and a brief rehearsal free of charge at on-campus auditions.

CONTACT INFORMATION

George Palton, Associate Director of Music Admission
DePauw University
P.O. Box 37
Greencastle, IN 46135-0037
P: (765) 658-4118 • E: georgepalton@depauw.edu