Ensemble Auditions

Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts | Department of Music

Webster University's music ensembles are open by audition to all students, regardless of major, and we encourage any student with some musical experience to be a part. Auditions typically take place the weekend before Fall classes begin and during the first few days of school.

Auditions

Jazz Collective and Jazz Combos

Auditions for all jazz ensembles will be Monday, August 22, 2022. For combo auditions, you should play a blues and a standard of your choosing. You'll do some sight reading as well. Drummers demonstrate their skill at a variety of different rhythmic feels (medium and up tempo swing, a jazz waltz, bossa nova, samba, etc.) Students auditioning for Jazz Collective will sight-read a piece selected by the director. Vocalists will sing several standards of your choosing in a jazz style.

Monday, August 22, 2022, 3 p.m.
Community Music School, Room 10

For more information, email Prof. Paul DeMarinis.

Jazz Singers

Webster Jazz Singers, a 12 to 16 voice ensemble, will hold auditions over Zoom. Please email Prof. Debby Lennon to set up an audition and for audition criteria.

For more information, email Prof. Debby Lennon.

Instrumental Ensembles

Placement auditions are held for all instrumentalists at the beginning of each Fall. All students are welcome! There are audition materials available specifically for the non-Music major who desires to be part of the Webster University instrumental ensembles! All music majors have specific required audition materials.

Woodwind, Brass and Percussion placement auditions will be held on Monday, August 22, 2022 from 6-9:30 p.m. Students may sign up for audition times on the bulletin board outside of Thompson Music Building Room 107.
String placement auditions will be held Tuesday, August 23, 2022 from 6-9:30 p.m. Students may sign up for placement audition times on the bulletin board outside of Thompson Music Building Room 107.
Percussion playing assignments will be made equitably, according to the personnel and need for each ensemble. These assignments will be determined by the conductors and the applied percussion instructor.

In the placement audition, students are required to perform:

A sample of chromatic, major and minor scales.
A 3-4 minute portion of a solo piece or etude.
All of the audition excerpts listed in the charts below.

PLEASE NOTE: There are two sets of audition materials listed below. ADVANCED AUDITION materials are intended for all Music Majors. GENERAL AUDITION materials are intended for non-majors who wish to be a member of the Wind Ensemble and/or Chamber Orchestra. Non-majors are welcome and encouraged to audition on the advanced audition materials if so desired.

Prepare your placement audition material well in advance of the audition date. Arrive at your audition well prepared!

Advanced Audition Excerpts

General Audition Excerpts

For more information, email Dr. Paul Davis.

Choral Ensembles

Choirs are open to ALL students at Webster University, regardless of major!

Aurelia auditions will take place during the weekend before classes begin (August 20–21). By August 15, Dr. Hill will email specifics regarding audition procedures to all students on the MUSC 4920 roster. If you are not yet enrolled in Aurelia but would like to join, please email Dr. Hill directly.

For information about Chorale auditions, please contact Dr. Patterson.

Opera Studio

Webster Opera Studio auditions for Fall 2022 will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 3–5 p.m. in the CMS Concert Hall.

Students currently enrolled in Opera Studio will be assigned an audition time. If you are not enrolled in Opera Studio, but are interested in auditioning, please email Dr. Kanakis to be assigned an audition time. A list of assigned audition times will be provided via email and posted on Canvas on Monday, August 22.

Please bring one solo vocal piece that showcases your vocal range and performance ability. A pianist will be provided.

Opera Studio is open to ALL students at Webster University, regardless of major or major instrument.

For more information, email Dr. Kanakis.