Audition Information

2024-2025 AUDITION DATES 

Wednesday, November 6, 2024 (as part of VPA Open House

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Saturday, February 8, 2025

APPLYING & AUDITIONING

  • STEP 1 - Apply to the University

    Apply to the University at Kutztown University's Admissions website, or the Common App website. Audition dates are selected in your application the the University. 

  • STEP 2 - Schedule an Audition Date

    Choose an audition date on your Kutztown University application (apply here).

    NOTE: Auditions are not required for those wishing to enter into the BA Music Business degree.

    All audition dates are held in-person on the Kutztown University campus. If you have conflicts with the posted audition dates, please select "Date Conflict" in your Kutztown University application. Feel free to contact us via email for help with scheduling.

    Contacts for each degree area are below: 

    Dr. Daniel Immel

    Dr. Todd Walker

    • BA Music
    • BA Music Performance
    • BS Music Education
    • BA Commercial Music Studies

    NOTE: Students who wish to be considered for music scholarship must complete their application and audition by February 15, 2025

  • STEP 3 - Prepare for Your Audition

    Review audition information & requirements on this page and prepare for your audition. As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions! 

    • STEP 4 - Apply for Financial Aid

      Apply for financial aid

      Upon the review of your completed Kutztown application, you will receive an email confirmation of your audition time with audition day instructions. 

      Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

    • Visit Us in November!

      The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Open House welcomes prospective students interested in the arts at KU. Prospective music students will have the opportunity to learn about all VPA arts programs of study, meet our current music students and faculty, tour the campus, and visit classes and rehearsals. Registration information will be available in September 2024. 

      VPA Open House, Wednesday, November 6, 2024

      Music auditions may be scheduled during this event. Please designate this date in your Kutztown University application. You may also contact us via email for help with scheduling. Contacts for each degree area are below:

      Dr. Daniel Immel

      Dr. Todd Walker

      • BA Music
      • BA Music Performance
      • BS Music Education
      • BA Commercial Music Studies

    WHAT TO EXPECT

    What is it like to Audition at KU?

    Current students discuss their path to success while auditioning at KU. Background music composed and performed by students Mike Mester and Michael Schefflin.

    • Who Needs to Audition?

      Auditions are required for entry into all music degree programsexcept for BA Music Business.

    • Faculty Interview

      Along with specific requirements relating your voice type/instrument (shown on this page below), your audition also includes an interview with the music faculty. Please be prepared to share your musical background, career goals, areas of interest, and why you want to study music at Kutztown University. 

    • Piano & Theory Placements
      • ALL applicants other than BA Music Business must complete Placement Surveys for piano and music theory
        • Upon KU admittance, a successful music audition, and deposit to KU, piano and theory placement surveys will be sent to students via email
        • You will receive the email either upon your deposit to KU or during the month of April, 2025
        • We ask that you submit the surveys by May 1, 2025 

      NOTE: Piano & Theory surveys are simply used to place you in the proper courses during course registration and have no impact on your acceptance

    AUDITION REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

    Please note that audition requirements vary for specific instruments and performance areas, and we have provided a list of those exceptions below. However, everyone is encouraged to contact the applied faculty in their instrument/area. Communicating with them is the best way to have the opportunity to connect, discuss what to expect from auditions, and to get general suggestions for appropriate audition repertoire/selections.

    • General

      In general, and regardless of style/genre, you should be prepared to perform something from the standard/mainstream repertoire that best displays tone, technique, and musicianship/expression. Scales & sight-reading may be required.

    • Clarinet

      REQUIRED ETUDES

      Please prepare one lyrical etude and one technical etude from ONE of the following books of etudes:

      • 32 Etudes for Clarinet  (Cyrille Rose)
      • Finger Fitness Etudes for Clarinet, Book 2 (Kristen Denny-Chambers)

      SCALES, etc.

      • Major Scales (two octaves)
      • Chromatic Scale (starting on low E)
      • Sight Reading 
    • Commercial Music Studies

      Feel free to audition with pieces that best highlight your strengths without concern for whether or not they are highly technical or fit into a certain stylistic category or genre. The Department of Music has an interest in a wide variety of musical styles. We appreciate excellence in established musical genres like classical and jazz but also in other new and emerging styles. As an auditionee, you should play or sing the pieces that best show who you are.

      Prepared Piece
      When choosing your pieces, it is a good idea to contact your would-be applied teacher at Kutztown to ask for guidance. You can find a list of our applied faculty here.

      Among the types of pieces typically chosen by auditioning students include:

      • A standard or jazz tune (which may include blues and rhythm changes) with your own improvisation
      • A classical piece such as a sonata, etude, or art song
      • A tune that you composed, especially if your focus is commercial music (songwriting) or composition
      • A transcription of an innovative performer such as Charlie Parker or Esperanza Spaulding.
      • A tune from a popular artist or band
      • If you are a vocalist in the Commercial Music Studies degree program, you may audition with two contrasting Musical Theatre/Broadway selections, or a Musical Theatre selection and a popular music selection and/or a Jazz Standard. Both selections must be memorized and you must have a piano accompaniment for both pieces. We will provide an accompanist for your audition or you may bring your own.
      • Don't be limited by this list, it is only a suggestion!

      NOTES:

      • If you'd like to have accompaniment, feel free to use a recording that does not duplicate the part you are performing (like a Karaoke version)
      • Vocal auditions do require an accompaniment and accompanists are provided for them. You may also bring your own accompanist. If you need a different type of accompaniment, please contact us and we can make the appropriate arrangement.

      Performance
      You may be asked to demonstrate a technique particular to your performance area. For example, a drummer may be asked to demonstrate typical styles. For trumpet players, a demonstration of range and flexibility may be asked. For singers, the ability to project, etc.

    • Flute
      • Two pieces of music (or two movements from one piece) that contrast in style and display tone, technique and musicianship
        • Repertoire Examples
          • Telemann, Sonata in F Major
          • Handel, Sonata in F Major
          • Vivaldi, “Il Pastor Fido” Sonatas
          • Godard, Allegretto and/or Idyll (or other works from the French repertoire)
          • Mozart, Concerto in G or D
          • Mozart, Andante in C
          • C.P.E. Bach, “Hamburger” Sonata
          • Debussy, Syrinx
      • Two Major Scales of your choice
      • Sight Reading
    • Guitar
      • Two contrasting pieces from any area of the guitar repertoire
        • Classical, Jazz, Rock, Folk, Blues, and/or fingerpicking pieces would be appropriate
      • Major Scales
      • Sight Reading

    • Oboe
      • Two contrasting pieces or etudes lyrical and technical abilities
        • Repertoire Examples
          • Handel Sonatas (or similar Baroque works)
          • Schumann Romances
          • Mozart or Haydn Concerto 
          • Barrett or Ferling Exercises
      • Major Scales (two octaves, where possible)
      • Chromatic Scale (two octaves, C-C)
      • Sight Reading
        • Percussion & Drum Set

          Music Education & Music Performance Majors (Non-Commercial)

          • Must audition on snare drum, timpani, and keyboard percussion (2 or 4 mallets)
          • Must demonstrate sight-reading ability and knowledge of scales
          • An audition on drumset is encouraged but not required

          Commercial Music Studies Majors (Non-Classical)

          • May audition on either drumset or orchestral percussion
          • Drumset auditions should demonstrate a variety of styles on drumset; Latin, rock, swing, bebop, funk, etc.
          • Knowledge of standard orchestral percussion is a plus, but not a requirement
          • If vibes are principal instrument, play a jazz standard melody with chords
          • If you have any questions, please contact or  
        • Piano

          Choose three pieces from the following style categories:

          NOTE: All works must be performed from memory

          • Baroque - i.e. Scarlatti, Bach (any Two or Three-Part Invention, Prelude, and Fugue, or any two movements of a Suite)
          • Classical - i.e. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Hummel, Weber, Clementi (any movement of a Sonata)
          • Romantic/Post-Romantic - i.e. Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, etc.
          • Impressionistic/Contemporary - i.e. Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, Prokofieff, Copland, Gershwin, etc.
          • Major & Minor Scales
          • Sight Reading

          If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Maria Asteriadou at Asteriad@kutztown.edu. 

        • Tuba & Euphonium

          TUBA

          • Two contrasting pieces or etudes demonstrating lyrical and technical abilities
            • Repertoire Examples
              • Haddad, Suite for Tuba
              • Bordogni, 43 Bel Canto Studies
              • Blazhevich, 70 Studies
          • Major Scales (two octaves, up to 4 sharps or flats)
          • Chromatic Scale (two octaves, starting from any note)

          EUPHONIUM

          • Two contrasting pieces or etudes demonstrating lyrical and technical abilities
            • Repertoire Examples
              • Guilmant, Morceau Symphonique
              • Rochut-Bordogni, Melodious Etudes
              • Voxman, Selected Studies for Baritone
          • Major Scales (two octaves, up to 4 sharps or flats)
          • Chromatic Scale (two octaves, starting from any note)
          • Voice

            REPERTOIRE SELECTION
            You are required to prepare two contrasting pieces from the Classical, Jazz, or Broadway repertoire. The pieces should showcase your vocal range, technique, and musicality. Here are some examples to guide your selection:

            Classical (Art Song/Aria)

            • “Caro mio ben” by Giuseppe Giordani (Classical Art Song)
            • “O del mio dolce ardor” from Paride ed Elena by Christoph Willibald Gluck (Classical Opera Aria)
            • Refer to the 24 Italian Aria Songbook for other options

            Jazz

            • “Misty” by Erroll Garner (Jazz Standard)
            • “My Funny Valentine” by Richard Rodgers (Jazz Ballad)

            Broadway

            • “On My Own” from Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg
            • “If I Loved You” from Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein
            • Refer to the Musical Theatre Songbook Collection for other options

            NOTE: The pieces should differ in style, mood, or tempo to demonstrate versatility.

            Accompaniment Requirements
            An accompanist is required for your audition. You may either use the KU staff accompanist or bring your own accompanist. No recorded accompaniment will be permitted.

            Sheet Music Submission
            Please ensure that your sheet music is emailed to music@kutztown.edu no later than two weeks before your audition date. Failure to submit your sheet music on time may result in disqualification or the need to reschedule your audition.

            Music Reading Proficiency
            All auditioning singers are expected to be able to read music. During the audition process, your ability to follow and interpret music notation will be evaluated.

            Memorization Requirement
            Both audition songs must be fully memorized for your audition. You will be expected to perform them without reference to the sheet music.